The Daily DAWN
Operation against Muttahida has begun: Altaf
By Our Reporter
July 16, 1998
KARACHI, July 15: The chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf
Hussain, on Wednesday condemned the alleged siege, house-to-house
search and arrest of MQM activists and supporters in different
localities of the city.
In a statement, Mr Hussain claimed that unchecked activities of
the Rangers have proved that the para-military forces have not
only been given powers of arrest and investigation, but that
another operation against the MQM has begun.
He protested to the prime minister and the chief minister for
going back on their promises and said that the MQM had been
promised that no operation against it would be launched and that
it would be taken into confidence before taking any decision with
regard to law and order.
He was critical of the government for giving more powers to
Rangers without taking the MQM into confidence.
Mr Hussain said that at a time when the country is passing
through its worst crisis of confidence, vested interest has not
given up conspiracies against the MQM which has endangered
national unity.
He said that a "new and barbaric operation against the MQM
has started even before the people had forgotten the reign of
terror let lose during the PPP tenure".
He said that "for the past few days reports about siege of
Orangi Town, Liaquatabad and Baldia Town by rangers have caused
anxiety among the people as they have again resorted to
blindfolding and arresting innocent people and humiliating
womenfolk".
In this context he said the rangers laid siege of Orangi Town
unit 119 and 121, and residents were being treated as colonial
subjects. He also mentioned the raid in North Nazimabad area and
alleged that rangers also made a video film of the area which may
be used for implicating innocent people in false cases.
He said that on the one hand rangers were arresting Muttahida
activists and supporters, but Haqiqis are given a free hand. He
was also critical of reporting of these incidents by a section of
the press.
NASREEN JALEEL: Scores of Muttahida Qaumi Movement supporters
were rounded up in a "siege and search operation" by
the paramilitary rangers in Orangi and North Nazimabad on
Wednesday, Senator Nasreen Jaleel told Dawn.
"As far as the MQM is concerned, the operation is on, and
the same humiliating tactics are being used as was witnessed
during 1992," she said.
The MQM Senator said that para-military rangers laid siege of
Sector 14-E, Orangi, for two hours between 5 and 7pm and arrested
about a dozen MQM supporters of unit numbers 119 and 121.
She alleged that three people, Kamran Qureshi, Osama Qadri and
Faisal Naseeb, were arrested by the rangers in North Nazimabad
Block-K.
"They were blindfolded and taken away in Rangers' vehicle
number 1702 of rangers wing 72," Senator Nasreen alleged and
added that all attempts to contact the chief minister and other
government officials failed.
She said that "since July 11, everyday about 10 people,
including sympathizers, are being arrested".
Senator Nasreen alleged that once again the practice of rounding
up relatives and blindfolding them has been revived, and those
arrested are humiliated.
The MQM senator asked why the "operation" has not been
launched in the "no-go areas" and alleged that the law
enforcing agencies were extracting money for the release of those
arrested by them.
Accusing the LEA of partisan approach, she said that yesterday
they had arrested an alleged Haqiqi activists but released him
after a few hours.
She was of the view that such actions by the administration would
provoke people and further aggravate the law and order situation.
She alleged that under official patronage Haqiqi and BACK offices
are being opened in Hyderabad and Mirpur Khas for creating law
and order problem.