MQM-P demands security for leaders and workers

Worried over recent attacks, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) organised a protest outside the Karachi Press Club on Thursday, demanding from the federal and provincial governments to provide foolproof security.

A large number of party workers gathered outside the KPC to show their anger over the killings and attacks on the party offices and workers. MQM-P leader Amir Khan said his party had experienced a wave of attacks in various parts of the city in recent months. “The government is not taking any steps to protect our party workers, although we have shown our concern several times.”

He said the recruitment of local residents in the police department was imperative for bringing peace to the city. “Police personnel from other parts of the province are appointed to the police department after paying bribes to corrupt officials,” he added.

In the most recent incident that occurred on Monday, six assailants riding motorbikes opened fire on a union council office in New Karachi, killing activist Shakeel Ansari and injuring Azam Zahoor, another activist. On December 25, MQM-P former parliamentarian Ali Raza Abidi was assassinated in an incident of targeted killing in the DHA area. At least six people were injured on December 9 in a hand grenade attack on a MQM-P’s Mehfil-i-Milad in Gulistan-e-Johar. Faisal Sabzwari, another MQM-P leader, said that party workers had been arrested in recent weeks on false charges and party flags had been removed. “The Sindh government should tell us what the purpose behind the campaign is.”

He also criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party over the urban and rural job quota, lessening the powers of the mayors of Karachi and Hyderabad and other injustices with the province’s urban centres.