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Pakistan soldiers raid and seal off MQM headquarters | Pakistan soldiers raid and seal off MQM headquarters |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Security forces have raided the Karachi headquarters of Pakistan's fourth biggest political party, sparking street protests. | |
Col Tahir Mahmood said troops acted on information that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was hiding criminals. | |
A number of party workers suspected of murder were detained, he said, and illegal weapons were recovered. | |
The MQM has long been accused of using violence and intimidation to control Karachi - claims it denies. | |
The party's leader Altaf Hussain, who lives in self-imposed exile in London, is being investigated in the UK over money laundering allegations. | |
His arrest by UK police last year sparked protests in Karachi. | |
'Beyond understanding' | |
After Wednesday's early morning raid, supporters and activists gathered outside the MQM headquarters and party leaders called for a nationwide strike. | |
Speaking to Pakistan's Geo News, senior MQM figure Farooq Sattar said the operation was "inappropriate and beyond understanding". | Speaking to Pakistan's Geo News, senior MQM figure Farooq Sattar said the operation was "inappropriate and beyond understanding". |
"MQM has itself always maintained its policy of zero tolerance against crime and terrorism, and it has always offered to co-operate," he said. | "MQM has itself always maintained its policy of zero tolerance against crime and terrorism, and it has always offered to co-operate," he said. |
The MQM says a number of its leaders, including senior leader Amir Khan, have been detained. | The MQM says a number of its leaders, including senior leader Amir Khan, have been detained. |
But Col Tahir told local media Mr Khan had not been arrested, but was being held for questioning to explain "the presence of criminal elements". | |
Col Tahir said a large cache of weapons had been recovered, including illegal weapons that "cannot even be imported into Pakistan". | |
"We suspect that these weapons may be those from missing Nato containers," he said. | |
Party officials said the weapons were held legally. | |