Those who didn’t ditch Azizabad for DHA being punished: Sattar

MQM says around 100 of its activists and supporters arrested
since last month without any charges against them

Karachi

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement said on Tuesday that around 100 of its activists and supporters including unit in-charges had been arrested without any charges against them since last month, about the same time when the “new party of Khayaban-e-Sehar, DHA” was established.

“These arrests are illegal and unconstitutional and we demand that the higher authorities should take notice of this and immediately release these innocent people,” MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said at a press conference at the Khursheed Begum Memorial Hall.

“Innocent MQM supporters who were recently assigned party responsibilities and who have no criminal record are being arrested even since the new party [the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP)] was announced,” he added.

“These arrests are a clear message that those who remain with Azizabad [the MQM] are criminals and those who have switched their allegiance to the new party will be pardoned and cleared of all criminal charges.”

He said the establishment had set up dry-cleaning company on Khayaban-e-Sehar where those joining the new party were being given a clean chit.

Sattar demanded that the higher authorities including the top judges should form a judicial commission to probe into these arrests and if anyone was found guilty, they should be punished accordingly.

The MQM leader said those who had opted to work with and support party chief Altaf Hussain were being harassed and threatened to join the new party.

“They are being warned to join the party across the bridge or face the consequences,” he added.