KARACHI: The city administration continued its crackdown on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) against the August 22 speech by Altaf Hussain against Pakistan and demolished various sector offices of the party and removed pictures of the party chief. Also pictures from the official residence of Altaf Hussain and Hyderabad were removed.
It has been decided that the Mukkah Chowk’s name will be changed and its official name will now be Shaheed-e-Millat Liaquat Chowk. The DC Central will issue a notification in this regard.The Mukkah Chowk was inaugurated in 1991 and it was renovated during the period of Mustafa Kamal when he was the City Nazim.
In another development, the government has decided to demolish all the unit and sector offices of the MQM which have been set up on the government land. Sources disclosed that it was decided to remove all the offices of the party from the government land. It must be borne in mind that most offices of the MQM were established in public parks or public sports grounds.
SSP Rao Anawar said five illegal offices of the MQM had been demolished in Malir. The Unit 93B in Cattle Colony was found to be illegal and demolished. Another MQM office was also demolished near the Met Office in Safoora Goth.
The administration took similar action in various parts of the city including Nazimabad, North Karachi, New Karachi, Buffer Zone, Korangi and Federal B Area where all sector and unit offices were sealed. The administration claimed the crackdown will continue and more MQM workers will be detained.
Similar action was ordered by the government in Hyderabad but action is awaited. The flag at the residence of Altaf Hussain was removed and pictures of the MQM chief were also removed from the Jinnah Ground, Azizabad.
The flags and pictures of Altaf Hussian and MQM were also removed from the Khursheed Memorial Hall, Azizabad, and the famous Lal Qila Ground, Azizabad. This scribe during a random visit of Nine Zero asked the area people who had removed the MQM flags and pictures. Residents said policemen in armoured personnel carriers (APC) had done so.
Three APCs are deployed at the Nine Zero and around Azizabaad. The media department of the MQM was also closed down. Before the attack on media houses, there were barriers around Nine Zero and no one was allowed to enter without permission but on Thursday there was no barrier. People were not asked as to where they were going. The area people seemed to be scared and had restricted their movement.
The media people were checked at all the gates in the past. Today, such restrictions are gone. It seems many workers of the MQM have left the city or gone into hiding due to fear. There are also reports that a ban is likely to be imposed on the MQM. Many people are asking questions like who has the actual command in Pakistan i.e. Dr Farooq Sattar or Altaf Hussain in London.
It may be noted here that Rangers are keeping a close eye on several unions who are doing political activities in government offices. As per the apex committee orders, no political activity can take place in the government offices.
A MQM union officer of KMC was called along with his son and warned by the Rangers to keep away from such activities from now onwards or he and his son would be put behind bars. The Rangers are also keeping a vigil at parks and amenity plots.
According to Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani, the present mayor will be powerless and could never enjoy the powers like Mustafa Kamal. He said former president Pervez Mushrraf had extended full support to Kamal.
While Rangers have rounded up many MQM workers, all eyes are now on the MQM mayor and Dr Farooq Sattar if they can get some relief from the law enforcement agencies. Unidentified persons removed Altaf's pictures from certain areas of Hyderabad as well. Pictures of the MQM chief posted on poles and buildings were also taken down in Latifabad No 6,7 and 8.
On Monday, MQM chief Altaf Hussain made an inflammatory anti-Pakistan speech in which he instigated his followers to carry out attacks on private news channels. Following his speech on Wednesday, senior MQM leader Farooq Sattar disassociated the party from Altaf Hussain and stated that decisions would be made by the Rabita Committee Pakistan and not Rabita Committee London.
Meanwhile, the MQM Rabita Committee has expressed deep concern over the removal of posters and pictures of Altaf Hussain from Nine Zero and said this would make voters of the MQM hostile.
The RC said demolition of offices and sector offices and unit offices were totally wrong as it would hamper the political activities of MQM. In a statement issued here on Thursday, it claimed the MQM was a peaceful party and believes in supremacy of law and peaceful struggle and wanted that it should be allowed to perform as a political party. The Rabita Committee condemned the arrest of Sheeraz Waheed, MQM MPA, and said there was a fake case against him.
