US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher calls on MQM leader Altaf Hussain in London

London: 17 August 2017

United States Congressman Mr Dana Rohrabacher called on MQM founder and leader, widely known as Father of Mohajir Nation, Mr Altaf Hussain Thursday afternoon at MQM International Secretariat in London. The meeting between the two lasted over four hours.

Mr Altaf Hussain briefed the US lawmaker from California details of unlawful arrests, torture, abductions, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions of MQM workers and common Mohajirs in Karachi and other urban areas of Sindh at the hands of Punjabi Para-military Rangers and other law enforcement agencies. He said during raids, the personnel of law enforcement agencies use filthy language against female members, often molest them and badly mistreat with the elderly. Mr Altaf Hussain told Congressman Mr Rohrabacher that not only MQM members are being subjected to severe human rights violations, the family members, including women, of MQM officer-bearers and leaders are also being arrested unlawfully. He said his own close relatives and relatives of MQM leaders living in exile are also being unlawfully arrested. Mr Altaf Hussain said hundreds of arrested MQM workers and their relatives have gone missing after being taken into unlawful custody by security forces hailing from Punjab. He further added that law enforcement agencies in Pakistan have become the biggest law breakers on the planet.

He explained in detail how the law enforcement agencies belonging to Punjab have denied millions of Mohajirs’ sole elected representative party, the MQM, its democratic and constitutional rights through the use of brutal and illegal force. He also gave details of the illegal closure of MQM’s party offices throughout Sindh, including the party headquarters called as Nine Zero. A list of hundreds of extrajudicially killed and missing MQM workers was also shared with the US lawmaker.

Mr Altaf Hussain also apprised the US lawmaker of continuous arrests, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and acts of mistreatment of Baloch men, women, elderly and even children at the hands of Punjabi security forces in Balochistan province.

Congressman Mr Rohrabacher expressed deep sorrow over the violation of human rights of Mohajirs in Pakistan at the hands of Pakistani security forces and assured MQM and Mohajirs his full support. He pledged that he will raise these issues in US Congress as well all other appropriate forums.

Baloch exiled leader Mr Suleman Dawood, known as Khan of Kalat, also joined the meeting in its latter part. Mr Altaf Hussain and Khan of Kalat agreed to work together for the rights of Mohajirs and Baloch peoples at every level. Congressman Mr Rohrabacher assured both leaders of his efforts to highlight Mohajir and Baloch grievances in the USA as well as worldwide. It was agreed that such meetings will continue in near future and the level of cooperation among the oppressed ethnic and religious minorities in Pakistan will further expanded and all like-minded forces will soon join hands against the hegemony of Punjab over other provinces.

The participants of the meeting also had lunch together.

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