200 MQM offices to be demolished

KARACHI: A decision has been taken to demolish 200 offices of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) located in different areas of the city. Many offices of the party were constructed on land for schools, parks and the Water Board.

The demolition operation will take place in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, Ferozabad and New Town. The MQM has also illegal offices in Soldier Bazar, PIB and Brigade areas.Concerned police stations have been contacted for the demolition of MQM offices. Around 35 party offices have been sealed in the city while eight have been demolished so far.

The unit office in ShahFaisal Colony No2 was also sealed with police and Rangers deployed outside. On Thursday, the name of Mukka Chowk located in the MQM’s stronghold was changed to the Shaheed-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan Chowk. Posters of the party’s founder were also removed from several areas of the city.

On Thursday, five offices of Muttahida Qaumi Movement were demolished in different areas of Karachi’s Malir. SSP Malir Rao Anwar said that the offices were constructed on land acquired illegally.

An office of the party was also demolished in Ahsanabad besides unit offices near Mosmiyat and Quaidabad. MQM offices in Sukhan, Sachal, and in the jurisdiction of Airport Police Station were also demolished.

Our correspondent adds: The authorities have decided to demolish 200 party offices of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) and concerned police stations have been tasked to carry out the operation.

According to documents obtained, most of the party offices are situated within the precincts of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Ferozabad, New Town, P.I.B, Soldier Bazaar, Jamshed Town and Aziz Bhatti police stations and constructed on government lands illegally. The documents further reveal that within the limits of Mubina Town, the MQM constructed four party offices while within the limits of Ferozabad Police Station, three offices exist. The party has six offices in the limits of Brigade Police Station.

According to government sources, 32 sector and unit offices of MQM were constructed on lands which were for the use of schools, public parks and the Water Board. The Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation's ambulance service, run by the Muttahida, near the Mukka Chowk, gave a deserted look on Friday and its main door was closed. The ambulances of the KKF were parked inside it.

The door was closed and a police mobile was deployed near the KKF office. The KKF ambulances were also not seen at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital or the Tabba Hospital, which is very close to 90 Azizabad. The area people demanded Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to take charge of KKF and start this service. There was a heavy deployment of Rangers and police in Azizabad and around Nine Zero on Friday as well.