Altaf lashes out at Sindh govt, LEAs for ‘extra-judicial killings’ of MQM activists

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Wednesday lashed out at Sindh government, police and Rangers for what he termed extra-judicial killings of the party workers in the city.

The statement comes soon after reports of recovery of MQM office bearer Suhail Ahmed’s dead body from the Mauripur area. Ahmed was MQM's unit incharge of the Society neighbourhood.

Altaf Hussain said that the total number of extra-judicial murders of his party’s workers has risen to 36 in the Sindh capital.

He alleged that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government, police department and Rangers were targeting the party rather than criminals against the backdrop of ongoing operation to eradicate Karachi of terrorists and criminals.

The MQM chief urged the prime minister, Army chief, DG ISI and interior minister to take notice of the incidents.

Meanwhile, fuel stations, shops other businesses have begun to shut in several areas of the city. According to sources, businesses were shut in Bahadurabad, Sharafabad, Tariq Road, PIB Colony among other neighbourhoods of the port city.

No apparent reason, however, surfaced for the sudden closure of businesses in the economic hub of the country.

‘We are being punished for raising voice against extortion’




Later speaking to the media, MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan said that the killing of Suhail Ahmed was not the first incident of extra-judicial killing of the party workers.

“In this democratic rule, we have lost 35 party workers to extra-judicial killings,” he told the media representatives in Karachi.

“After December 15, when Ahmed went missing, we have found his dead body today in a condition that tells that he was murdered a day before.”

The MQM leader said that Ahmed was a righteous person and was famous for his good character in the area.

“We are being punished for raising voice against extortion and other misconduct in the affairs of the Sindh government… MQM has been targeted for political motives by the PPP,” he claimed.

“We’ve knocked on every door against ongoing targeted killings of the party workers in Karachi… What mistake have we made to deserve this conduct?,” he questioned.

Khawaja Izharul Hassan, on the occasion, appealed to all top officials of the armed forces to take notice of this brutality in Karachi. He vowed to continue raising voice against the atrocities being conducted against the party peacefully.

The MQ M leader announced that Ahmed’s funeral will take place on Thursday. “We stand with the bereaved family in this difficult time,” he said.

“We will adopt all constitutional and lawful options to bring the culprits behind the killings to book,” he added.

The MQM leader announced that the party's top leadership has decided to observe a day of mourning on Thursday.