SHARP INCREASE IN THE TARGET KILLINGS OF MQM OFFICE BEARERS AND WORKERS

October 12, 1998

Persistent target killings of MQM office bearers, workers, supporters and their relatives have intensified. In the month of October alone more than a dozen innocent workers and supporters of MQM have been murdered in target killings. Thousands of MQM leaders, workers, supporters and their relatives have been murdered in cold blood since 19 June 1992, when the Army Operation commenced against the Mohajir Nation in general and the MQM in particular. Thousands are languishing in prison on trumped up charges and several hundred are compelled to live in exile in fear of their lives.

After the General Elections of 1997, MQM formed coalition with the Pakistan Muslim League both at the federal as well as the provincial level. Despite of MQM being the major coalition partner at the provincial level in Sindh Province, the targeted killings of its workers and supporters have continued. In August 1998, MQM came out of the coalition Government in protest over the persistent killing of its office bearers, workers and supporters. Since the General Elections of February 3, 1997, more than 260 MQM workers and supporters have been murdered. These persistent, systematic, planned and targeted killings clearly reflect the policy of the State to physically eliminate the MQM.

Most recently, on October 11, 1998, in two separate incidents, an MQM office bearer and brother of an MQM worker were murdered in cold blood. In the first incident at around 11.30 a.m., an MQM office bearer Minhaj Uddin of Unit 67-B, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, was standing outside his house in Block 2, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, when some armed assailants (who were riding in a green Suzuki car) attacked him with lethal weapons. Minhaj was seriously injured and was immediately rushed to the Agha Khan Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Second incident took place in Orangi Town, Karachi at around 11 a.m., when some armed terrorists kidnapped Abid, brother of Shakir of MQM Unit 125, Orangi Town, close to his house. At around 3 p.m., his dead body was recovered from near Naggay Hotel, Sector 10, Orangi Town. Marks of severe torture were visible on his corpse and he was shot five times on different parts of his body.

Details of those murdered:

1-- Minhaj Uddin, age: 27 year, son of Qamar Uddin, resident of A-72/73, Block-2, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi. He was an office bearer of MQM Unit 67-B, Sector Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

2-- Abid, age: 32 year, son of Mohammad Yameen, resident of 1094, Sector L-10, Orangi Town, Karachi. He was the brother of MQM worker Shakir of Unit 125, Sector Orangi Town.