MQM to raise Rangers' operation at UN, says Altaf

Rangers release MQM leader Kaiful Warah from custody on sureties till Eid

KARACHI: Following a Rangers raid at Muttahida Qaumi Movement headquarters, Nine-Zero, early on Friday, party chief Altaf Hussain said he would raise concerns against operations by the paramilitary force at the United Nations (UN).


"We will not beg anyone for the release of our men, we will file petitions in courts against the arrests and take up the issue of the operations at the UN," the MQM chief said, in his address to party workers after the Rangers raid.

Altaf was referring to the arrest of party leaders Kaiful Warah and Qamar Mansoor during the early morning raid. 

"They were arrested owing to Rangers' rage directed at the party for holding an annual charity function," the MQM chief added, asking his workers to be prepared for further raids.

“Rangers had decided they would not let the party’s Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation collect Zakaat and Fitra, and they stopped us by using their powers," he added. “Despite hurdles, we carried out an annual event for the poor and needy. This angered the Rangers.”

During the one hour raid on Friday morning, Warah and Mansoor were whisked by Rangers personnel and moved to undisclosed locations. After the raid, a large number of men and women gathered at party headquarters, and chanted slogans against law enforcement agencies.

Read: Rangers raid MQM headquarters Nine-Zero, take two leaders into custody

Altaf called the arrests by Rangers naked barbarism and violation of human rights. “Instead of uniting Pakistan, the Rangers are dividing it.”

The MQM chief demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take notice and end all brutalities, releasing all those who were arrested.

“Policy makers should decide how to console the 50 million mohajirs, who have been deeply hurt by such actions,” Altaf said.

Read: Sindh govt extends Rangers tenure in Karachi for a year

Lashing out at the provincial government, Altaf said Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and his party leader Asif Ali Zardari have sworn loyalty to the establishment, and have registered cases against him across the province, including Larkana.

“Qaim Ali Shah and Asif Ali Zardari have given Rangers a license to sow the seed of dividing Sindh.”

Rangers release MQM leader Kaiful Warah from custody

Hours after MQM leader Kaiful Wara was arrested by Rangers after a raid at party headquarters Nine-Zero, he was released by the paramilitary force.

According to Rangers spokesperson, Warah was released on sureties till Eid. He will report to Rangers authorities after the culmination of the given period.