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Saturday, September 14, 2013
MQM cries foul over Karachi targeted operationKARACHI: Coming hard on the government over the arrest of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers and leaders under the “guise of a targeted operation”, party leader Faisal Sabzwari on Friday said that Muttahida was being pushed against the wall, like in the past.
Addressing a rally outside the Karachi Press Club to protest against the arrest of former MPA Nadeem Hashmi and other party workers, Faisal Sabzwari, Khalid Maqbool and other party leaders said that the targeted operation launched in Karachi had been made disputed, and that the MQM’s desire for peace should not be taken as a weakness. Speaking on the occasion, Sabzwari said that his party supported the targeted operation to rid the city of violence, and that criminals should be apprehended despite political affiliations. However, he warned the authorities against targeting members of a particular ethnic group, and implicating them in false and fabricated cases. He alleged that ‘ethnic cleansing’ of the Urdu-speaking community was underway under the guise of the operation that, according to him, had been diverted against the MQM.
Questioning the will of law enforcers to take action against terrorists who had been firing rockets in the city, he said that the criminals were politically patronised. “If criminals are from any political party, they should be held accountable for their actions. Those who want the party’s demise won’t be successful in their designs,” he said.
He said that some people had victimised the MQM in the past, and they wanted to repeat it. “Who ordered the operation to target us?” he asked. The MQM leader urged the law enforcers to carry out impartial operation in the city against criminals, gangsters, extortionists, target killers and militants. Earlier, MQM Deputy Convener Khalid Maqbool said that the patience of MQM leaders and workers should not be taken for granted. “We want Karachi to be peaceful again, but if this injustice continues, this could lead to a bigger crisis,” he said. The leaders urged serious sections of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to reconsider the present situation. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk