KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) Rabita Committee late on Sunday night appealed to Altaf Hussain asking him to take back his decision regarding the hunger strike.
Earlier, Altaf Hussain on Sunday released a statement in which he announced his decision to go on a hunger strike unto death in protest.
The MQM chief has decided to go on a hunger strike against what he calls 'illegal' detention of his party activists by security forces.
According to the statement given, preparations are being made for the hunger strike, and it will commence once permission is received from the local administration in London.
“I have promised the people that I will die rather than bow my head in front of tyrants,” said Hussain on Sunday.
Read: Rangers announce ‘conditional’ release of MQM leader
“Federal and provincial government, the army, rangers and other security agencies of the state are busy in targeting innocent people, due to which I have taken a decision to go on a hunger strike,” added Hussain.
Hussain further stated that he does not have any other option left except of going on a hunger strike in order to lodge protest at what he sees as victimisation of his political party.
“After my death, all party affairs will be handled by Rabita Committee, and it will be their decision whether or not to continue my political movement,” Hussain stated.
Also read: Undemocratic forces conspiring to snatch Karachi from MQM: Altaf
Earlier on Friday, a contingent of Rangers paramilitary force raided Nine Zero, the headquarters of MQM, in Karachi's Azizabad neighbourhood and detained two members of MQM's Rabita Committee. This is the second raid by Rangers on Nine Zero this year.
According to an earlier press release issued by Sindh Rangers, Qamar Mansoor and Kaiful Warah were arrested from Azizabad on the charges of "arranging and facilitating hate speeches against the peace of Karachi".
Rangers later announced the release of MQM Rabita Committee’s member Kaiful Warah on Friday evening on sureties till Eidul Fitr.
First Information Reports (FIR) were also registered against Altaf Hussain at police stations in various regions of Sindh on the night between Monday and Tuesday for what the government has regarded as his "inflammatory remarks" against the military.
Further reading: Nisar slams Altaf for 'intolerable' remarks against security forces
During his speech earlier on Sunday, Hussain called upon the army chief to take notice of the alleged violation of the army’s code of conduct by director general of Sindh Rangers and other officials and urged him to do justice in the matter.The MQM chief had also accused Sindh Rangers of torturing and murdering party workers.
