The Daily DAWN

Operation against Muttahida has begun: Altaf

By Our Reporter

July 16, 1998


KARACHI, July 15: The chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, on Wednesday condemned the alleged siege, house-to-house search and arrest of MQM activists and supporters in different localities of the city.

In a statement, Mr Hussain claimed that unchecked activities of the Rangers have proved that the para-military forces have not only been given powers of arrest and investigation, but that another operation against the MQM has begun.

He protested to the prime minister and the chief minister for going back on their promises and said that the MQM had been promised that no operation against it would be launched and that it would be taken into confidence before taking any decision with regard to law and order.

He was critical of the government for giving more powers to Rangers without taking the MQM into confidence.

Mr Hussain said that at a time when the country is passing through its worst crisis of confidence, vested interest has not given up conspiracies against the MQM which has endangered national unity.

He said that a "new and barbaric operation against the MQM has started even before the people had forgotten the reign of terror let lose during the PPP tenure".

He said that "for the past few days reports about siege of Orangi Town, Liaquatabad and Baldia Town by rangers have caused anxiety among the people as they have again resorted to blindfolding and arresting innocent people and humiliating womenfolk".

In this context he said the rangers laid siege of Orangi Town unit 119 and 121, and residents were being treated as colonial subjects. He also mentioned the raid in North Nazimabad area and alleged that rangers also made a video film of the area which may be used for implicating innocent people in false cases.

He said that on the one hand rangers were arresting Muttahida activists and supporters, but Haqiqis are given a free hand. He was also critical of reporting of these incidents by a section of the press.

NASREEN JALEEL: Scores of Muttahida Qaumi Movement supporters were rounded up in a "siege and search operation" by the paramilitary rangers in Orangi and North Nazimabad on Wednesday, Senator Nasreen Jaleel told Dawn.

"As far as the MQM is concerned, the operation is on, and the same humiliating tactics are being used as was witnessed during 1992," she said.

The MQM Senator said that para-military rangers laid siege of Sector 14-E, Orangi, for two hours between 5 and 7pm and arrested about a dozen MQM supporters of unit numbers 119 and 121.

She alleged that three people, Kamran Qureshi, Osama Qadri and Faisal Naseeb, were arrested by the rangers in North Nazimabad Block-K.

"They were blindfolded and taken away in Rangers' vehicle number 1702 of rangers wing 72," Senator Nasreen alleged and added that all attempts to contact the chief minister and other government officials failed.

She said that "since July 11, everyday about 10 people, including sympathizers, are being arrested".

Senator Nasreen alleged that once again the practice of rounding up relatives and blindfolding them has been revived, and those arrested are humiliated.

The MQM senator asked why the "operation" has not been launched in the "no-go areas" and alleged that the law enforcing agencies were extracting money for the release of those arrested by them.

Accusing the LEA of partisan approach, she said that yesterday they had arrested an alleged Haqiqi activists but released him after a few hours.

She was of the view that such actions by the administration would provoke people and further aggravate the law and order situation.

She alleged that under official patronage Haqiqi and BACK offices are being opened in Hyderabad and Mirpur Khas for creating law and order problem.