MQM denounces arrest of workers: protest demonstrations to be staged all over country

Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Tuesday decided to stage protest demonstration against extra-judicial killing and arrest of its workers by law-enforcement agencies in the city. Announcing this at a news conference held at the party's Azizabad headquarters `90', a member of MQM Co-ordination Committee, Haider Abbas Rizvi, said that 46 party activists have been unlawfully arrested by law-enforcement agencies in the city. Other members of the Co-ordination Committee were also present on the occasion.
According to Rizvi, five activists were picked up by security agencies from January to August 28, 2013, while 41 others have been picked up since beginning of Karachi operation and they included 20 activists picked up by plain-clothed personnel and 20 by police and Rangers personnel.
He said that MQM during its protest rallies to be taken out across the country would hold demonstrations against these illegal arrests and extra-judicial killings. "We will hold demonstration against these injustices at Karachi Press Club on Thursday, while rallies will be taken out in other parts of the country on Friday," he added. The MQM leader said that the recent incidents of illegal arrests occurred on April 13 when security personnel whisked away nine MQM activists from Scheme-33. Out of them, four were thrown after being tortured, while five others were still in their custody. "Those who are still under the custody of law-enforcement agencies include Ali Haider, Sameer, Salman, Shoaib and Faizan," he pointed out.
He said that the families of party workers picked up law-enforcement agencies were passing through mental agonies as they have not been informed about the whereabouts of their loved ones. "205 MQM activists were killed since Karachi operation began, while 21 more were extra-judicially killed by the security personnel in the same period," he claimed, adding that police had arrested 1,475 MQM activists following beginning of Karachi operation.
He said that the party had used all its options to follow the legal procedure which included filing of petition in Sindh High Court and apprising relevant police and Rangers officials about all the arrests, but all their efforts in this regard have, so far, went on vain.
He demanded of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Director General Rangers Major Rizwan Akhter, Inspector General of Police, Sindh, Iqbal Mehmood and AIGP Shahid Hayat to take notice of these illegal arrests and bring the responsible people to justice. He also demanded compensation for the heirs of MQM activists who were extra-judicially killed. Voicing his concern over the Pakistan Protection Ordinance, Rizvi said that the PPO has been applied against the MQM even before its implementation. He said that 18 activists of the party have been detained by security personnel for 90 days for interrogation.