KARACHI: Participants in a protest demonstration organised by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Thursday warned the government that if it was unable to protect the people, they would take matters into their own hands and take action against those involved in the ‘extrajudicial killings’ of MQM workers.

“We know the officers in plain clothes and their patrons involved in extrajudicial killing of our workers...if the government and state institutions are unable to provide us justice then step aside... we will deal with the plain-clothes officers in their own style,” declared senior MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar while speaking at the protest demonstration held in front of the Karachi Press Club.

A large number of MQM workers and supporters reached the press club in small processions and rallies to stage the demonstration against “enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing” of party workers in Karachi.

Holding placards inscribed with demands such as “stop illegal abductions and extrajudicial killings”; “Protection of Pakistan Ordinance is unacceptable” and “recover the missing workers of the MQM”, the protesters shouted slogans against the federal and provincial governments for what they described as their failure to stop a ‘police death squad’ from killing ‘innocent citizens’.

Moving scenes were also witnessed during the protest as several family members of missing MQM workers narrated their ordeal.

Dr Sattar said that 25 workers of the MQM had been killed in ‘extrajudicial executions’ and their bullet-riddled bodies were found in the city and its suburbs; 45 were still missing and 300 others fell prey to targeted attacks.

He said that it appeared that the provincial government, the police and the armed forces were unable to take action against officials in plain clothes responsible for illegal arrests and extrajudicial killings of MQM workers.

“This huge protest rally is taken out for the supremacy of the law and the constitution. The violation of the constitution should be stopped immediately and the death squads should be disbanded...this is not only our demand but also a warning,” he declared.

Dr Sattar demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Sindh government that 45 missing workers were recovered forthwith and those involved in extrajudicial killings were arrested and punished.

MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi asked Mr Sharif not to impose ‘the black law of PPO’ only on the MQM. He said that the MQM should be informed about the fate of its missing workers.

MQM deputy parliamentary party leader in the Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izharul Hasan said that a durable peace could not be restored through extrajudicial and extra-constitutional measures.

The mothers, wives and children of some missing MQM workers also spoke on the occasion and requested the chief minister and the Rangers director general to recover their loved ones.

The protesters later dispersed peacefully.