KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders issued strong reactions to the Sindh Rangers' statements regarding the involvement of political parties in funding terror activities in the province.

Via a telephonic address to his workers on Thursday, MQM supremo Altaf Hussain said that the allegations regarding hides of sacrificial animals and Zakat by Sindh Rangers were "baseless and unfortunate", according to a press release on the party's website.

The Rangers DG briefing to the apex committee had also referred to the “millions of rupees” collected in the name of Zakat and Fitra forcibly every year.

Take a look: Billions of black money being used to fund terrorism in Karachi: Rangers chief

Hussain said that he had been working to gather proof against the most corrupt people of the country and their sources of income.

He said that the money collected through Zakat and hides by his party was used for serving humanity under Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF) at the time of the Kashmir earthquake and other natural catastrophes.

Rangers should give evidence, says Aitzaz

Speaking to media representatives outside the Parliament House in Islamabad, senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aitzaz Ahsan on Wednesday questioned as to how the specific Rs230 billion figure was estimated. He said that the Rangers' statement does not specify the basis on which the amount was calculated.

Ahsan expressed skepticism whether the apex committee's rules of conduct allowed disclosure of information, adding that the process is not transparent at all.

He said that an impression is being given as if the Sindh government is in the docks. He said that the PPP is ready to initiate an investigation if solid evidence is presented with regards to the Rangers' claims.

PTI questions govt's course of action

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi questioned the course of action of the federal government in the wake of the claims made by Pakistan Rangers, Sindh.

He said if any members of PTI were found involved in these activities, then they should be probed first. He underscored that his party sought across-the-board action without any bias.

On Thursday, Pakistan Rangers, Sindh claimed to have estimated more than Rs230 billion being generated annually from Karachiites through extortion, smuggling of Iranian diesel, water supply and land-grabbing, mainly patronised by “a major political party”, and that part of that huge amount was also being used for “terror-funding”, a decade-old gang warfare in Lyari and criminal activities across the city.

The claim from the paramilitary force came in a statement citing briefing by Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar to the June 4 meeting of the Sindh apex committee, which was chaired by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

Take a look: Billions of black money being used to fund terrorism in Karachi: Rangers chief