The Daily DAWN, Friday July 17, 1998

MQM MNAs flay siege operations

By Our Staff Reporter


KARACHI, July 16: MNAs of the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement have condemned siege of different
Mohajir settlements in Liaquatabad and uncalled for arrests of the party workers and sympathisers by
the Rangers.

They said continuation of these siege and search operations in Mohajir dominated areas indicated that
the state-sponsored operation had formally been launched.

"The field of operation of the Rangers personnel is on the increase, and siege and arrest of innocent
workers and sympathisers have become a daily routine, they said in a joint statement.

They said on Thursday a heavy pose of Rangers sieged Korangi "R" Area and Nasir Colony and
indiscriminately conducted raids and arrested Khalil and many other MQM workers and sympathisers
and shifted them to some unknown place.

Likewise, they said, the rangers had also sieged the whole area from Liaquatabad to Gujar Nala on
Thursday evening which continued till late evening during which many persons were arrested.

They expressed concern over elusive silence of the federal government and the Sindh chief minister
over increasing actions against MQM workers and siege operations by the Rangers, along with
Haqiqi terrorists.

The MQM-MNAs said if the federal government and the chief minister failed to take notice of
situation immediately, they would be justified to consider that these actions had been carried out with
the support and patronage of the government.

They said that the Rangers and the Police did not see the Haqiqi terrorists who had let lose a reign of
terror in Malir for three days.

They said the government could not restore peace nor win-over their hearts of the people by targeting
the innocent.

They urged the Prime Minister and the chief minister to stop forthwith the on-going siege of Mohajir
settlements and indiscriminate arrests and raids against MQM workers.

They also demanded their release.