MQM-London activists clash with law enforcers in Karachi, Hyderabad

KARACHI: The  Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London activists and supporters clashed with the city’s law-enforcement agencies on Friday.

The law enforcers resorted to baton-charge to restrain the MQM workers from hoisting the party flags at the Shaheed Liaquat Ali Khan Chowk, formerly known as Mukka Chowk, and the Shuhada Qabristan in Azizabad.

Moreover, two activists associated with the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation were taken into custody, Sathi Ishaque, who unofficially heads the information department of the MQM-L, told The News.

He said that though the authorities had assured him that the arrested activists would be released, they were still in custody. MQM-L leader Wasay Jalil, speaking from London, condemned the alleged highhandedness of the law-enforcement agencies and said the activists only wanted to offer Fateha at Shuhada Qabristan like they did every year as it was the death anniversary of the party founder Altaf Hussain’s brother and nephew, who were murdered in 1995.

He added that Hussain in his audio clips for party activists and the administration had clearly mentioned that it was not a political event but a religious ritual and directed his followers to remain peaceful.

“The event had nothing to do with politics but the administration and LEAs sealed off the area around the MQM headquarters, Nine-Zero,” he said. “But the massive rally has proved that Karachi still belongs to Altaf, who is an ideologue and cannot be changed by force.”