Altaf to observe hunger strike outside 10 Downing Street

Wasay Jalil says party leaders will also go on hunger strike if MQM chief goes ahead with his plan

LONDON:

The official residence of the British prime minister, also commonly referred to as 10 Downing Street, has been chosen as the venue for Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain’s hunger strike. 

“We have chosen 10 Downing Street as the hunger strike venue,” Wasay Jalil, party’s spokesperson in London told The Express Tribune on Monday.

The 10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as 'Number 10', is the official residence of the UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

Read: MQM leader Qamar Mansoor sent on transit remand

According to the MQM leader, his party would release more details about the protest as soon as it got permission from British authorities to carry out the hunger strike.

“Party leaders will also go on hunger strike if Altaf Hussain carries it out,” he added.

On Sunday, MQM’s supremo had announced that he would go on hunger strike till death against the ‘exploitation of Muhajirs.’

Announcing his decision to go on hunger strike, MQM chief said he had promised to the nation that he would rather die than go back on his promise to safeguard the rights of not only Muhajirs but of all the oppressed people of this country.

Read: MQM chief to go on hunger strike

In a statement issued by the party, MQM chief had alleged that federal and provincial governments, Army, Rangers and Police are involved in “genocide of Muhajirs, both economically and physically.”

Altaf had also announced that after his death Rabita Committee will look after all the party matters. “It would be up to the Rabita Committee whether they continue the movement or end it.”