Rangers claim arrest of MQM men over extortion, party denies charges
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KARACHI: Pakistan Rangers Sindh on Thursday claimed the arrest of 16 members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for allegedly collecting donations by force from Karachi's Rizvia Society area. The claim was denied by the party in an emergency press conference held after the arrests.
The paramilitary force personnel also claimed to have recovered Rs31,500 from the arrested men along with documents and receipts related to the collection of funds during the operation.
The arrested men will be presented in court, while those proven innocent during investigations would be released, according to a statement issued by the Rangers.
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| A view of the fund collection chits recovered by Rangers personnel. — Photo courtesy of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh |
The Rangers' statement further said that law-enforcers will not allow any political party or religious organisation to forcibly collect donations in the name of fitra and added that holding a press conference in defence of those arrested for making forcible collections is tantamount to supporting such elements.
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| A view of the documents related to fund collection recovered by Rangers personnel. — Photo courtesy of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh |
The statement said the public is fed up of extortion collected in the name of fitra. An appeal was also made to the masses to report at Rangers Helpline 1101 any incident of extortion of forcible collection of donations adding that Pakistan Rangers would provide protection to the public.
MQM denies charges
The MQM has condemned the Rangers' raid at the MQM's Gulbahar sector office and arrest of 16 party activists including a sector in-charge.
The party's Rabita Committee held a press conference at the party's Nine-Zero headquarters, during which party leaders questioned under what law or constitution was the collection of Zakat and fitra declared as an illegal activity.
The Rabita committee statement said that the fund collection drive was being termed as extortion collection by the Rangers in order to justify their raid.
The MQM statement said that the Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation's (KKF) welfare activities are funded by the donations made by the public. The arrest of party workers and activists, who were collecting funds for the KKF, is tantamount to obstructing the activities of the welfare organisation and cruelty to the masses, the statement added.
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Comments (74) Closed
Jul 02, 2015 09:57am
Yet the evidence speaks for itself! Shameful!!!
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Jul 02, 2015 10:01am
Excellent job Rangers. Keep it up. MQM should be ashamed of itself.
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Jul 02, 2015 10:11am
As usual, Rangers finds and MQM denies..I wish if Rangers call MQM goons innocents and then see if MQM denies their statement
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Jul 02, 2015 10:12am
I am sure such instances from the Rangers will lead to all time high collection of zakat & fitra by KKF...
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Jul 02, 2015 10:18am
we all know what kkf do in karachi...
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Jul 02, 2015 10:25am
Has rangers acted on a citizen's complaint of forcible collection? If not then the arrests are illegal. Every one is free to donate to a registered charity of their liking and Rangers have no business telling us who to give money to.
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Jul 02, 2015 10:29am
MQM will never accept this, don't know how this extortion is going to be finished.
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Jul 02, 2015 10:31am
This act of ranger create dissent between people of karachi vs rangers, Fitra, zakat and donation is right of personal not by force, people of Karachi giving the money to MQM KKF their medical services and ambulances are good for public services, this way ranger inviting people to donate more this Karachi not Gaza where Israeli have no right for collection of donation. why rangers not catching big FISHES. Pls stop this arresting in Ramzan let them collect. I am also paying Volunteering. If you have complain for by force arrest them. Do not arrest and treat them Pakistani.
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Jul 02, 2015 10:33am
well done again - Rangers
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Jul 02, 2015 10:41am
Another denial.........
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Jul 02, 2015 10:41am
MQM has raised a valid point and cannot be denied from collecting funds for welfare.
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Jul 02, 2015 10:44am
My maid's husband opened a burger cart at a roadside. She told us that in the initial months there was good profit to make their ends meet, but then these showed up, who used to ask for a daily amount of around Rupees three hundred, which was almost half of what he earned. And he eventually had to shut down that small cart. And then these political parties deny claim. My heart pains that no common man is spared, be it a professional, roadside vendor, businessman, whoever it is.
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Jul 02, 2015 10:45am
Bravo Rangers. Very commendable action bring peace to the city. keep it up
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Jul 02, 2015 10:45am
O bhaion as far as I know, this (MQF) reciept is for MQM workers (workers, incharges, MPAs, MNAs), they collect MQF from their own workers. The zakaat and fitra reciepts are differen which is of 100 rupees, that is collected from people.
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Jul 02, 2015 10:49am
So they were collecting funds for KKF on MQM receipts. Seriously???
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Jul 02, 2015 10:54am
So they were collecting fitrana on the receipts of MQM. Seriously??
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Jul 02, 2015 10:56am
Well done Rangers
Will MQM ever agree that they are wrong!
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Jul 02, 2015 11:02am
Well if MQM needs to collect Zakat and Fitra, they can setup camps everywhere in the city where people can come and donate their Zakat and Fitra. Problem is when you go an solicit and we all know it happens quite forcefully. In case of Animal hides during eid-Ul-Azha, it's even worse.
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Jul 02, 2015 11:04am
from this Karachi people wants to get ride.
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Jul 02, 2015 11:05am
People of Karachi are still struggling for freedom from these people.
