Tug of war in Sindh: MQM raises hackles over victimisation

Interior minister reassures MQM that its workers will not be victimised.

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) presented a litany of complaints about the singling out of its workers in the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi as its representatives met Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday, officials told The Express Tribune.

During their 45-minute meeting at the Governor House a delegation of the party informed the interior minister about the party’s strained relations with the Pakistan Peoples Party, the ruling party in Sindh. “We are busy preparing for local government elections, yet our offices are being attacked, our workers and leaders harassed,” Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the deputy convener of the party who led the delegation. “These moves are aimed at creating hurdles in our election campaign.”

Other members included Dr Farooq Sattar, Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Babar Ghauri and Kanwar Naveed Ahmed.



Chuadhry Nisar reassured the MQM leaders that its workers would not be victimised and promised to launch any inquiry about the party’s claims.

Officials privy to the development told The Express Tribune that the MQM leaders accused the PPP of plotting to divide their mandate in Karachi and installing their own mayor. “Whenever we complain about the bias of the targeted operation, provincial ministers threaten to launch a targeted operation against our workers in Hyderabad as well,” an official quoted Khalid Maqbool as saying.

Raids are being carried out on the MQM’s offices, its workers are being arrested for no reason and some are even subjected to ‘extrajudicial killings’, the interior minister was told.

In response, Chaudhry Nisar assured the MQM leaders that no action would be taken against its party leaders and they would not be subjected to any political victimisation. Meanwhile, the leaders agreed to increase cooperation and hinted at forming a joint opposition in the province and discussed plans for more meetings in January.

Nisar met Sindh governor

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar also met with Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and discussed the law and order situation in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2013.