18 January 2003

TWO MQM WORKERS BRUTALLY MURDERED ONE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY MUTTAHIDA MAJLIS-E-AMAL (MMA - A RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALIST JIHADI GROUP, DIRECTLY LINKED WITH AL QAIDA) TERRORISTS IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN

To the lengthy catalogue of murders, mayhem and extra-judicial killings of MQM leaders and workers there is now an addition of two more names.  With profound grief we would like to apprise you on the callous murder of two young MQM workers at the hands of the terrorists of a religious extremist party in Port City of Karachi, Pakistan.  Mr. Salman Farooqui 29, MQM Unit In-charge and Syed Masood Ali 35, an MQM worker, both from MQM Unit 146, Sector Federal B Area, Karachi, were shot dead at point blank range.  Another MQM worker Mr. Umer Din 30, who was also with them is seriously injured with gun shot wounds.

The three workers had a pre-arranged appointment with Faizan Ullah, a Union Council Nazim (Councillor) of MMA for that area.  The union council office is located in Eid Gah, Football and Cricket ground near Sagheer Centre, Block No. 16, Federal B Area, Karachi.  Faizan Ullah conspicuously did not keep his appointment with the three MQM workers.  According to eyewitnesses the three workers left the office for their homes.  They had hardly moved a few yards from the Nazim’s office when four persons on two motorcycles appeared.  They were fully armed with automatic weapons.  On one motorcycle there was Faizan Ullah and Khalil, whereas the two other men were on the other motorcycle.  The men on motorcycles came close to the MQM workers and shouted that they have come to avenge the defeat of Mairajul Huda (MMA candidate in the By-Elections held on 15 January 2003 at NA-242 seat in Orangi Town, Karachi) on the orders of Munawar Hasan (presently the Secretary General of Jamat-e-Islami, former In-charge of notorious killing wing “Thunder Squad” of Islami Jamiat-e-Tulba – Student wing of Jamat-e-Islami) to teach an exemplary lesson to Muttahida Quami Movement and its ally the present government of Pakistan.  After uttering these words the terrorists opened fire on the three workers.  As a result Salman Farooqui and Syed Masood Ali succumb to their injuries where as Umer Din was taken to hospital in serious condition.  The assailants fled from the scene chanting slogans that Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA) will kill each and everyone who becomes an ally of the present government.

On 15 January 2003, MQM scored a resounding electoral victory against MMA candidate Mairajul Huda in the By-Elections on NA-242.  When the religious fanatics saw the defeat glaring their faces they organised an assassination attempt upon the MQM workers at the polling station. Three innocent workers at the polling station received bullet injuries and others escaped un-hurt. This incident took place in Orangi Town area, Karachi. Those three are undergoing treatment in a local hospital. 

Later, on that evening, when the whole party was deliriously happy and in a festive mood, these three target killings were carried out to detract our focus.

The personal details of those killed and injured in Federal B Area are as follows:

Mr. Salman Farooqui, 29 years old son of Mehboob Farooqui, resident of House No. 805, Block No. 16, Federal B Area, Karachi.  He leaves a widow behind with whom he got married only one month ago.  He got married on 13 December 2002 and was shot dead on 15 January 2003 by MMA terrorists.

Syed Masood Ali, 35 years old son of Syed Yaqoob Ali, resident of B-18, Phase II, Mominabad, Model Colony, Karachi.  He leaves a widow and a Seven days old son.  Shot dead on 15 January 2003.

Umer Din, 30 years old son of Imam Uddin, resident of Block 16, Federal B Area, near Sagheer Centre, Karachi.  MMA’s terrorists seriously injured him on 15 January 2003.

The raison deter for this heinous crime is to deter the MQM from making sweeping road-ways into ordinary people of Pakistan and becoming the most popular liberal democratic political force in the country.  The MQM’s successful liberal, democratic and pragmatic ideology is a message of doom for the so-called Jihadi fundamentalists like the MMA.  The MQM is the only political party in Pakistan that believes in religious tolerance and is against all kinds of religious fanaticism.  The resounding success of the MQM in the electoral process has rattled its enemies and they have reacted in their usual cowardly manner.  The timing and manner of this double murder raises the fear that the religious fanatics of MMA threaten the lives of other MQM leaders and workers.

This is an extremely serious matter not only for the president and the prime minister of Pakistan but also for the International Community to consider.  We request the International Community, the United Nations and human rights organisations world wide to take serious notice of these callous killings at the hands of Jihadi outfits and assist the present government to combat all kinds of terrorism.

Yours sincerely

S.A. Tariq Mir
Member Central Coordination Committee of MQM