MQM reacts: ‘Who is responsible for killing our men?’

MQM leader claims it is their basic democratic right to stage a protest

KARACHI:

The chief minister’s comments did not sit well with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). “If you [the chief minister] claim that CM House was attacked, then go and lodge an FIR against the MQM’s lawmakers,” said party leader Faisal Subzwari. “If you can’t do that then we will assume that your government is inefficient.”

While talking to the media outside the Sindh Assembly, Subzwari claimed that it was their basic democratic right to stage a protest. He said it was the government’s prime responsibility to resolve the issues of its people. “If it was a protest with a few thousand people that hurt you, we can also arrange for a big protest from CM House to the Sindh Assembly,” he said. “You [the CM] will have to answer to us. You have to give us justice,” adding that law enforcement agencies were involved in extrajudicial killings.

“MQM’s workers are being killed by men dressed in plainclothes,” said MQM MPA Khwaja Izharul Haq. “Who is responsible for killing our men?” He added that it was their right to ask these questions in the House as Karachi was also their city and the economic hub of the country.

The MQM also submitted a privilege motion against the statements made by the chief minister.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2015.