Paramilitary force rejects claim: MQM accuses Rangers of executing 4 activists

In its prompt reaction to Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) claim that Rangers were involved in the extra-judicial killing of four party workers, the spokesman for the paramilitary termed the claim a 'misleading propaganda.' "The four terrorists killed in an encounter at Northern Bypass on late Thursday night, were members of MQM's Rais Mama's target team. They were hiding in a safe house at the behest of the party leadership," Rangers' spokesman claimed.
Meanwhile, MQM has announced that it will observe Saturday (today) as a 'day of mourning' against 'extra-judicial killing of workers'. The party also urged traders to keep their business and other commercial activities shut. "The terrorists were involved in MQM legal aid committee's Hasnain Bukhari's murder on March 5, 2015 in Korangi area besides various killings and extortion cases," the spokesman claimed. Their identifications were ascertained as Zohaib aka Bholo, Kashif Khalil aka Mechanic, Shahid aka Chattha, and Muhammad Aqil, he added.
He reiterated that the Karachi operation would continue till the elimination of the last target killer, facilitator and financier. MQM's reaction over Rangers' action is beyond comprehension. The party's high command had also moved the deceased Waqas shah's murderer, Asif Ali, to interior Sindh with a view to protecting him. However, the paramilitary troops arrested him at Shehdadpur, he added.
According to the MQM statement, three of the killed men had been identified by their families. The MQM also claimed the four workers had been in the custody of Rangers for four months. Speaking at a press conference here, MQM leader Farooq Sattar said that three MQM workers were murdered at Northern Bypass by the paramilitary troops. He said that all 3 workers were arrested by Rangers 4 months ago and the party has all the details of these workers. He said that no remand of these workers was obtained after the arrest.
Sattar said that 150 of MQM workers were missing. He said that the matter is in the court and the list of the missing people has been sent to the Prime Minister and Interior Ministry. He claimed that four MQM workers were killed during the last 24 hours and now the government institutions have issued a 'made up' statement.
AFP adds: Rights groups say authorities have resorted to hundreds of extra-judicial killings during a 'clean-up' operation that began in 2013 in a city that has long been plagued by criminal, political, ethnic and Islamist violence. "Upon seeing the Rangers, the terrorists opened intense fire, which was effectively responded to," the spokesman for Rangers said. "During the encounter four terrorists died whereas one solider of the Rangers was wounded," he added.
Aminul Haq, a senior MQM leader told AFP that the families had so far identified three of the men and had lodged missing persons cases for them at the time of their disappearance. Haq added that in the past two years 45 party workers were murdered extra judicially while 165 were missing.