Raids and arrests: ‘Despite difficult times ahead, we will remain strong’
In wake of Thursday and Friday's raids, MQM leaders claim conspiracies are afoot against the party
PHOTO: http://www.mqm.org/
KARACHI:
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) claimed on Friday that conspiracies were afoot to eliminate its political structure and that the state machinery was being used against them.
The party held a press conference at Nine Zero to condemn the arrests of their workers from their Landhi unit offices on Thursday and Friday.
"The workers arrested have no criminal record. They were busy preparing for Independence Day," said senior party leader Dr Farooq Sattar. According to the party, seven workers, including sector members and unit incharge of the Landhi sector, were arrested in the raid by law enforcement agencies. Some were arrested on Thursday evening while the rest were arrested early Friday morning. The arrested men were busy preparing for the party's rallies and other celebrations, says the party.
Sattar said that the victimisation of the party continued even on Independence Day and that they were deprived of their happiness on the national holiday.
Terming the arrests by the Rangers illegal and an undemocratic step, Sattar said the raids and arrests were similar to the operation initiated against them in the 1990s. "Despite difficult times ahead, we will remain strong," he said.
Another party leader, Aminul Haque, said the men were arrested from their party offices while the rest were arrested from their homes. "There has been no information about their whereabouts," he claimed.
Meanwhile MQM chief Altaf Hussain requested the armed forces and the government to take notice of the Haqiqi 'terrorists' who had taken over parts of Landhi. In an interview with a news channel, he said when the law enforcement agencies came to arrest the MQM workers, workers of the MQM-Haqiqi were present and assisted in the arrests.
On Friday evening, the Rangers issued a statement in which they confirmed the arrest of four ‘wanted criminals’ from Landhi. The names of the suspects were Aqil, MQM’s Unit 84 incharge, Nasiruddin, a joint incharge of MQM’s Unit 84, Sajid, an active member of MQM and Ghayas, against whom no criminal record was found so he will be released soon, the statement said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2015.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) claimed on Friday that conspiracies were afoot to eliminate its political structure and that the state machinery was being used against them.
The party held a press conference at Nine Zero to condemn the arrests of their workers from their Landhi unit offices on Thursday and Friday.
"The workers arrested have no criminal record. They were busy preparing for Independence Day," said senior party leader Dr Farooq Sattar. According to the party, seven workers, including sector members and unit incharge of the Landhi sector, were arrested in the raid by law enforcement agencies. Some were arrested on Thursday evening while the rest were arrested early Friday morning. The arrested men were busy preparing for the party's rallies and other celebrations, says the party.
Sattar said that the victimisation of the party continued even on Independence Day and that they were deprived of their happiness on the national holiday.
Terming the arrests by the Rangers illegal and an undemocratic step, Sattar said the raids and arrests were similar to the operation initiated against them in the 1990s. "Despite difficult times ahead, we will remain strong," he said.
Another party leader, Aminul Haque, said the men were arrested from their party offices while the rest were arrested from their homes. "There has been no information about their whereabouts," he claimed.
Meanwhile MQM chief Altaf Hussain requested the armed forces and the government to take notice of the Haqiqi 'terrorists' who had taken over parts of Landhi. In an interview with a news channel, he said when the law enforcement agencies came to arrest the MQM workers, workers of the MQM-Haqiqi were present and assisted in the arrests.
On Friday evening, the Rangers issued a statement in which they confirmed the arrest of four ‘wanted criminals’ from Landhi. The names of the suspects were Aqil, MQM’s Unit 84 incharge, Nasiruddin, a joint incharge of MQM’s Unit 84, Sajid, an active member of MQM and Ghayas, against whom no criminal record was found so he will be released soon, the statement said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2015.