ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) submitted on Thursday an adjournment motion to the Senate Secretariat, seeking a debate on the alleged custodial killings and disappearances of MQM workers in Karachi.

The motion has been submitted by retired Col Tahir Mashhadi and Nasreen Jalil a day before the start of the session of the Senate.

Sources said the MQM had planned to lodge a strong protest in the Senate on the opening day over the “custodial killing” of Sohail Ahmed, in charge of the party in Karachi’s Society area.

Mr Ahmed’s body was found in Mochko area of Karachi on Wednesday.

“This custodial murder by police is the 36th such custodial death of MQM workers at the hands of law-enforcement agencies since September 2013,” the MQM senators claim in their motion, a copy of which is available with Dawn.

The MQM senators alleged that “Taliban, members of the banned organisations such as Laskar-i-Jhangvi, Sipah-i-Sahaba and Lyari Criminal Gangs are operating with impunity and strike at will”, adding that these organisations have unleashed “a reign of terror” whereas “police, doctors, Shias and innocent political workers of the MQM are daily murdered in broad daylight.”

“There is widespread misuse of power and authority by the LEAs where innocent people are taken into custody.”

Mr Mashhadi claimed that 400 MQM workers, including legislators, had lost their lives in the incidents of targeted killing and custodial deaths over the past two years.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2015

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