Pak Rangers draw flak for demolishing MQM offices

Criticizing the Rangers for demolishing the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) offices in Sindh, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah called the move a counter-productive act which would invoke more sympathies for the political party.

"It is not the mandate of the Rangers to demolish or close MQM offices. If they (Rangers) do this, they will lose respect in the eyes of the people," the Dawn quoted Sanaullah, as saying.

He was of the opinion that the process of the political demise of MQM chief Altaf Hussain should be moved forward politically.

He also condemned the Rangers for the arrest of Dr Farooq Sattar, the head of MQM-Pakistan and the defection of MQM lawmaker Asif Hasnain to the Pakistan Sarzameen Party.

"Let the political process move forward politically," he added.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) has criticised Sanaullah's remarks and termed it an attempt by the Punjab law minister to malign the armed forces.

"Even the Sindh government has not declared that Rangers are demolishing MQM offices, then how come Sanaullah is alleging that Rangers are doing so," PML-Q Senator Kamil Ali Agha said.

He added that PML-Q had already pointed out that the Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) was protecting the MQM and it was not willing to register a treason case against Hussain on his anti-Pakistan statements.