Karachi: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders Qamar Mansoor, Sufian Yousuf, Azeem Farooqui and in-charge Rabita Committee Kaiful Wara were arrested in a raid at the party headquarters Nine-Zero here by Rangers in the early hours on Friday.Six other workers were arrested in Korangi and Malir in separate raids.

According to reports, the personnel of paramilitary force entered the Nine-Zero office and Khusheed Begum Memorial Hall after surrounding the area in Karachi’s Azizabad neighbourhood, a stronghold of the Altaf Hussain-led MQM party. MQM sources said  that Azeem Farooqui and Sufian Yousuf were released after a brief interrogation. However, Qamar Mansoor and Rabita Committee’s newly appointed in-charge Kaiful Wara have been taken to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.

Eight Rangers vehicle were used in the search operation. Confirming the arrest of Qamar Mansoor and Kaiful Wara, MQM’s central leader Wasay Jalil said that the raid was carried out without any search warrant. He said he was not aware of any other arrests made during the Rangers raid.

At least four Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) workers including a joint unit in-charge were arrested in Karachi area of Korangi in Friday’s wee hours. The personnel of paramilitary force launched a raid in Bagh-e-Korangi and arrested joint unit in-charge Shakeel Kabootar and three other party activists. 

Kabootar has been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogations. Another report said that two MQM workers were arrested in Malir on charges of delivering hate speeches.