MQM ends protest rally in Karachi

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) ended its protest rally against raids on its campaign offices and arrests of its workers ahead of the local government elections in Karachi.

The protest rally was stopped near the Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum in Karachi and was not allowed to proceed towards the red zone as they had initially planned.

MQM had called for a protest rally that was to march from Liaquatabad till the Sindh Rangers headquarters to register their protest against raids and arrests of its workers demanding that the party be allowed to contest the upcoming local government elections freely.

However, after marching from Liauqatabad till the Quaid’s mausoleum the rally was met with road blocks and a heavy contingent of police that restricted them from marching ahead.

MQM leaders Dr. Farooq Sattar, Haider Abbas Rizvi, Aamir Khan and Faisal Subzwari among others addressed the rally near the Quaid’s mausoleum demanding that the party be allowed to contest the local government elections.

According to sources, the MQM had decided before hand that if they will be stopped they will register their protest where they are stopped and after party leaders had addressed the crowd the rally ended a little before 8:00 PM after which the road blocks near the Quaid’s mausoleum were removed.

However, due to the large number of people present, the rally caused a log jam in the surrounding areas. The arteries affected include, Saddar, Guru Mandir, Teen Hati and surrounding areas.