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Pakistan Arrests Senior Officials of Karachi Political Party Pakistan Arrests Senior Officials of Karachi Political Party
(about 4 hours later)
KARACHI, Pakistan — Two senior officials with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the party that has dominated politics in Karachi for decades, were arrested Friday in the latest push by the Pakistani military to curb what it calls the party’s criminal activities, the authorities said. KARACHI, Pakistan — Two senior officials with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the party that has dominated politics in Karachi for decades, were arrested Friday in the latest push by the Pakistani military to curb what it calls the party’s criminal activities, the authorities said.
Troops with the Pakistan Rangers, the paramilitary force that provides law enforcement for the city, sealed off all roads leading to the party’s fortified headquarters here, known as Nine Zero, a few hours after midnight, the authorities said. The arrests were made after a raid that lasted 40 minutes, party officials said. The Pakistan Rangers, the paramilitary force that provides law enforcement for the city, sealed off all roads leading to the party’s fortified headquarters here, known as Nine Zero, a few hours after midnight, the authorities said. The arrests were made after a raid that lasted 40 minutes, party officials said.
It was the second time the Rangers had raided Nine Zero in the past six months. It was the second time that the Rangers had raided Nine Zero in the past six months.
A spokesman for the Rangers said Friday that the party officials were charged with “arranging and facilitating hate speeches against the people of Karachi.” One was later released on bail.A spokesman for the Rangers said Friday that the party officials were charged with “arranging and facilitating hate speeches against the people of Karachi.” One was later released on bail.
More arrests were expected, the spokesman said.More arrests were expected, the spokesman said.
The raid and arrests were the latest blow to Altaf Hussain, the party’s embattled leader, who has controlled the fortunes of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and its economic and commercial hub, for nearly a quarter of a century while operating from self-imposed exile in London.The raid and arrests were the latest blow to Altaf Hussain, the party’s embattled leader, who has controlled the fortunes of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and its economic and commercial hub, for nearly a quarter of a century while operating from self-imposed exile in London.
More than 100 criminal cases have been registered against Mr. Hussain around the country since he gave a speech on Sunday in which he made derogatory comments about the military and its spy organization, the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, or I.S.I.More than 100 criminal cases have been registered against Mr. Hussain around the country since he gave a speech on Sunday in which he made derogatory comments about the military and its spy organization, the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, or I.S.I.
Party leaders accuse the paramilitary forces of acting above the law and selectively targeting them in an ongoing operation against lawlessness, extortion and drive-by shootings, while other political parties with armed groups have not been dealt with as harshly.Party leaders accuse the paramilitary forces of acting above the law and selectively targeting them in an ongoing operation against lawlessness, extortion and drive-by shootings, while other political parties with armed groups have not been dealt with as harshly.
“The M.Q.M. is being singled out and victimized,” said Farooq Sattar, a senior party leader. “It has become obvious that the M.Q.M. is being isolated. If any political movement is isolated, the results are never positive.”“The M.Q.M. is being singled out and victimized,” said Farooq Sattar, a senior party leader. “It has become obvious that the M.Q.M. is being isolated. If any political movement is isolated, the results are never positive.”
Rangers officials, on the other hand, accuse the party of being the main patron of illegal land grabs, killings and extortion in the city.Rangers officials, on the other hand, accuse the party of being the main patron of illegal land grabs, killings and extortion in the city.
A senior security official in Islamabad dismissed the party’s claims and called on it to follow the law and give up its armed groups.A senior security official in Islamabad dismissed the party’s claims and called on it to follow the law and give up its armed groups.
“Anyone who says Rangers have stepped out of line should themselves fall in line,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.“Anyone who says Rangers have stepped out of line should themselves fall in line,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
A raid on Nine Zero was unimaginable until recently. But in a sign of how the party’s political grip has slipped, paramilitary troops in March raided its headquarters and confiscated weapons and files. One person was killed by gunfire in the raid, and several others were taken into custody.A raid on Nine Zero was unimaginable until recently. But in a sign of how the party’s political grip has slipped, paramilitary troops in March raided its headquarters and confiscated weapons and files. One person was killed by gunfire in the raid, and several others were taken into custody.
The British authorities arrested Mr. Hussain last year on money laundering charges — he is now free on bail — and they are pressing their investigation into the 2010 murder of a former associate, Imran Farooq. The British authorities arrested Mr. Hussain last year on money laundering charges — he is now free on bail — and they are pressing their investigation into the 2010 murder of a former associate of his, Imran Farooq.
The BBC also reported last month that Mr. Hussain’s party had received funding and militant training from India, Pakistan’s archrival, further denting the party’s reputation.The BBC also reported last month that Mr. Hussain’s party had received funding and militant training from India, Pakistan’s archrival, further denting the party’s reputation.
On Friday, party officials resisted calling for a shutdown strike, as they had in the past, while there was a sense of apprehension on the streets of Karachi in response to the raid.On Friday, party officials resisted calling for a shutdown strike, as they had in the past, while there was a sense of apprehension on the streets of Karachi in response to the raid.
“People are definitely worried,” said Ismail Lalpuria, the general secretary of the Sindh Traders Association.“People are definitely worried,” said Ismail Lalpuria, the general secretary of the Sindh Traders Association.
“They should think about the timings of these raids, particularly given that these are the last working days before Eid al-Fitr,” Mr. Lalpuria said, referring to the Muslim holiday dedicated to feasting. “These raids have a huge impact on trade.” “They should think about the timings of these raids, particularly given that these are the last working days before Eid al-Fitr,” Mr. Lalpuria said, referring to the Muslim holiday after the end of Ramadan that is being celebrated on Saturday in the Indian subcontinent. “These raids have a huge impact on trade.”
Mr. Farooq, the party leader, said the party would consider holding protests after the holiday.Mr. Farooq, the party leader, said the party would consider holding protests after the holiday.
Even tougher days are expected for the party, however. On Friday, the provincial government announced that the Pakistan Rangers’ presence in Karachi had been extended for another year. Even tougher days are expected for the party, however. On Friday, the provincial government announced that the Pakistan Rangers’ presence in Karachi had been extended another year.