KARACHI: A day after the explosive press conference of former Karachi nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Friday staged over a dozen protest demonstrations in the city to reject what they described as propaganda against the London-based leadership and expressed solidarity with him.

Carrying placards, elected representatives, workers and office-bearers of the MQM converged on different spots in Landhi, Korangi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Numaish traffic intersection, Bahadurabad roundabout, North Karachi, North Nazimabad, Liaquatabad and Federal B Area to lodge their protests.

They chose to stand on greenbelts, pavements, parks, etc, so that their demonstrations that took place in all six districts of Karachi could not hinder vehicular traffic.

They said that their relationship with MQM chief Altaf Hussain was inseparable. Referring to Mr Kamal and Anis Kaimkhani as “two persons”, they claimed that the two persons were brought here under a conspiracy but the people rejected them.

They said that time would tell that the two persons were used by mischievous elements.

They condemned the “attempts to malign Mr Hussain” and reposed full confidence in his leadership and said that they would never leave him.

Kamal invites all to join him

Meanwhile, the former nazim and Mr Kaimkhani talked to the media after offering the Friday prayer in a Defence mosque.

Mr Kamal told newsmen that he was getting thousands of calls from people across the world.

He said that he had invited everyone to join him. “I ask them to think what is right and wrong and just speak the truth.” He said that he did not consider anyone a loyalist or a dissident.

About the Thursday press conference, he said that he did not show any documentary evidence and only spoke about the issues which had already been in the public domain.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kaimkhani said that he was the deputy convener of the MQM coordination committee and not an arsonist who would go to set things on fire.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2016