MQM leaders enveloped in letter controversy

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s letter to the Indian High Commissioner seeking help to free its arrested workers sparked a new controversy as the party’s leaders contradicted each other over the issue.

The letter titled ‘unauthorised arrests of innocent MQM workers’ which surfaced in the media, is addressed to the Indian High Commissioner TCA Raghavan and primarily speaks about the arrests of four workers.

It requests Indian officials to look into this matter and raise their voice to safeguard and protect human values.

However, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar, speaking outside the National Assembly, denied that any such letter was written and said that it must have been a technical or judgment error.He said that no help was sought from Indian officials.

The letter raises concerns about four workers in custody who were among the 13 arrested on their way to a friend’s wedding in Hyderabad. The letter says that their lives are in danger and their families are worried, calling the arrests a clear violation of human rights.

The statement from the top MQM leadership was later on contradicted by other leaders of the party, saying that this was a ‘routine practice’.

Party leader Wasay Jalil told The Express Tribune that they have written not only to the Indian official but have raised the issue with 55 other diplomats as well.

Another party leader Aminul Haque said that the MQM has been writing letters for many years over arrests and killing of its workers as well as for those who have gone missing.

“We have penned down letters to different countries, EU, Amnesty International and HRCP, copies of which are also sent to the prime minister and the chief minister. This is not a hidden practice,” he claimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2015.