KARACHI - Rangers on Friday arrested 10 people of a political party during separate raids here on Friday. Rangers officials have not shared the details of the raids with the media but the sources said they carried out raids in the stronghold area of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and took two local leaders of MQM into custody.
It said Rangers during an intelligence-based targeted raid in Gulshan-e-Shamim of Azizabad area, near MQM headquarter Nine-Zero, it apprehended two men identified as Nafees and Arshad who are said to be the local leaders of MQM.
Just before the raid, Rangers also took three more MQM men in custody during a raid in Liaquatabad area. The suspects were identified as Imran, Kasu and Zulfi. Earlier, in overnight raid in Bangoria Goth of Azizabad, two more MQM workers Alauddin and Kamal, associated with Unit 153-B, were arrested by the Rangers.
Meanwhile, three more MQM workers namely Qadir, Danish and Saleem were taken into custody from Saeedabad area of Baldia Town and another worker M Ali was apprehended from Scheme 33, Safoora Chowrangi area. A raid was also conducted at MQM’s office in P&T Colony, however, no arrest was made. The recovery of arms and ammunition were not reported, however, all the arrested MQM workers were shifted to undisclosed location for further questioning.
So far, the Rangers officials have not shared any details about the raids and arrests. The sources said the recent raid could be the part of paramilitary force’s campaign against the forced collection of Zakat and Fitra in the city.
They further said that Rangers personnel had recovered Fitra receipts from MQM workers who were arrested from Bangoria Goth. Since June, Rangers have so far arrested nearly 20 MQM workers for collecting forcible Fitra in Rizvia Society, Hyderi and other localities.
Meanwhile, some 79 suspects including three suspected militants were arrested during the ongoing targeted raids and operations by the law enforcement agencies in New Karachi, Mawach Goth, Soldier Bazaar, Landhi, Lyari and Mariupur areas. Police officials said a suicide jacket and hand grenades were also recovered from the possession of three suspected militants.
MQM APPEALS HUMAN
RIGHTS ORGANISATION
MQM Coordination Committee on Friday expressed concern over the continuous arrests of party workers. It appealed to Human Rights Organisations to raise their voices against the injustices meted out against the party and its welfare organisation KKF.
In a statement, MQM committee members have termed the Rangers action a conspiracy against MQM welfare organisation. Rangers have arrested three MQM workers namely Qadir, Danish and M Naeem of Unit-116 Baldia Town from their houses. Rangers also took away a party worker of Unit-33-a, M Ali from his house. The party has also received information that Rangers have raided the houses and arrested many party workers from Bhangoria Goth.
Deploring the unjustified action by Rangers against MQM workers, they said banned outfits were openly collecting Zakat, Fitra and donation not only from Karachi but every nook and corner of the country but paramilitary force had made the collection of Zakat and Fitra a cognisable offence for MQM and its welfare organisation.