KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in a press statement released on Thursday claimed that nine of the party’s office bearers and activists were arrested from different areas of Karachi.
“Rangers and police arrested nine MQM office bearers and activists by raiding their houses. The raids were conducted without warrants and the arrested workers were shifted to an undisclosed location,” said the MQM press statement.
“Aijaz and Rana Maqsood, from Shah Faisal unit 108, Kamal and Arshad Naveed of unit 107, Altaf Haider of unit 106 and Nadeem and Zeeshan of unit 105 were arrested,” added the statement.
The press statement released by the party also stated that Imran who is the area in-charge of Korangi unit 75, Qasim of unit 70 and Atif Fazal of Mehmoodabad UC-2 were also picked up by security forces.
“The family members of those arrested today are concerned for their safety,” added the statement.
Earlier in August, Rangers had conducted a surgical action in Ranchore Line area and arrested six alleged target killers having reported ties with MQM, according to a Rangers spokesperson.
A few days later, in another raid conducted in the city's Landhi-VI area, Rangers had claimed to have arrested multiple alleged criminals including target killers in a surgical operation. According to the paramilitary force's spokesperson, those arrested were also activists of MQM.
Condemning the arrests of its workers, the MQM had said that certain quarters were trying to sabotage its possible dialogue with the federal government.
The party blamed the Sindh Rangers for patronising its rival, Muhajir Qaumi Movement, better known as MQM-Haqiqi, and to allow its cadre to occupy parts of Landhi at gunpoint.
Earlier, the Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar had reiterated his trust in Rangers and other law enforcement agencies leading the ‘Karachi operation’, which he said, was “apolitical, indiscriminate and free of any compromise” aimed at bringing the violence-hit city back to normality.
“Karachi operation is apolitical. It is indiscriminate and free of any compromise and pressure. Terrorists, their aides and facilitators are targets of the operation. We will not leave any stone unturned to achieve these targets,” he had said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the MQM resigned from Parliament in protest against the Rangers-led operation in Karachi. The political party claims it is being targeted under the garb of the Karachi security operation, whereby its workers are being detained and killed illegally.
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