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Jul 02, 2015 11:06am
Shame for MQM. still they will deny
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Jul 02, 2015 11:06am
Good job, Pak Rangers.
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Jul 02, 2015 11:12am
For the first time to my knowledge they are not declared to be MQM members by the rabita committee. In other words MQM has declared that they indeed are MQM members .
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Jul 02, 2015 11:15am
Well done LEAs
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Jul 02, 2015 11:15am
Wonderful Kudos to Rangers. Now MQM will say these men do not belongs to MQM and these chits are not ours. We all know it. Keep Going Ranger to clean our Karachi.
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Jul 02, 2015 11:23am
MQM has a welfare trust by the name of KKF. The entire urban sindh knows how much help and welfare work they do for urban sindh people. Thousands of people voluntarily give them fitra and zakat. Since when this became a criminal activity?
No one loves Pakistan Army more then Karachites but Rangers posted in sindh only and I repeat the one in sindh only are completely politicized. They have been in urban sindh for over 20 years. What is their performance? People of urban sindh request COAS Gen. Raheel Sharif to monitor the activities of Rangers posted in sindh.
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Jul 02, 2015 11:26am
they are liberal party and collecting fitra?
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Jul 02, 2015 11:27am
Finally i can see a new wave of cleanup coming in Karachi. Well done Rangers
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Jul 02, 2015 11:31am
Government should banned all such activities no parties should be allowed to collect any kind of charity without Government Approval. All Charities should be collected through Banks and responsible agencies should monitor collection and it usage. Even Hide Collection for Parties should be banned, only government agencies should be allowed to collect hides from people. Donor should mention whom he/she want to donate the hides then money collected from hides sales should be given to donor suggested organization but all money through BANK
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Jul 02, 2015 11:55am
good work done by Rangers. at least someone took action on the complaint of oppressed businessmen of Karachi.
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Jul 02, 2015 12:12pm
To my understanding Fitra is given on the day of Eid. It is still 15 more days before Eid.
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Jul 02, 2015 12:13pm
@imad: What is the point of funds collection at gun point. It is only karachi where fitra and sadqala is collected by a political party. People all over the world paybtheir sie fitra and sadqa by themselves and where they will, So can the people of Karachi do.
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Jul 02, 2015 12:33pm
If people have complained about giving donation by force then this is unacceptable. If rangers just raided on their own and got copies of the receipts and arrested workers then shame on them. This needs to be investigated fully.The receipt with amount are there. Extortionist dont give receipts.
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Jul 02, 2015 12:41pm
MQM denial can prove its innocence ?
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Jul 02, 2015 12:44pm
Collection of funds in all civilised countries is carried out under licence issued by government authorities. It is important that use of funds is monitored properly. Since this is not possible in Pakistan this practice should be made unlawful.
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Jul 02, 2015 12:46pm
Rangers are arresting both PPP and MQM people. There is no politics.
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Jul 02, 2015 12:46pm
Political parties should not be involved in charity work. They need to focus on the means to reduce the need for charity.
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Jul 02, 2015 12:47pm
Now the TAX Guys should investigate how these unemployed are able to give such a big fitra from 5k to 15k what is their source of income, Well Rangers can further investigate it .
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Jul 02, 2015 12:51pm
This is an everyday story!
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Jul 02, 2015 12:55pm
Time has come to arrest all those collecting money by force, regardless of their party affiliations. Time has come to cleanse the society of gunda gardi at all levels. Time to make catch all those making easy money by making peoples life miserable. Time to severe that link between hoodlums and their political patrons. Also, time to overhaul police system and to conduct messive reforms, so police men will do what they are hired and paid to do, 'To serve & protect citizens'.
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Jul 02, 2015 12:57pm
Does mqm ever admit anything, any mistakes?
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Jul 02, 2015 01:11pm
We stand with you, shoulder to shoulder, in your committent and effort to root out corruption and crime.
Salute you!
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Jul 02, 2015 01:11pm
Challenge! In Pak no political party has guts to admit its shortcomings, in this case illegal acts.
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Jul 02, 2015 01:23pm
Well done LEA, stop these street roughs from extorting the people. And if still MQM believes that people come forward for donations, of whatever shade, voluntarily, they should open accounts in various Banks in the name of KKF and publish those account numbers in all news papers as well as in electronic Media ADs. And they should at best install donation collection counters at various spots in the city for those who can not use Banking conveniently. But their door to door visits of business place or residential place must not be tolerated. It should be made policy that no religious or political party is allowed to go over to people rather people should go and donate, if it has any semblance of voluntariness.
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Jul 02, 2015 01:51pm
daring act of Rangers against extortionists on pretext of fitra is commendable.
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Jul 02, 2015 02:03pm
@Ba Wa Qoof fitra could be given anytime in Ramadhan. Earlier the better, as that helps needy to celebrate Eid much better.
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Jul 02, 2015 02:09pm
This step by Rangers was long overdue.
We appreciate how Rangers is working hard to save Pakistan.
We salute the Courage, determination and sacrifices given by the Sindh Rangers.
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Jul 02, 2015 02:14pm
There is a big difference between collecting funds (as given) and forceful fund raising..
