MQM-JSQM HUNGER STRIKE IN FRONT OF KARACHI PRESS CLUB

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MQM-JSQM HUNGER STRIKE

MQM-JSQM LEADERS BRUTALLY TORTURED, INJURED AND ARRESTED

DENIAL OF FUNDAMENTAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PROTEST

IS DEMANDING WATER A CRIME?

MQM-JSQM Hunger Strikers
Shamsuddin, Saifur Rehman, Khalid Hussain Abro and Nazim Narejo

Karachi Time: 12.30 pm
The MQM-JSQM Hunger Strike entered its fifth today in Karachi, the southern port city of Pakistan. According to first information received, all the peaceful protestors and the observers of hunger strike have been brutally tortured and arrested. The MQM and JSQM leaders who were to observe the hunger strike are: Mr Shamsuddin, Mr Saifur Rehman, Mr Khalid Hussain Abro and Mr Nazim Narejo. More than three dozen women and more than 50 elders also accompanied the hunger strikers. Reports are coming in that almost every one of them has been brutally tortured and arrested.

Sons of the Land of Shah Lateef being punished for demanding water

Once again the peacefully protestors being brutally subjected to State Oppression
just for demanding their due share of water for the Province of Sindh

At around 12.20 pm, a group of elders carrying placards reached the Fresco Chowk to protest against the artificial water shortage for Sindh Province. At 12.23 pm, the police mobiles cordoned off the area. A group of women protestors also made their entry to the Fresco Chowk. They were displaying placards and carrying empty water containers (matkas). The protestors raised slogans: give us water, stop the injustices, the water of River Indus is ours, etc. Finally, at around 12.57 pm, the police attacked the protestors. They used batons, kicks, rifle butts and punches to beat-up the protestors. Several of the protestors were thrown to the ground and tortured, whereas several women participants were today once again subjected to humiliation and molestation at the hands of the police. All the hunger strikers were thrown into the waiting police mobile vans. The elders were also not spared and were brutally subjected to inhuman torture.

The women participants of the peaceful protest against the artificial
water shortage for the Province of Sindh

The women participants were brutally tortured, beaten with batons, kicks and were dragged along the streets and arrested. When the press reportes protested to the police over this humiliation, they too were threatened and roughed up.

The available names of those arrested: Mohammad Shareef, Shamsuddin, Shameem Ahmed, Abdullah, Saifur Rehman, Jalil Mohammad Khan, Khalid Hussain Abro, Tariq Khaskheli, Mansoor Thebo, Nazim Narejo, Saleem Mughal, Saleh Mohammad Hango, Allah Rakha, Ms Ghazal Rafiq, Ms Salma and Ms Mahmooda, and others.

MQM-JSQM Hunger Strikers
Mr Fareed Ahmed MPA, Mr Bansaz Ali Khokhar, Mr Zahid Qureshi MPA, Mr Ameen Phanwar and others

Karachi Time: 12.30 pm
ZAHID QURESHI MPA, FAREED AHMED MPA, BANSAZ ALI KHOKHAR AND AMEEN PHANWAR, TORTURED, ROUGHED UP AND ARRESTED
RUBBER BULLETS FIRED, PARTICULARLY UPON WOMEN PARTICIPANTS
WOMENFOLK BRUTALLY MANHANDLED AND MOLESTED

The MQM-JSQM Hunger Strike entered its fourth day today in Karachi. According to details, Mr Zahid Qureshi MPA, Mr Fareed Ahmed MPA, MQM Members of Provincial Assembly of Sindh, and Mr Bansaz Ali Khokhar and Mr Ameen Phanwar of JSQM were the main hunger strikers.

Tortured and unconscious Member of Provincial Assembly Mr Zahid,
pushed to the ground and held there after being subjected to brutal torture

Zahid Qureshi MPA, Fareed Ahmed MPA and other protestors
being brutally beaten and kicked

Yet another daughter of Sindh
Victim of police brutalities - being tortured and molested

According to the first information, at around 12 noon, the hunger strikes joined by more than 50 workers and supporters of MQM and JSQM reached the Karachi Press Club to peacefully observe the hunger strike. The police and other law enforcement agencies blocked them from reaching the venue of hunger strike. The entire area and the surroundings of the Karachi Press Club were cordoned off by the law enforcement agencies. At around 12.25 pm, all the four hunger strikers were arrested. Mr Zahid Qureshi MPA, Mr Fareed Ahmed MPA, Mr Bansaz Ali Khokhar and Mr Ameen Phanwar were brutally tortured, roughed up and arrested.

