MQM gives 24-hour ultimatum to recover missing party workers

Says Sindh government should get rid of black sheep in city police, stop killing of innocent people.

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the government to recover its dozens of missing party workers, Express News reported.

MQM leader Waseem Akthar, while speaking to the media, said the whereabouts of the party workers should be determined immediately or the Rabita Committee will decide on future course of action.

He called on the Sindh government to get rid of black sheep in the city police force and stop the killing of “innocent people.” He further requested the president, prime minister and army chief to take notice of the ongoing bloodshed.

Extra-judicial killings 

MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi alleged that the Karachi police had admitted to killing MQM party worker Muhammad Salman in front of another worker Fahad Aziz.

Rizvi made this accusation during a press conference in Karachi.

Unidentified men had allegedly kidnapped Salman on February 3 and his mutilated body was found a day later from the Shah Latif Town of Landhi.

Aziz, 30, was arrested on February 8 when he was en route to his wedding and allegedly subjected to torture during interrogation.

Police extortion, brutality

During the press conference, MQM leader Rizvi also alleged that Karachi police extort Rs220 million every day from the general public of the city. He further added that it was unfortunate that the same police was conducting operations against extortionists.

He also stated that a father and son, belonging to MQM, were victims of police torture in the Nazimabad area of Karachi. They were stopped by the police and were beaten up when they failed to pay the asked bribe of Rs10,000, Rizvi said.

The father died because of a heart attack after being subjected to torture, the MQM leader added.

He alleged that MQM members were often subjected to such torture by the police.

Rizvi also recalled an incident that took place on October 7 last year. Three members of MQM belonging to the PIB sector were arrested by unidentified police officers and the whereabouts of these members is not known as yet, the MQM leader stated.

He added that there are 45 such people who have disappeared since last year.  “They have vanished. They are nowhere.”

Rizvi said that MQM does not know whether they are dead or alive, adding that the party has failed to track their whereabouts.

MQM feels alienated

MQM MPA Khawaja Izharul Hassan, while addressing the Sindh Assembly, stated that the law was being violated openly in Karachi, adding that no institution was above the law.

Hassan also said that after bodies of MQM workers were recovered, the party's sense of frustration changed to a sense of alienation.

After Hassan finished his speech, MQM members walked out of the assembly in protest.

Addressing MQM’s complaint, Sindh Minister for Information and Local Government Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the operation in Karachi was not against any one party. He added that people in Lyari and members of banned outfits were also being arrested as part of the operation.

Acknowledging MQM’s concerns, Memon further stated that if it was proven that a police officer was involved in a criminal act then he will be treated just like everyone else according to the law.