Karachi
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) announced on Thursday that it would observe a peaceful day of mourning on Friday (today) across Sindh in protest against relentless killings of its office-bearers, workers and an election candidate.
Black flags would be hoisted and Fateha offered for those killed, said the Coordination Committee in a statement.
However, it made it clear that business activity and transport service would continue as usual.
The committee asked the sectors and zones of the party across the Sindh to hoist black flags in their areas for observing the day of mourning.
It condemned the killing of its joint unit in-charge of Unit UC-5, Muhammad Faisal of the Mahmoodabad Sector. It said no steps were taken by the caretaker government and the security agencies for protecting the life and property of the MQM workers and sympathisers.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain said that killings of his party’s office-bearers and workers were continuing unabated despite the assurances given by the caretaker government that action would be taken. He strongly condemned the killing of the joint unit in-charge, Faisal, in a terrorist attack.
Hussain asked the caretaker government and the election commission what they were doing to stop the killings of MQM office-bearers and workers. He asked the caretaker government, the governor and the election commission to think of the impact on the coming general elections if the MQM called a general strike over the killings or held protest demonstrations.
He said the killers were roaming freely despite the heavy presence of police and intelligence agencies in the city.
Hussain asked if some personnel of provincial intelligence agencies were hand in glove with the killers and criminal elements. He said that the MQM was swallowing the bitter pill for the sake of peaceful elections.