HEIGHT OF BRUTALITY - Just for demanding the due share of clean drinking water for the Province of Sindh, the police brutally beat-up the participants, including the women and elders. Rubber bullets were fired, particularly upon the women participants. Womenfolk were brutally manhandled and molested. They were beaten, their clothes torn and humiliated. The police used abusive and derogatory language. Elderly people were also brutally beaten, they were baton charged, kicked and punched including Mr Zahid Qureshi MPA and Fareed Ahmed MPA. The press photographers and reporters were also threatened of dire consequences if they dared to report the incident.

The details of those who have been arrested so far are: Mr Zahid Qureshi MPA, Mr Fareed Ahmed MPA, Mr Bansaz Ali Khokhar, Mr Ameen Phanwar, Mr Sami Hasnain Kazmi, Mr Abdul Jabbar, Mr Abdul Razzaq, Mr Abdul Rasheed, Mr Mohammad Ameen, Mr Abdul Salam, Mr Fareed Qureshi, Mr Imam Uddin, Mr Reaz Ali Khan, Mr Faqeer Abdul Razzaq Unnar, Mr Mushtaq Shad Khaskheli, Mr Adil Hussain Shah, Mr Ali Asghar and others.

Left: View of the cordon off of the streets leading to Karachi Press Club
Right: Protestors being prevented from reaching the venue of the Hunger Strike

MQM-JSQM Hunger Strikers
Abdul Sattar Ansari MPA, Zafar Rajput MPA, Sikander Soomro and Saleem Sayal

Karachi Time: 1.30 pm
ZAFAR RAJPUT MPA, SEVERELY AND BRUTALLY BEATEN MOLESTED AND ARRESTED- WOMEN WERE ALSO BADLY TREATED, MOLESTED AND ARRESTED
It has just been reported that Mr Zafar Rajput MPA, who was observing the hunger strike, was most severely and brutally tortured by the police. The personnel of police hit him with rifle butts, kicked and punched him repeatedly. As a result, he has been severely injured and needs immediate medical attention. Moreover, the ruthless and barbaric torture and molestation of women participants continued even today. All of the women participants were subjected to brutal torture, they were molested, inhumanly dragged and pushed. The police and other law enforcement agencies once again displayed their utter disrespect towards the womenfolk.

Karachi Time: 12 noon
ELECTED MEMBERS OF PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY TORTURED AND DETAINED BY POLICE - HIT BY RIFLE BUTTS AND BLOOD OOZING FROM HIS HEAD

POLICE BRUTALITIES -- Witness the inhuman and barbaric treatment to
Mr Abdul Sattar Ansari, an elected Member of Provincial Assembly

The MQM-JSQM Hunger Strike for the rights of Sindh Province continued for the third day. Today Mr Abdul Sattar Ansari MPA and Mr Zafar Rajput MPA, MQM Members of Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Mr Sikander Soomro, President Jeay Sindh Labour Wing and Mr Saleem Sayal, Regional Leader of JSQM, were the main hunger strikers. They were joined by three dozen women and three dozen elders belonging to MQM and JSQM. Similar to the events of the first two days of the Hunger Strike, the Police and other law enforcement agencies immediately resorted to torture and highhandedness. Mr Abdul Sattar Ansari MPA, was brutally tortured and arrested. He was hit by rifle butts. Blood was oozing from his head and he was seriously injured. Despite receiving severe injuries he was ruthlessly dragged and thrown into a police mobile. Till the filing of this initial report, police have once again unleashed a most ruthless reign of terror upon the peaceful protestors and have arrested them.

The details of those who have been arrested from Karachi Press Club: Ms Anjum Naz, Ms Shabana, Ms Isra, Ms Aisha, Ms Shahida, Mr Abdul Sattar Ansari MPA, Mr Zafar Rajput MPA, Mr Sikander Soomro, Subedar Khuso, Mr Saleem Moazzam, Mr Ehsan Ali, Mr Saleem Sayal, Mr Islah, Mr Abdul Sattar, Mr Iftikhar Ul Haq, Mr Ghulam Sarwar, Mr Dilbar Ali, Mr Wakeel, Mr Mohammad Yahya, Mr Jusho, Mr Mohammad Yameen, Mr Akash Khatti, Mr Mukhtar, Mr Nisar Iqbal, Mr Mubarak Ali, Mr Lal Aseero, Mr Rahib Ali, etc.

