Altaf Hussain questions army chief over workers' arrests

Altaf alleges that the Rangers took MQM workers into custody because they are Urdu-speaking

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, in a press statement, has posed 14 questions to Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Express News reports.

Altaf said that Rangers arrested many MQM workers in Karachi, of which 41 are still missing. Altaf questioned why these workers have been arrested and alleged that they were taken into custody because they are Urdu-speaking.

Earlier today, Express News reported that eight MQM party workers, arrested during a raid by Rangers in Karachi, were released, while three others were presented in a court.

On the evening of September 24, Rangers had raided an MQM office on Abul Hassan Ispahani road and detained dozens of workers who were discussing reorganisation of the party. However, Rangers’ spokesperson said the office was raided only after security officers were fired at from the building.

Following the arrests, MQM staged sit-ins at more than 10 locations in the city but the demonstrations were called off after a few of the arrested workers were released last night.

MQM workers, Kashif, Zakariyah and Shahnawaz, were taken to court this morning following which they were placed in the custody of Rangers for 90 days.