MQM to convey reservations over Karachi operation to PM

By
AFP
|
MQM to convey reservations over Karachi operation to PM
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to meet a delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Friday to hear the party’s reservations regarding ongoing operation in Karachi.

The meeting would take place at the PM House two days after the MQM’s request during the premier’s visit to the metropolis on Wednesday.

During the trip, a delegation of the MQM led by Dr Farooq Sattar had sought a separate meeting with the PM. However, he could not meet with them due to tight schedule.

MQM’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Rashid Godil told Geo News that the PM House has now officially invited the party leaders for the meeting.

Godil, Sattar, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Senator Barrister Saif would be the likely members of the MQM’s delegation.

Before the Karachi visit, Siddiqui had said that the PM should listen to the MQM’s reservations before ‘it’s too late’.

MQM leaders have repeatedly expressed their reservations regarding the police and Rangers operation against criminals and terrorists, saying the party was being targeted in the guise of the operation.

Dozens of MQM workers among wanted convicts and suspects were arrested from and around the party headquarters Nine-Zero in raid conducted by Rangers earlier in the month.

Rangers official later registered a case against MQM chief Altaf Hussain for allegedly threatening them during a televised interview with Geo News.

Saulat Mirza, a former MQM worker and death row inmate, also hurled serious allegations against the party and Hussain in a confession video apparently from his death cell hours before his scheduled hanging on March 19.

His execution was later postponed by the president.

It is highly expected that the party’s reservations over the operation would be removed in the Friday’s meeting.