DAWN
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4 November1999

MQM alleges police excesses
By Our Reporter

KARACHI, Nov 3: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Thursday complained that there has been no change in the attitude of the police and administration towards it, despite the dismissal of Nawaz Sharif's government.

Addressing a news conference at Nine Zero, the deputy convener of the MQM coordination committee drew attention towards the continuing raids at the residences of the party's activists and their supporters.

Senator Aftab Shaikh noted that punitive action against the MQM gathered momentum soon after it announced the preparation of a working paper to take the country out of the economic and political crises.

Describing the incidents of police excesses, he said that on Tuesday night police raided the residence of a sector incharge, Muhammad Zafar. But when he was not found, the police in civvies arrested Mohammed Arshad. He feared that Arshad' life might be in danger. He alleged that the police and other officials also raided theresidence of Muhammad Mairaj, an activist of Orangi Town, and many others on Tuesday and when they were not found, the raiding parties arrested the wanted person's elderly relatives.

Another activist, Akram, was arrested from a marriage hall in the Lines Area where he had gone to attend the marriage of his sister-in-law on Oct 31, he claimed. He also cited raids in Baldia Town between the night of Oct 30 and 31 and alleged the police went on a rampage led by Inspector Nasrullah Jadoon who beat up the elderly parents of Mohammed Yameen.

He also referred to alleged raids at the residences of activists living in Orangi Town, Lines Area, Jamshed Quarters, Saudabad, Ranchore Line, Khawaja Ajmer Nagri, Pak Colony, Buffer Zone and other parts of the city.

The MQM's deputy convener also named various police officials involved in the alleged harassment of the party activists and supporters. Senator Shaikh said that like Karachi the MQM activists in Hyderabad and other parts of the province were also being harassed. He alleged that police in Hyderabad was defying court orders and allegedly acting in a partisan manner.

He said that in addition to continuing raids "suspicious charters" had once again become active around Nine Zero. Senator Shaikh was "shocked" to see that those officials who were allegedly involved in extra-judicial killings were roaming about freely. He urged the Chief Executive to take notice of police excesses and investigate why there had been no change in the attitude of the police.