ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday filed an adjournment motion in the Senate Secretariat to discuss “unabated and continuous custodial killings and disappearances of Urdu-speaking Muhajirs, particularly party workers” in Karachi during the recent days. MQM senators Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi and Nasreen Jalil submitted the motion, as the Senate commences a fresh session today (Friday).“We wish to move an adjournment motion to discuss a matter of grave national interest regarding the unabated and continuous custodial killings and disappearances of Urdu-speaking Mohajirs, particularly the workers of MQM, in Karachi during the recent days,” they said in the motion. In the latest incident of daylight custodial killing, Sohail Ahmed, in-charge of the MQM’s Society sector, they noted, was tortured and his body was found in Mochko area of Karachi on January 28, 2015. “This custodial murder by police is the 36th such custodial death of MQM workers by the law enforcement agencies since September 2013,” they alleged. The MQM senators contended that in addition to custodial deaths, there was a sinister, illegal, unconstitutional, criminal and unethical campaign of victimisation and harassment of Urdu-speaking youth in Karachi being perpetuated with political backing of the provincial government wherein they were randomly arrested and huge amount of bribe was demanded and taken for their release. “Those who fail to pay are mercilessly tortured and either implicated in false cases or brutally killed and their bodies are thrown on the streets of Karachi. Dozens of MQM workers are still missing after their illegal arrest. The police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies and the Sindh government are targeting the MQM using the corrupt and politicised Karachi Police in a well planned and implemented conspiracy under the shelter of the Karachi operation,” they charged.
