PEACEFUL STRIKE CALL OF MUTTAHIDA QUAMI MOVEMENT (MQM)
MQM calls for peaceful strike in Karachi
to protest the Extra-Judicial Killings of its workers
Two more Mohajir youth belonging to the MQM
murdered Extra-Judicially in Karachi
Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has called for a peaceful strike on 9 September 1999, throughout the province of Sindh to protest against the extra-judicial executions of two of its workers in Karachi in the early hours of 7 September 1999, by the Police in a fake "police encounter". Ahead of this peaceful strike massive raids and arrests of MQM workers and supporters have been conducted throughout the urban centres of Sindh, particularly in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah, Sukkur etc.
More than 350 MQM workers and supporters have been ruthlessly murdered since the present Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came into power in 1997. Furthermore, this is the third case of extra-judicial killings in the month of September 1999, claiming the lives of 5 innocent MQM workers and supporters.
9 September 1999
Pakistan time: 9.45
a.m.
Afraid and fearful over the overwhelming success of the
peaceful strike call by the MQM throughout the province of Sindh,
the personnel of police and other law enforcement agencies have
now once again resorted to unleashing the reign of terror amongst
the peaceful citizens of Sindh. In the areas of Lyari and Gizri
of Karachi, it has been witnessed that the police officials along
with large number of police personnel are harassing and
threatening the shopkeepers and owners of small businesses to
immediately open up their shops and offices or else get ready to
face the consequences. Several reports of police brutalities have
so far been reported to Nine Zero, the MQM Head Office and to the
press. In fresh raids throughout Sindh, several hundred MQM
workers and supporters have been arrested so far.
Pakistan time: 9
a.m.
-- The entire industrial area of Korangi remained closed
today to observe the peaceful strike call of MQM.
Pakistan time: 8.35
a.m.
District West and Central of Karachi are totally closed with
all the people peacefully observing the strike call of MQM. The
Area of Orangi Town is completely observing shutter down strike
with no public vehicle on the streets.
Pakistan time: 8
a.m.
-- Complete shutter down strike being observed in the urban
centres of Sindh, specially the cities of Karachi and Hyderabad.
All the schools, major businesses, financial institutions and
commercial centres are closed.
-- According to latest information, the areas of Gizri, Clifton, Defence, Punjab Colony, Manzoor Colony, Clifton Bridge and Boat Basin are totally shut down with not even a single public transport in operation.
-- Furthermore, the commercial area of Tariq Road is completely closed and with no public transport vehicle on the road.
-- Similarly the area of North Nazimabad and Federal B. Area are also observing complete strike with all the shops and businesses shut down. No public transport can be seen on the streets.
-- Complete strike is also being observed in Hyderabad and other urban centres of Sindh.
Pakistan time: 7
a.m.
The Police and other law enforcement agencies have been
reported to threaten the shopkeepers in Karachi and Hyderabad, to
open their shops today otherwise they will face dire consequences.
In Unit 103, Shah Faisal Colony, Karachi, large number of police
personnel are firing indiscrimiately to harass and theaten the
area residents.
Pakistan time: 5
a.m.
In night long raids in the urban centres of Sindh,
particularly Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah and Sukkur,
several hundred MQM workers, supporters and their family members
have been arrrested by police and other law enforcement agencies
to sabotage the peaceful strike call of MQM.
8 September 1999
Pakistan time: 10 p.m.
Heavy contingent of Police have cordoned off the P&T and
Dehli Colony in the District South of Karachi. No one is allowed
to enter or leave the area.
Pakistan time: 6.45 p.m.
HOUSE OF WASIM AKHTAR, MEMBER OF PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH
BELONGING TO THE MQM RAIDED BY POLICE
Heavy contingent of police in more than a dozen police
mobiles, led by notorious DSP Chaudhry Aslam of Nazimabad Police
Station, raided the residence of Mr. Wasim Akhtar, Member of
Provincial Assembly of Sindh belonging to the MQM. The raiding
party forcibly entered into the house by breaking the front door
and climbing the walls. It is to be noted that the residence of
Mr. Wasim Akhtar is in Block-2 of PECHS in Karachi, just behind
the Dolmens Centre at Tariq Road, whereas the raiding party had
came a long way from Nazimabad, Karachi.
DSP Chaudhry Aslam misbehaved and threatened the elderly parents and wife of Mr. Wasim Akhtar. At the time of raid, Mr. Wasim Akhtar's son and his three friends were playing cricket in their house. The raiding party did not even spared them and have arrested them and at present they are being detained at the Nazimabad Police Station. Furthermore, the raiding party molested the women present and ransacked the house. Many valuable items including the furniture have been broken.
Pakistan time: 4 p.m.
Mr. Zahid Qureshi MPA and Mr. Farooq Ahmed MNA, belonging to
the MQM, along with Mr. Murtaza and Mr. Saliheen, Members of MQM
Elders Wing, were distributing leaflets of the MQM peaceful
strike call of 9 September 1999. Suddenly a raid was conducted on
the instructions of SHO Sarwar Commando of Liaquatabad Police
Station. Mr. Murtaza was arrested by the Liaquatabad Police
Station and the car containing the leaflets has been confiscated.
Pakistan time: 3 p.m.
The personnel of Police opened indiscriminate fire upon
people waiting at the bus stop in Unit 132, Qasba More in Karachi.
As a result several people were injured.
Pakistan time: 11 a.m.
The personnel of Mirpurkhas Police raided several houses of
MQM workers and supporters and arrested several of them. During
night long raids, the raiding party forcibly entered into the
houses, severely tortured the incumbents and ransacked the houses.
Those arrested during these raids are:
A raid was also conducted at the residence of Khalid Tabassum, Member of MQM Mirpurkhas Zonal Committee.
Pakistan time: 3 a.m.
SHO Sarwar Commando of Liaquatabad Police Station raided
several houses of MQM workers and supporters in Unit 58, PIB
Colony of Karachi. During these raids several MQM workers and
supporters have been arrested. Their details are: