KARACHI: Officials investigated the three detained Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders pertaining to the August 22 speech by the party supremo and subsequent attacks on media houses, sources said on Thursday.
Prison sources said that MQM leaders Kunwar Naveed Jamil, Qamar Mansoor and Shahid Pasha were investigated regarding the inflammatory speech by the MQM supremo on August 22 and ensuing violence in the city that saw media houses attacked and public property vandalised by raged activists.
In his statement, Kunwar Naveed Jamil said that he wa sholding political meetings at the time of attack on the offices of a private news channel in Karachi on August 22, they said. He expressed complete ignorance to the speech by the MQM founder and ensuing unrest in the city.
Shahid Pasha stated before the investigators that he was present at party headquarters Nine Zero at the time of attack, sources added.
On August 22, MQM workers turned to violence after being told by their party chief to surround the offices of Geo News, Samaa and ARY. Prior to workers taking to the streets, party supremo in an address from London incited them to chant anti-Pakistan slogans.
In violent protests which ensued, party workers ransacked the offices of a private news channel, while the mobile satelite van of another was damaged. A man was killed due to firing amid unrest, while eight others were injured.