Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain warned on Monday that if the government failed to free the people of the city from the clutches of extortionists and kidnappers, he would reveal the names of the people and a powerful agency involved in such crimes.

Speaking to the MQM the Coordination Committee simultaneously in London and Karachi, Hussain said that the people of Karachi, including businessmen and the media, were well aware of the agency and the people supporting extortionists and kidnappers. He said that the citizens of Karachi had been left at the mercy of the criminals, who were being supported by a deep-rooted conspiracy.

The criminals were not only abducting businessmen and demanding huge amounts of ransom for their release, but also attacking the houses of the traders with hand grenades if they refused to pay extortion, Altaf observed.

He claimed to have informed President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik about the activities of the extortion mafia and the kidnappers, but regretted that these government officials failed to take action. The MQM chief also lamented that none of people involved in the Lyari gang war had been arrested.

Hindu Council delegation

A 12-members delegation led by Patron Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) Dr Ramesh Kumar met members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Coordination Committee, Gulfaraz Khan Khatak and Kaif-ul-Wra, at the Khursheed Begum Secretariat in Azizabad here on Monday.

The delegation included President PHC Jetha Nand Kohistani, Vice President Mahesh Kumar Talreja and General Secretary Engineer Hot Chand, said a statement issued by the MQM.Joint Incharge MQM Minority Committee Girdhari Lal and members Munawer Jan and Sardar Kishan also attended the meeting. Both sides discussed matters of mutual interest.

The delegates said that Altaf Hussain was a true patriot and his statement warning of threats to the country’s sovereignty and integrity was very important.They informed the Coordination Committee members of the Hindu community’s problems, including forced conversions, kidnapping for ransoms and marriage laws.