HASAN MUSANNA ALVI, DR ARIF RAZMI, GHULAM NABI KATHIO AND MAULA BAKHSH MEMON, BATON CHARGED, TORTURED AND UNLAWFULLY ARRESTED

Karachi Time: 6 pm
LIFE IN DANGER -- ONE OF THE WOMAN DETAINEE SUFFERING FROM HEART PROBLEM
We have just recieved this information that Ms Nuzhat Kamal, Member of MQM Ladies Wing and one of the detainee, is suffering from heart problem. Despite her severe medical condition, she is being detained at the Police Lock-up and has not been shifted to the hospital so far. Ms Nuzhat Kamal was detained today from the Karachi Press Club. Dr Imran Farooq, the MQM Convenor, has demanded that Ms Nuzhat Kamal should be immediately shifted to the nearest hospital and proper medical care should be provided.

Karachi Time: 3.30 pm
According to recent reports, as a result of the beatings by the police, Mr Hasan Musanna Alvi, Member of MQM Coordination Committee, has fractured his arms. Moreover, other workers and supporters of MQM namely Sardar Qureshi, Abdul Majeed, Mohammad Basheer and Javed Akhtar are also very seriously injured due to the inhuman baton charge unleashed upon the peaceful protestors at the Hunger Strike Camp. Several women supporters and workers of MQM and JSQM were also brutally treated and beaten. As a result they have also received severe injuries. The police and other law enforcement agencies have even arrested those women who had came to witness the Hunger Strike.

STATE FORCE AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTORS

A helpless elderly daughter of Sindh Dharti being pulled and dragged towards the police mobile

Karachi Time: 12 noon
The MQM-JSQM Hunger Strike, for the rights of Sindh Province and as protest against the artificial water shortage, continued for the second day despite the State oppression and atrocities faced on the first day. On the second day of the Hunger Strike, Hasan Musanna Alvi, Member of MQM Coordination Committee, Dr Arif Razmi, MQM Member of Suspended Sindh Provincial Assembly and JSQM Members of Central Council Ghulam Nabi Kathio and Maula Bakhsh Memon were the main hunger strikers at the Hunger Strike Camp near the Karachi Press Club. They were joined by two dozen women workers of MQM, including Mrs Aftab Ahmed Sheikh, and JSQM and as many elders.

Supporters of MQM and JSQM raising slogans against the injustices and occupation of Sindh province

At around 12 noon, the Police and Paramilitary Rangers suddenly raided the Hunger Strike Camp and arrested all the four participants including the women and elders who were present in the Camp. As on the first day, the personnel of Police and other law enforcement agencies resorted to baton charge and torture.

They severely beat-up the peaceful participants, including the women and the elders. All the participants of hunger strike were dragged towards the waiting police mobiles and taken to the police lock-ups. Until the filing of this report, it has been confirmed the more than two dozen women supporters of MQM and JSQM have been arrested.

Peaceful protestors, including elderly people, being hurled,
dragged and pushed into the waiting police mobiles

Those who were arrested today are: Mr Hasan Musanna Alvi, Dr Arif Razmi, Mr Maula Bakhsh Memon, Mr Ghulam Nabi Kathio, Mr Syed Al-e-Zaidi, Mr Sardar Qureshi, Mr Mohammad Shafi, Mr Abdul Hameed, Mr Afsar Khan, Mr Mohammad Ishaq, Mr Ghufran Taimuri, Mr Jaffer Hussain, Mr Shahid Hussain, Mr Mohammad Basheer, Mr Ameer Naqvi, Mr Javed Akhtar, Mr Syed Qasim, Mr Ibrahim, Ms Rubina Nayab, Ms Aisha Aftab Sheikh, Ms Surayya Waqar Baig, Ms Shameem Raheem, Ms Nuzhat Kamal, Ms Sardar, Ms Shehnaz, etc.

AFTAB AHMED SHEIKH, NASREEN JALIL, SHAFI MOHAMMAD KARNANI, SARAI QURBAN KHAWAR AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS OF HUNGER STRIKE BRUTALLY BEATEN AND UNLAWFULLY ARRESTED NEAR THE KARACHI PRESS CLUB

LADY SENATOR NASREEN JALIL BRUTALLY BEATEN AND DRAGGED TOWARDS THE POLICE MOBILE

HEIGHT OF OPPRESSION AND HIGHANDEDNESS
WITNESS THE BRUTAL TREATMENT TO NASREEN JALIL

MQM Deputy Convenor and Lady Senator Nasreen Jalil being beaten,
pushed and dragged towards the police mobile

Karachi Time: 2.30 pm
LIFE IN DANGER - URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED FOR AFTAB AHMED SHEIKH AND MRS NASREEN JALIL

The medical condition of MQM Deputy Convenor Aftab Ahmed Sheikh, who was arrested this morning, is serious. He is a diabetic patient and suffers from high blood pressure. He is being denied medical treatment in the Police lock-up. Despite formal requests by his lawyers to immediately shift him to a nearby hospital, he is still being detained at the Artillery Maidan Police Station. It is strongly apprehended that if immediate medical attention were not provided to Aftab Ahmed Sheikh then his life would be in extreme in danger. Similarly, Lady Senator Nasreen Jalil, who was brutally manhandled earlier this morning while being arrested, also requires immediate medical attention.

