BOTS shut down, following Rangers’ raid
Abidi said that the raid is a bid to defame his organisation and ruin the image of his restaurant
Abidi said that the raid is a bid to defame his organisation and ruin the image of his restaurant. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
One of the city's famous eateries, Biryani of the Seas (BOTS), continues to be shut following a raid by Rangers on Thursday night.
The restaurant, owned by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s MNA, Ali Raza Abidi, was sealed by the law enforcement agencies till Friday evening.
Abidi said that the raid is a bid to defame his organisation and ruin the image of his restaurant.
According to him, the Rangers arrived Thursday night and detained six people who were sitting in the restaurant, alleging that they were target killers and had weapons with them."The Rangers locked the staff in the kitchen and told the customers to stay where they were," he said.
They also detained Hassan Raza, the manager of the restaurant and Abidi's cousin, said Abidi."This is a message by them to harass me and hurt my business," he claimed.
He said that three to four days earlier, a Rangers vehicle had come and asked for the menu.
On Thursday, men in plainclothes came to the restaurant and started taking pictures, telling the staff that their 'sahib' wanted to see the ambiance of the restaurant.
The Rangers spokesperson was unavailable to comment on the matter.
The MQM Rabita Committee called the raid an act of vengeance.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2015.
One of the city's famous eateries, Biryani of the Seas (BOTS), continues to be shut following a raid by Rangers on Thursday night.
The restaurant, owned by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s MNA, Ali Raza Abidi, was sealed by the law enforcement agencies till Friday evening.
Abidi said that the raid is a bid to defame his organisation and ruin the image of his restaurant.
According to him, the Rangers arrived Thursday night and detained six people who were sitting in the restaurant, alleging that they were target killers and had weapons with them."The Rangers locked the staff in the kitchen and told the customers to stay where they were," he said.
They also detained Hassan Raza, the manager of the restaurant and Abidi's cousin, said Abidi."This is a message by them to harass me and hurt my business," he claimed.
He said that three to four days earlier, a Rangers vehicle had come and asked for the menu.
On Thursday, men in plainclothes came to the restaurant and started taking pictures, telling the staff that their 'sahib' wanted to see the ambiance of the restaurant.
The Rangers spokesperson was unavailable to comment on the matter.
The MQM Rabita Committee called the raid an act of vengeance.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2015.