Karachi shuts down after arrest of ex-legislator

Pakistan's financial hub shut down today after paramilitary troops conducted search operations in different parts of the city and arrested a former legislator of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for a murder case.
Parts of Karachi began shutting down since early morning as news spread that the Pakistan Rangers and police had conducted a raid at the home of MQM leader Nadeem Hashmi in North Nazimabad area in connection with the killing of two policemen last night.
Police said two persons were shot dead in Malir and Gulistan-e-Jauhar. In some parts of the city, protestors set vehicles and motorcycles on fire.

Rangers officials said they had arrested around 140 suspects in operations since last night.
Tension prevailed after Hashmi was arrested and the Rangers carried out search operations in areas dominated by the MQM, the main party representing Urdu-speaking migrants from India.
Public transport went off the roads and all shops, markets and petrol pumps in many areas shut down. Schools, colleges and universities announced closures and all exams scheduled for the day were postponed.

The MQM's coordination committee criticised Hashmi's arrest and the search operations.
"Why is no search operation being carried out in Al-Asif Square? Because the Rangers know they will face rockets and bullets," MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi said.

"They know that Al-Asif Qquare is a haven for the Taliban and other extremist groups but no one has the guts to carry out operations there."
The paramilitary troops began their operations soon after 11 people, including two policemen, were killed across Karachi by late last night.
A Pakistan Rangers official said the raids were part of clean-up operations ordered by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a visit to Karachi last week in a bid to improve the law and order situation in the city.
But in a blow to law enforcement agencies and the Pakistan People's Party government in Sindh province, the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court said at a meeting yesterday that government institutions did not have any control over Karachi.

In a statement issued from MQM's London secretariat, party chief Altaf Hussain claimed the Sindh government was taking one-sided action against MQM officials and activists and asked the authorities to explain the reasons for the arrest of the former legislator.