Altaf Hussain calls for sit-ins across Karachi to protest arrest of MQM workers

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has called on workers to stage sit-ins protests across Karachi against the arrest of party colleagues in police raids carried out late on Wednesday night.

Some 30 workers of the MQM were arrested during a raid carried out by Sindh Rangers in Karachi's Gulshan-i-Maymar area, out of which eight were released in the early hours of Thursday, reports the Dawn.

The MQM has selected 11 venues to hold demonstrations against the arrest of party workers. These include areas of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Rizvia Society, Sharah-i-Faisal, Landhi, Numaish and Liaquatabad. The central protest venue will be outside Chief Minister House.

Elected representatives from their areas have been directed to take charge of the protests taking place in their constituencies.

Altaf Hussain made the announcement of city-wide protests while addressing a 'sit-in' held by MQM legislators and office bearers, outside Chief Minister House.

In his address, Hussain alleged that the MQM has been targeted and sidelined for three years.

He criticized former Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary, calling him a "liar and hypocrite".

He also blamed some sections of the media for harbouring a bias against the MQM and warned owners of media houses and journalists against "airing any lies" against his party.

Hussain also accused the Rangers of discriminating against his party.

Earlier in a statement, Hussain had strongly condemned the arrest of MQM activists from a party office in Karachi and termed it illogical.

In his statement, he said the MQM had been striving to bring a durable peace to Karachi and instead of praising its efforts, authorities were targetting MQM workers.