Karachi Time: 2 pm
The initial details of some of the MQM workers arrested are: Mohammad Siddique of MQM Unit 156 Moosa Colony, Rana Nazeer of MQM Unit 161 New Karachi, Mohammad Younus of MQM Unit 157 Al-Karam, Imtiaz Mohammad Safdar of MQM Unit 157 Al-Karam and Khalid of MQM Unit 71 Korangi.

MQM-JSQM participants of the Hunger Strike being arrested and taken away in police mobiles

So far we have received the following names of workers of MQM Ladies Wing who have been beaten and arrested by the Police and Paramilitary Rangers: Ms Bilqees Mukhtar, Ms Zareena Mahmood, Ms Shamim Khalil, Ms Nuzhat Kamal, Ms Afsar Jahan, Ms Surayya Waqar, Ms Zahida, Ms Razia Sarwar, Ms Alya, Ms Raeesa Waqar, Ms Sardar Fatima and Ms Qamar Fareed.

Members of MQM Ladies Wing and Supporters of JSQM
being arrested and taken away in Police Mobiles

We are awaiting the details of others who have been arrested. We would upload this information as soon as we receive it.

Karachi Time: 11.20 am
Heavy contingents of Police and Paramilitary Rangers have arrested Mr Aftab Ahmed Sheikh and Mrs Nasreen Jalil, Deputy Convenors of MQM and Mr Shafi Mohammad Karnani, Senior Vice Chairman JSQM and Sarai Qurban Khawar, Joint Secretary JSQM, while they were observing peaceful hunger strike in front of the Karachi Press Club.

Presence of Heavy Contingents of Police and Paramilitary Rangers at the Karachi Press Club

According to details, at around 11 am, the participants of the hunger strike reached the Karachi Press Club. The heavy contingents of Police and Paramilitary Rangers did not allowed them to reach the Karachi Press Club, where they were to observe the peaceful hunger strike. Thereafter the participants of the hunger strike, i.e. Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh, MQM Deputy Convenor, Senator Mrs Nasreen Jalil, MQM Deputy Convenor, Mr Shafi Mohammad Karnani, Senior Vice Chairman JSQM and Mr Sarai Qurban Panwar, Joint Secretary JSQM accompanied by hundreds of workers of MQM and JSQM, including women and elders, decided to observe the hunger strike on the street in front of the Karachi Press Club.

Immediately afterwards, between 11 and 11.15 am, the personnel of Police, Paramilitary Rangers and other law enforcement agencies moved in without any provocation to disperse the crowd and to arrest those observing the hunger strike. They brutally manhandled the peaceful hunger strikers. The participants and observers were baton charged. The Lady Senator Nasreen Jalil was baton charged and dragged by her hair towards the police mobile. The women participants were brutally beaten, whereas the observers of the hunger strike were grabbed and pulled towards the waiting police mobiles and taken away. Until our filing of this report, it is learnt that they have been taken to the Artillery Maidan Police Station. More than 250 people, including women workers of MQM, have been arrested.

The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) and Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz (JSQM) have decided to begin a peaceful protest campaign with hunger strike in front of the Karachi Press Club tomorrow. The leaders and workers of both the MQM and JSQM would participate in this protest hunger strike. MQM Deputy Convenors Aftab Ahmed Sheikh, Mrs Nasreen Jalil, Sheikh Liaquat Hussain and Mr Bashir Qureshi, the Chairman of JSQM, at a joint press conference, made the announcement for this hunger strike earlier on 1 April 2001. The hunger strike is organised in protest over the injustices against the province of Sindh.

Mr Altaf Hussain, the Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), has appealed to all the righteous people of Sindh to participate in the peaceful protest campaign of MQM and JSQM to attain the rights of the province of Sindh by Punjab and to prevent the province from becoming a colony of the Punjab. Mr Hussain said that the Establishment after making Sindh as the colony of Punjab is usurping its resources. Even the province of Sindh is being deprived of its due share of water resulting in the damage to the crops. Mr Hussain appealed to all the linguistic groups of the province to unite and struggle for the legitimate rights of the province of Sindh.