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Jul 02, 2015 02:16pm
What a joke, recovering Rs. 31,500. USD 500,000 chargesheet not produced till now but our active rangers will prepare an FIR for Rs 31,500 and are very quick in such arrests. Strange and deplorable state of affairs
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Jul 02, 2015 02:17pm
Thankyou Rangers! Without you Crest would have fallen.
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Jul 02, 2015 02:36pm
What authority Rangers have to stop these poor people from collecting Fitra? They are jobless these days as rangers have already effectively stopped them for collecting Bhatta or target killing people for money.
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Jul 02, 2015 02:41pm
What kind of nonsense is this? everyone political and religious party in Karachi is collecting these kind of funds. Rangers should get some sense and stop doing this stupidity any more.
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Jul 02, 2015 02:49pm
Its just a tip on the iceberg. There are evidence of Rs 230 billion of corruption is Sind every year,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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Jul 02, 2015 02:56pm
I love Rangers move. They are doing excellent job. I live in Karachi and feel very secure after Pak Ranger actions against all terrorists and Bhata groups.
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Jul 02, 2015 02:56pm
MQM always in Denile
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Jul 02, 2015 03:00pm
If MQM wants to collect Zakat and Fitra they should only collect at KKF, they shouldn't go to business and houses which are taken by force from MQM.
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Jul 02, 2015 03:04pm
Brilliant Job Rangers. A small word of advice. Would you guys please film/ video the culprits next time if catching them in acts. Reason being these people (e.g Rabitta Committee etc) will also always come up with an excuse one or another and put the blame on you guys instead, they will never admit of their wrong doings.
Better film them so that atleast you have the evidence to proof through media/ court when it is required.
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Jul 02, 2015 03:42pm
@ashar
Where is the evidence?
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Jul 02, 2015 03:56pm
Shopkeepers and other small businesses pay fitra or sadqa on a daily basis. What's Eid got to do with this activity. Most people like me give fitra on Eid day at the mosque. This is political victimization of poor MQM workers who collect charity on a daily basis. Try to read between the lines folks lol.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:31pm
The time has come to rid the countrymen, especially vulnerable business community of such extortionists. At least the action in this direction has been initiated which will gradually see intensification too. All the criminal syndicates must be brought to justice as they have added public plight to its peak. People of Karachi must support Rangers' led efforts to get criminals punished. For that cooperation, they will also get a Rangers' protection. Though such efforts are not without sacrifices. But someone has to bell the cat.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:38pm
Protect the witnesses and make a fool proof case so that they don't get bail this time. Get them convicted.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:42pm
Rangers are doing politics unfortunately they are not taking any action against 61 declared banned outfits who are roaming freely and spread hatred and killing professional of this city . Some here in Karachi feel that law enforcement particularly rangers for patronising secetrain organizations to use them as strategic asset and use them against ehtenic party .God save Pakistan
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Jul 02, 2015 04:43pm
@Saleem Yousafzai , It is everyone's right to pay Fitra the way they want but not you ask me to pay or else. It will enhance people's to right to pay whom they want. Side with law enforcement and this cancer will be finished.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:45pm
@imad, But forcing me to pay is not the right way to collect. Forceful collection is the "Good Point".
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Jul 02, 2015 04:52pm
@Faiza Raza
Absolutely correct. Donation to charities is the religious and social obligation of people and, of course, the registered and/or duly authorized organizations have an equal duty to collect such donations. But all this has got to be voluntary with zero force and coercion. Rangers action must be supported by evidence and witnesses otherwise arrests are illegal and must be condemned.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:01pm
I will be thankful to Rangers if they arrest the police/traffic police collecting bhatta in the daylight in the name of snap checking/traffic violation on different streets of Karachi from poor people.I watch this scene daily.Will anybody deny this.Law must be applied on all.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:03pm
Nothing will happen
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Jul 02, 2015 06:20pm
Great News Rangers, Well done, Shabash & Salute to you & Pak Army for cleaning garbage of 3-4 decades. Don't leave one terrorist in Karachi or Pakistan. Shabash
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Jul 02, 2015 06:28pm
If anyone loves to pay his/her zakat or fitra, he or she should go to their centre and pay but forcefully is illegal, which will not use in a right direction infact it will use in terrorist activities.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:39pm
@Sab Se Pehle There are not 100s but millions of stories of workers collecting money for whatever reason at force...Its the person's choice where he/she likes to donate the charity money...Why MQM does not ponders on this? This will bring the downfall of MQM one-day...which will break my heart. I love Karachi, and Pakistan and MQM's presence, like any other political party, as a political voice is important for Pakistan.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:51pm
Rangers should specify who can collect fitra and zakat.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:58pm
Please tell them to stand outside mosques
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Jul 03, 2015 01:52am
I appreciate Sindh Rangers work and requesting you to kindly to watch district Naushahro feroze (sindh) where robers and thieves caputure bikes and personals in whole day
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Jul 03, 2015 01:59am
A party who is under investigation for money Laundering is collecting donations for its claimed charitable work. Help me understand.
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