Daily Times

KARACHI: A day after the arrest of assistant registrar of University of Karachi, about half of a dozen more workers including a key-leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London (MQM-L) were arrested on Friday.

MQM-London which has already announced to hold its public rally from Ayesha Manzil to Mazar-e-Quaid on January 21 under the umbrella of Pakistan Qaumi Movement in which an address of Altaf Hussain for the participants of the rally is also expected .The program is likely to canceled following the frequent raids and arrests of party’s workers and supporters.

The party’s key-leader Sathi Ishaq was arrested during a raid conducted by law enforcers in Saddar area. Ishaq was on his way to home from his office driving his car when his arrest was made. He was then shifted to an undisclosed location for further questioning. MQM-London leader Nadeem Nusrat also confirmed the arrest and demanded his immediate release.

A former sector member of Gulshan-e-Maymar Izhar Khan and and another worker, namely Muhammad Azam were taken into custody from Abul Hassan Isphani Road.

Aziz Ishaq, a former Scheme 33 in-charge for the party was apprehended during a raid at his residence in Block-19, Federal B Area.

Four more workers were apprehended during a raid in a residential apartment in Gulshan-e-Iqbal locality.

Though the Rangers spokesperson has remained tight lipped when contacted for comments, however, sources in the party have informed that the workers arrested from Abul Hassan Isphani Road and Federal B Area were working for MQM-L under the umbrella of MQM-Pakistan, adding that the party is also considering to cancel the January 21st rally following the frequent arrests of party workers and sympathizers.

MQM-London Coordination Committee has condemned the arrests of party leaders, workers and supporters. “Rangers have sped up their operations against our party following the directives of federal interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Khan,” reads a statement issued on Friday. “The aim to arrest our party workers is to make the Pak-Sarzamin Party rally successful which is to be held on January 29.”

The 21st January rally is being organised by PQM not by the MQM. “MQM has been invited to join in the rally and Altaf Bhai was invited to address,” said the party’s spokesperson. “Only PQM has the authority to cancel or postpone the rally while MQM can only consider whether MQM should join the rally or not following the frequent arrests.”