SOS
MQM OFFICE BEARER AKRAM NIAZI RUTHLESSLY MURDERED IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Karachi – 6 October 2002
In the early hours of 6 October 2002, armed terrorists under the protection and patronage of the law enforcement agencies, ruthlessly murdered Akram Niazi, an MQM office bearer, in Karachi, Pakistan.

Akram Niazi, 28, s/o Mohammad Yousuf, Incharge of MQM Unit 162 Sector Liaquatabad, resident of 762/19 Federal B Area, Karachi, was shot dead at point blank range. This incident occurred near the Central Election Office of MQM at Unit 165 in Liaqatabad, Karachi. His motorcycle number KCE 4038 was found near Yousuf Plaza, F B Area, Karachi. It appears that he was first kidnapped, then taken to the place of incidence and shot dead at point blank range.

It is important to point out that for the past few weeks it has been reported in the media and also information gathered by MQM through reliable sources that the Intelligence Agencies of Pakistan have planned to assassinate top leadership and office bearers of the MQM to convey threats and deter them from openly carrying out electioneering. The MQM top leaders such as Ms Nasreen Jalil former Senator and now a candidate for the National Assembly of Pakistan, Dr Farooq Sattar and Mr Shoaib Bukhari Advocate have received threats and even their names have been published in some newspapers that their lives are in danger. The above incident clearly manifests that the Intelligence Agencies have started implementation of their nefarious plan.  It may be recalled that a few months ago MQM legislators, Mustapha Kamal, former Senator and Dr Nishat Malick, former MNA were brutally murdered. Their killers are still at large.  We, therefore urge the international community and particularly the election monitoring teams to take notice of these ruthless murders and threats and use their good offices to save the lives of MQM leaders, office bearers and workers.