You can’t eliminate MQM, says Amir Khan

Karachi
Showered with rose petals amid jubilation on his arrival at the Muttahida Qaumi Movement headquarters Nine Zero after his release from the central jail on Tuesday, party leader Amir Khan defiantly declared that no force could eliminate the MQM.
“Hundreds of our activists are still in jail and as many are missing, but we believe that all the fake allegations against the party will be proven wrong,” he said.
A day earlier, an anti-terrorism court had granted bail to Khan and after his release from prison following the submission of surety bonds worth Rs1 million, he drove straight the party headquarters where he was accorded a grand welcome.
Khan was arrested by Rangers during a raid conducted by the paramilitary force at the MQM headquarters and its adjoining areas on March 11.
Khan also offered fateha for Waqas Shah, the MQM activist who was killed in firing on the day of the raid, and condoled with his family.
Talking to reporters, Khan said the conspiracies being hatched against the MQM were not new as it had happened in the past too.
“Every now and then, the MQM is accused of supporting RAW and anti-state elements, but we aren’t afraid of difficult times and not worried about the state and some media personnel’s conspiracies against us,” he added.
“We were accused of trying to create Jinnahpur and also falsely implicated in the Major Kaleem case, but in time, were exonerated of these allegations.”
Khan said hundreds of MQM activists and supporters were in jail and being subjected to brutal torture.
Before being granted bail, Khan was sent to prison on judicial remand in a case filed against him by Rangers, accusing him of instigating violence in Karachi and harbouring criminals.
Khan also spoke with MQM chief Altaf Hussain on the phone and informed him that many party activists and supporters were being tortured in jail and denied access to their families.
Speaking on the occasion, MQM MNA Kunwar Naveed Jamil said the party was being targeted under the garb of the crackdown against criminals in Karachi.
“It seems that the establishment is bent on destroying the MQM,” he added.
“Amir Khan’s release is a moment of victory for the MQM as all the fake charges have been proved wrong.”