MQM-P decries fresh wave of workers’ arrests

After a brief lull, there has been a surge in arrests of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) workers as scores of them have been arrested in raids across the city, claimed MQM-P information in-charge Amin-ul-Haq on Friday.

Haq, while condemning the arrest, said party workers were picked up by both uniformed personnel of law enforcement agencies as well as plain-clothed men. The senior party worker further alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched against the party.

“The LEAs raided the house of UC 38 organiser Muzaffar after breaking the lock. His son was taken into custody instead of Muzaffar, since he was not home,” Haq stated.

He added that arresting the UC organiser’s son was unlawful and a violation of his fundamental human right.

Despite MQM-P’s statement that it would stage a peaceful protest if the raids and arrests were not stopped, it was highly regrettable that the LEAs paced up their excesses against party workers, and started registered them in false cases, Haq further claimed.

The party spokesman added that MQM-P is being pushed to take extreme steps. “We are a peace-loving political party and do not want confrontation with any state institution. But if this discriminatory behaviour against the party continued, we would be left with no option other than to register our protest.”

Haq said MQM-P is a highly patriotic party and its workers are fighting a war of survival. He added that the organisation was dedicated to the country, and called for its sincerity with the state to be recognized.

“Certain forces are trying to push MQM-P against the wall, but we would not be discouraged by such tactics,” he added.

A statement issued by the party’s coordination committee maintained that it was unfortunate that terrorists roamed freely under patronage but no action was being taken against them.

The party demanded of the federal government, the prime minister, the chief of army staff and the provincial chief minister to immediately have the arrests and raids stopped. 

MQM-P also called for an end to its workers’ ‘victimisation’ and formulation of a positive policy that was in the best interests of the country for not just MQM-P but other opponent parties too.