Pakistan

Rangers raid MQM Landhi offices, arrest at least 7 workers: Farooq Sattar

MQM chief urges army chief to grant audience to party delegation for clearing misunderstandings

Rabia Ali August 14, 2015

PHOTO: ONLINE

KARACHI: Rangers carried out a raid at four unit offices of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Karachi's Landhi area in the early hours of Friday, with the party claiming seven workers had been arrested.

"Rangers raided the party's Landhi offices in the wee hours of the Independence Day and arrested seven workers," MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said, while addressing party workers during a two-day Independence Day celebration at Jinnah Ground.

Read: Rangers arrest six 'MQM target killers' in Karachi

Regretting that the victimisation of MQM has not ended Sattar said, "Party workers are not even allowed to celebrate Independence Day."

Earlier on July 3, Rangers arrested at least ten workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) from different parts of Karachi. Three workers identified as Zulfi, Kasu and Imran were arrested from Karachi’s Liaquatabad area while two others, Nafees and Arshad, were detained from Azizabad.

Read: Rangers arrest 10 MQM workers from Karachi

Further, later during the day, three more MQM workers identified as Qadir, Danish and Saleem were taken into custody from Saeedabad area of Baldia Town. Similarly, in an overnight raid, two other workers of the party were arrested by Rangers officials bringing the total number of arrested on July 3 to 10.

Altaf asks army chief to grant audience to MQM delegation

Later MQM chief Altaf Hussain urged Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif grant an audience to a delegation of the party.

Addressing party workers at Jinnah Ground, Altaf said that a delegation of MQM wanted clear misunderstandings created between the party and the Armed Forces of Pakistan.

The statement came as the Rangers in Karachi arrested at least four party workers in pre-dawn raids on MQM’s offices in Landhi.

Altaf said that the party workers were celebrating Independence Day when they were arrested.

Expressing concern over illegal arrests and disappearance of party cadres, he said that every political worker has fundamental rights under the Constitution.

He further argued that his party was being targeted in the garb of action against terrorist elements.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that 12 MQM workers were arrested.

COMMENTS (12)

Sumair | 9 years ago | Reply Mqm should be banned!Karachi deserves better representatives.God bless Karachi the city of Sindhi,baluch,pushtun,Punjabi,Urdu speaking and every Pakistani. Rangers are working hard.finish the job please.and make this city safe for all.

javaid | 9 years ago | Reply it is said MQM should apart itself from criminals. No sir, it means without Altaf which is not possible. He is so great leader that all people should die for his life. Mr Altaf you are in the grip of Allah. Just wait for your .......

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Lakhkar Khan | 9 years ago | Reply @Radiohead: Whatever it takes to make Karachi peaceful. Rangers, keep it up and keep arresting terrorists.

Halar | 9 years ago | Reply There is no place for red in Pakistan's flag! I compare PAKISTAN RANGERS operation as white color in Pakistan's flag, it means, we are not half way yet.

Afzal | 9 years ago | Reply At no cost there should be any compromise to end Karachi operation. When MQM could not protect its criminals it saw that resigning from assemblies would put pressure and generate desired results .....and to some degree they already feel they have been successful. They are convinced and hoping to get re-elected with overwhelming majority should their resignations go through. Government must understand that holding bye elections would only serve to waste nation's resources along with possible worsening of law & order situation. If the underlying reason for resignations is to protect criminals then such resignations should be considered illegal and not accepted in the first place and if necessary these resigning members should be barred from participating in any future elections.

far | 9 years ago | Reply I wish our politicians had stood the same way as they are standing for their workers ...i wish they had stood with the people of karachi ...who will answer the masses about atrocities that has been done to this city ..about thousands of people murdered , kidnapped , extortion that is rampant in my city ...obviously the people of power need to answer,,, they are solely responsible for this wrath

Radiohead | 9 years ago | Reply No No No, this operation is apolitical !!!

Usman | 9 years ago | Reply @Acorn Guts: Absolutely agree. MQM workers should realise their leaders are protecting criminals amongst them.

shahid | 9 years ago | Reply I can't figure what policy tribune follows for moderation. Was nothing wrong in my previous comment that has not seen the light of the day. I just said what MQM leaders themselves say, nothing more.

Adnan | 9 years ago | Reply Rangers are not even allowed to attest persons involved in violence on Independence Day.

Acorn Guts | 9 years ago | Reply That's what Rangers have to say about your resignations Mr Sattar. There is a criminal element in your party and Rangers are very careful to just pick on those. Happy independence day to thousands of MQM workers who have done nothing wrong and are at their homes celebrating just fine.

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply For every bully the school yard produces.......there is always a bigger bully .......and possibly that's not such a bad thing.

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