ILLEGAL RAIDS, ARRESTS, TORTURE AND HARASSMENT OF MQM WORKERS, SUPPORTERS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF NAWAZ SHARIF

Karachi: November 6, 1998:

Since the imposition of ‘Governor Rule’ in the province of Sindh, southern Pakistan, the law enforcement agencies have intensified the raids and arrests of MQM workers, supporters and their family members. During these raids the raiding party has ransacked the houses, abused and molested the family members. Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) is the third largest political party of Pakistan and the second largest in the province of Sindh.

The violations of human rights is so gross that according to Daily DAWN of November 4, 1998, a leading English daily of Pakistan: "The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed its concern over the imposition of governor’s rule in Sindh under emergency provisions of the constitution". Further criticising the imposition of Governor rule HRCP said, "This action of placing the province under federal authority goes against the principle of autonomy and reinforces the feelings of alienation among the people of smaller provinces."

We are enclosing the details of raids, arrests and harassment of the MQM workers and supporters by the law enforcement agencies of Pakistan. Also enclosed are two newspaper reports for your perusal.

AVAILABLE DETAILS OF RAIDS, ARRESTS, TORTURE, HARASSMENT OF MQM WORKERS, SUPPORTERS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

5 November 1998

1- Kashif Majeed Ullah 23, son of Majeed Ullah, resident of R-272, Lal Shahbaz Nagar, Block-9, Federal B. Area, Karachi. He is a worker of APMSO Premier College Unit. At around 2.30 p.m., the personnel of Jauharabad Police Station led by SHO Azam Hyat raided the residence of Kashif and arrested him.

2- Ahmer Quddus Chishti 25, son of Abdul Quddus Chishti, resident of H-334/9, Lal Shahbaz Nagar, Block-9, Federal B. Area, Karachi. He is a worker of APMSO Premier College Unit. At around 2.30 p.m., the personnel of Jauharabad Police Station led by SHO Azam Hyat raided the house of Ahmer Quddus and arrested him along with his brother Zeeshan.

3- Mohammad Aslam 21, son of Mohammad Hussain, resident of Sector 5-G, Saeedabad, Karachi. He is the younger brother of Jaffer, an MQM worker of Unit 113, Sector Baldia Town. At around 4 a.m., the personnel of Saeedabad Police Station raided his house and in the absence of Jaffer, they arrested his brother Mohammad Aslam. The same raiding party raided the house of Muneer Anjum, member of Muttahida Organising Committee and in his absence abused and molested the family members and ransacked the house.

4- Muzammil 19, son of Abdul Rehman, resident of Sector G-35, Saeedabad, Karachi. He is the brother of Qadeer, an active worker of MQM Unit 113, Sector Baldia Town. At around 4 a.m., the personnel of Saeedabad Police Station raided his house and in the absence of Qadeer, they arrested his brother Muzammil.

4 November 1998

1- Mohammad Wajid, age: 32 year, son of Mohammad Ahmed, resident of Shah Faisal Colony No. 4, Karachi. He is a worker of MQM Unit 108, Sector Shah Faisal Colony. At around 1 p.m., the personnel of CIA Police raided the Dhoraji Hospital in Karachi and arrested him while at his work.

Arrest of MQM office bearer in Lahore, Punjab

2- The Police raided the house of Zulfiquar, In-charge of MQM Madan Pura Unit, Lahore. He is also the member of City Committee Lahore. As he was not present in the house, the raiding party arrested his three brothers; Mukhtar 25, Sardar 22, and Sarfraz 18.

Arrest of MQM officer bearer in Rohri, Rural Sindh

3- Arif Qureshi, In-charge of MQM Rohri, was arrested during a raid conducted by Ejaz Nasreen, SHO Section B Police Station, Sukkur. From the same city Rehan Qureshi, In-charge of MQM Unit Rohri, rural Sindh, was also arrested by the Police.

Arrest of MQM officer bearer in Sukkur, Rural Sindh

4- Zikr Ur Rehman Ansari 28, son of Habib Ul Hasan, resident of Sukkur. He is the In-charge of MQM Sukkur Unit. He was arrested by the Jacobabad Police from the train while on his way to Quetta. He was later brought back to his shop in Sukkur where the Police arrested his four brothers and father. Their names are: Khalil Ur Rehman Ansari, Danyal Ansari, Fazl Ur Rehman Ansari and Habib Ur Rehman Ansari.

5- Syed Javed 15, son of Syed Qasim, resident of Banglori Mohallah, Mohajir Camp No. 3, Baldia Town, Karachi. He is the younger brother of Azhar who is a worker of MQM Medical Aid Committee. At around 2 a.m., the personnel of Baldia Town Police Station and CIA Police raided his house by breaking the front door. In the absence of Azhar, the raiding party arrested his younger brother and looted all the valuables including the jewellery present in the house.

6- Syed Farhan Ahmed 24, son of Syed Ahmed Ullah, resident of Gulshan-e-Maymar, Karachi. He is a worker of MQM Gulistan-e-Jauhar. At around 3.30 p.m., the personnel of Surjani Town Police Station raided his house and arrested him. During this raid the raiding party also arrested Amir, Mazhar and Nadir Ali who were standing at the Milk Shop of the area.

7- Mohammad Ovais 22, son of Abdul Azeem, resident of L-311, 5-C-2, North Karachi, Karachi. He is the worker of MQM Unit 136, Sector North Karachi. At around 11 a.m., the personnel of CIA Police arrested him from the City Court where he had gone to appear in his court hearing. His whereabouts are not known to anyone.

