MQM joins hands in mass prayer for party chief’s health

We are all concerned for Altaf Hussain’s health, says Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed.

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) observed a ‘day of prayer’ across the province on Friday for the well-being of its chief Altaf Hussain, who was hospitalised on Tuesday evening.

The main gathering was held at Numaish Chowrangi where the party’s core leadership, including the members of the Rabita Committee and lawmakers, representatives of different political and religious parties, and communities joined the party workers for the fourth consecutive sit-in held since the arrest of Hussain in London on June 3.

Separate arrangements for prayers in mosques and imambargahs were held in various areas of the city. Party workers, including women and children, participated in the prayers. “We are all concerned for Altaf Hussain’s health,” said Sindh Health Minister and member of the MQM Rabita Committee Dr Sagheer Ahmed. According to Ahmed, Hussain has undergone numerous tests and therefore, he added, that the supporters of the party chief wanted to pray for his health.

Dr Ahmed confirmed that Hussain had contacted the party’s London secretariat twice, adding that he had advised the party workers to carry on a peaceful struggle. He also said that the acting Pakistan High Commissioner Imran Mirza paid a visit to the party chief in the hospital. Ahmed said that Hussain also met his daughter Afza Altaf. He said that the peaceful protests across the country have proved that Karachi is a city of peaceful people.

Addressing a press conference late on Thursday night, coordination committee deputy convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the party chief had sent a message to the party workers asking them to remain united in these testing times. Hundreds of party workers reached Numaish Chowrangi on Friday morning and continued reciting holy verses throughout the day. The collective prayer was led by MQM Senator Tanveerul Haq Thanvi in the evening.

Former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Yaseen Azad joined the protesting workers and said that the lawyers’ community was with Hussain. Various delegations of different political parties and trade unions also visited the MQM leadership, to show their support to the party.

All roads leading to the sit-in location were sealed and traffic was diverted to other areas. Party volunteers were deployed around the venue to keep an eye on any suspicious activities. Law enforcers were also deployed in the area. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2014.