MQM has proof of LEAs atrocities, says Altaf Hussain
Says officials should come clean about force’s involvement in the killing and abduction of party workers.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: APP
KARACHI:
Rejecting a statement from security forces denying any involvement in the extrajudicial killing and abduction of workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), party chief Altaf Hussain on Saturday said MQM had evidence that law enforcement agencies (LEAs) had tortured activists of the party.
“We will provide proof that LEAs have subjected MQM workers to third degree torture, hurled ethnic slurs at them and threatened to wipe out their race,” the MQM chief said in an official statement.
He demanded that security officials ‘stop lying’ about their involvement in the disappearance of MQM workers and ask for the party supporters’ ‘forgiveness’.
Other senior MQM leaders also held a news conference in Karachi earlier in the day, after a body of a party worker bearing marks of torture was discovered in the city’s Northern Bypass area. Relatives and associates of the MQM worker Arif alleged he was picked up by men in plain clothes claiming to be security officials on Thursday.
“Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar assured us there would be no extrajudicial killings [of our workers] but they are still happening… Has the prime minister lost his writ? Which law enforcement agencies are involved in these actions, against the government’s directions,” questioned Senator Babur Ghauri at the Khursheed Begum Secretariat.
MQM Rabita Committee member Haider Abbas Rizvi said the current operation was turning out to be similar to the 1992 operation in Karachi. “Why are we being targeted instead of insurgents,” he asked.
He mentioned a recent story by The Wall Street Journal on the ‘strong’ Taliban presence in Karachi, and said that it was alarmed that one-third of the city had been occupied by the group’s affiliates. “There is no writ of the state… the LEAs can’t function in areas where the insurgents are holed up. Instead, they target and arrest innocent MQM workers.”
Rizvi demanded the prime minister, interior minister and Sindh governor and chief minister take notice bring an end to the extra judicial killings.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of Pakistan Rangers Sindh said they have not issued any statement regarding the arrest or disappearance of criminals. In a statement issued late Saturday night, the spokesperson said that criticising the force without any grounds was unfair. He said they targeted only criminals in their operation in the city.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2014.
Rejecting a statement from security forces denying any involvement in the extrajudicial killing and abduction of workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), party chief Altaf Hussain on Saturday said MQM had evidence that law enforcement agencies (LEAs) had tortured activists of the party.
“We will provide proof that LEAs have subjected MQM workers to third degree torture, hurled ethnic slurs at them and threatened to wipe out their race,” the MQM chief said in an official statement.
He demanded that security officials ‘stop lying’ about their involvement in the disappearance of MQM workers and ask for the party supporters’ ‘forgiveness’.
Other senior MQM leaders also held a news conference in Karachi earlier in the day, after a body of a party worker bearing marks of torture was discovered in the city’s Northern Bypass area. Relatives and associates of the MQM worker Arif alleged he was picked up by men in plain clothes claiming to be security officials on Thursday.
“Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar assured us there would be no extrajudicial killings [of our workers] but they are still happening… Has the prime minister lost his writ? Which law enforcement agencies are involved in these actions, against the government’s directions,” questioned Senator Babur Ghauri at the Khursheed Begum Secretariat.
MQM Rabita Committee member Haider Abbas Rizvi said the current operation was turning out to be similar to the 1992 operation in Karachi. “Why are we being targeted instead of insurgents,” he asked.
He mentioned a recent story by The Wall Street Journal on the ‘strong’ Taliban presence in Karachi, and said that it was alarmed that one-third of the city had been occupied by the group’s affiliates. “There is no writ of the state… the LEAs can’t function in areas where the insurgents are holed up. Instead, they target and arrest innocent MQM workers.”
Rizvi demanded the prime minister, interior minister and Sindh governor and chief minister take notice bring an end to the extra judicial killings.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of Pakistan Rangers Sindh said they have not issued any statement regarding the arrest or disappearance of criminals. In a statement issued late Saturday night, the spokesperson said that criticising the force without any grounds was unfair. He said they targeted only criminals in their operation in the city.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2014.