MQM protests over 'genocide' of Mohajirs

Protesting against arbitrary arrests, enforced unlawful disappearances, unlawful detention and extra-judicial killings of Mohajirs in Pakistan, the Muttahida Qami Movement (MQM) organised a demonstration outside 10, Downing Street, the British Prime Minister's official residence, to demand that the international community step in and stop Islamabad in its tracks.

MQM leaders presented a memorandum to the office of British Prime Minister Theresa May.

MQM affiliates from all over UK and men and women, elderly members and children actively participated in the protest, which was declared as being "very successful".

The protestors held up placards, portraits of MQM founder leader Mr. Altaf Hussain, inscribed demands and protest slogans and portraits of those killed extra-judicially or detained unlawfully.

One particular placard carried a demand for the UK as "Wake up UK We ant justice." Another carried a demand that said "Stop Genocide of Mohajirs".

Visitors and tourists in London stopped to enquire about the afflictions being faced by the Mohajirs.

Protestors affiliated to the Pashtoon Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) also joined the MQM protest in a gesture of solidarity.

"The uniform (Pakistan Army) is behind all kinds of extremism and terrorism in Pakistan," the MQM leaders said.

MQM Coordination Committee Deputy Convener Qasim Ali Raza, member Syed Mustafa Azizabadi, MNA Sufyan Yousuf, MQM UK Organiser Hashim Azam, Joint Organiser Suhail Khanzada and Finance Secretary Asif Saeed were some of the leaders who took part in the protest and presented the memorandum to 10, Downing Street staffers.

The memorandum had in particular carried details about what the MQM described as the cold-blooded custodial assassination of MQM leader, academician, philosopher and thinker Prof. Dr Hassan Zafar Ari and the embargo on Mr. Altaf Hussain in Pakistan at the behest of Pakistan's military junta.

MQM Coordination Committee Convener Dr Nadeem Ehsan said that the MQM would continue to inform the world about the inflictions, atrocities and injustices done to Mohajirs in Pakistan and would not stop in raising its voice of protest and concern on it on all available international fora.

He reminded the protestors that Pakistan and its military institutions have been inflicting atrocities on Mohajirs for decades, and added that, "The international community has to come forward to save Mohajirs in Pakistan."

He said that the "MQM would keep the British government informed of the injustices, atrocities on Mohajirs and would also take the issues to the apex fora of the world for justice.