8- Mohammad Ali 20, son of Abdul Rehman, resident of Usmanabad, Karachi. He is a worker of MQM Unit 33, Sector Lyari. At around 5 p.m., the personnel of Garden Police Station raided his house and arrested him. At that time another MQM worker Mohammad Khursheed 25, who was present in the house was also arrested.

9- Abdul Rauf 25, son of Nagir Ali, resident of Azizabad, Karachi. He is a worker of MQM Unit 156, Sector Liaquatabad. At around 10 a.m., the personnel of Azizabad Police Station raided his temporary residence in Azizabad and arrested him. The raiding party also raided the houses of MQM workers Shahid, Hafeez and Islam and arrested them.

10- Amir Shah 36, son of Sher Mohammad, resident of 244-L, Shah Faisal Colony, Karachi. He is an office bearer of MQM Unit 108-A, Sector Shah Faisal Colony. At around 3.30 a.m., the personnel of Shah Faisal Police Station raided his house and arrested him.

11- Javed Ahmed 36, son of Mushtaq Ahmed, resident of Obash Nagar, Usmanabad, Karachi. He is the brother of Ryaz Ahmed, an MQM worker of Unit 13, Sector Lyari. At around 6 p.m., the personnel of Usmanabad Police Station raided his house and arrested him. It is to be noted that on the previous night the same raiding party had arrested his brother Ryaz.

3 November 1998

1- Mohammad Arif, age: 18 year, son of Abdul Majeed Khan, resident of House No. 115, Qasbah Aligarh, Karachi. He is the brother of MQM worker Kashif of Unit 132, Sector Qasbah Aligarh. At around 3.30 a.m., the personnel of Orangi Town Police Station led by Aslam Rathore raided his house and arrested him.

2- Mohammad Amir, age: 20 year, son of Mohammad Nabi Bukhsh, resident of A-H-6/1, Qasbah Aligarh Colony, Karachi. He is a supporter of MQM Unit 132, Sector Qasbah Aligarh. At around 3.30 a.m., the personnel of Orangi Police Station led by Aslam Rathore raided his house and arrested him.

3- The personnel of CIA Police raided the house of Shoaib, who is the member of MQM Ranchore Line Sector Committee. The raiding party arrived in seven mobiles. As the house was vacant at the time, therefore, the raiding party entered the house forcibly by breaking the front door. They ransacked the house and looted the valuables including the cash and jewellery of the family.

4- The personnel of Orangi Police Station and CIA Police jointly raided the houses of several MQM workers and supporters. During these raids Haqiqi terrorists were also accompanying them. The MQM workers who were arrested during these raids are: 1) Hanif 26, son of Asim, 2) Arman son of Quddus, 3) Khursheed, 4) Zameer and 5) Abdul Rasheed. All these arrested were taken to the Orangi Police Station.

5- The personnel of Police in Hyderabad raided the house of an MQM worker Waheed and arrested him.

6- The personnel of Jamshed Quarter Police Station raided the house of an MQM worker of Unit 62, Sector Society, and arrested him along with his brother Atif. They were taken to the Jamshed Quarter Police Station.

7- Mohammad Iqbal, age: 42 year, son of Mian Mohammad, resident of House No. 1669/2, Azizabad No. 2, Karachi. He is a supporter of MQM Unit 154, Sector Federal B. Area. In the early hours, the personnel of Azizabad Police Station raided his house and arrested him.

8- Hafiz Syed Laiq Imtiaz, age: 27 year, son of Syed Imtiaz, resident of House No. 1477/2, Azizabad No. 2, Federal B. Area, Karachi. He is the joint in-charge of MQM Unit 154, Sector Federal B. Area. In the midnight, the personnel of Azizabad Police Station raided his house and arrested him.

9- Izhar Ahmed Ansari, age: 32 year, son of Abdul Majeed Ansari, resident of 165, Sector A-13, Qasbah Aligarh, Karachi. He is the member of Muttahida Organising Committee of the MQM. At around 3 a.m., the personnel of Orangi Police Station led by Aslam Rathore raided his house and arrested him along with his brother Shahid Ahmed Ansari.

2 November 1998

1- Iftikhar, age: 36 year, son of Sarfraz, resident of F-14, Top Floor, Block-2, Alkaram Square, Karachi. He is a worker of MQM Unit 157, Sector Liaquatabad. At around 2.30 a.m., the personnel of CIA Police Saddar and Sharifabad Police Station raided his house and arrested him. They also arrested his brother Ashfaq 18, son of Sarfraz.

2- Rizwan, age: 25 year, son of Syed Abdul Raziq, resident of C-6, Top Floor, Block-2, Alkaram Square, Karachi. At around 2.30 a.m., the personnel of CIA Police Saddar and Sharifabad Police Station raided his house and arrested him.

3- Ryaz, age: 22 year, son of Mushtaq, resident of Shahbaz Nagar, Karachi. He is a very active worker of MQM Unit 31. In the early hours the Police raided his house and arrested him.

1 November 1998

1- Mohammad Rashid, age: 20 year, son of Mohammad Sarwar, resident of 290, Sector 13-F, Qasbah Aligarh Colony, Karachi. He is a worker of MQM Unit 122, Sector Qasbah Aligarh. At around 5 p.m., the personnel of Orangi Police Station led by Aslam Rathore raided the restaurant of Mohammad Rashid and arrested him.

2- The personnel of Preedy Police Station have arrested an MQM worker Mohammad Asim son of Mohammad Farooqui of Unit 22.