MQM reacts: ‘Conspiracy against KKF’

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has termed the arrests of its workers by the Rangers a 'conspiracy' against the party's welfare organisation, Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF).

"This seems like a conspiracy against KKF to stop its activities of helping the poor and needy in Ramazan," said the party's rabita committee in a press statement. It condemned the arrests of the workers that took place Thursday night and on Friday, and appealed to human rights organisations to take notice of it. "The arrest of MQM workers has been made the order of the day and a large number [of activists] have been arrested in the last 24 hours."

According to the party, three members of the Baldia sector were arrested from their homes. The statement said that other religious parties and banned outfits were openly collecting fitra and zakat in the city, but not a single incident of arrests of their workers has come forward.

According to the party, collection of donations was being made a 'cognizable offence', and MQM was being falsely accused of forcible collection.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2015.