KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday set up a protest camp near the Quaid-i-Azam Mausoleum to demand arrest of killers of its workers, early recovery of the missing party members and to show solidarity with the families of the slain activists.

Hundreds of party workers, including women and children, attended the protest camp where Fateha for the “martyred workers” was offered as the families of the missing party members were carrying their (missing workers) portraits.

Lawmakers and councillors associated with the MQM as well as the party’s office-bearers attended the camp.

In their brief speeches, MQM leaders expressed solidarity with the families of the dead and missing workers, and demanded that the authorities hold a fair investigation into their killing and early recovery of those who were not produced before court despite the fact they were in the custody of law enforcement agencies.

During the protest, private television news channels ran a headline that party chief Altaf Hussain had announced that he was quitting the MQM leadership. They also said Mr Hussain had asked senior party leader Dr Farooq Sattar to take care of the MQM as he no longer wanted to run its affairs.

But London-based party leader Mustafa Azizabad intervened and posted multiple tweets denying such reports. He said

Mr Hussain had not made any such announcement.

“He [Altaf Hussain] only expressed his sentiments before the workers and during that he hinted at quitting the party leadership. But it was then and there rejected by the workers,” he added.

The traffic remained suspended on the key road link amid tight security arrangements by the police and Rangers because of the protest camp. Severe traffic congestion was witnessed on New M. A. Jinnah Road and Shahrah-i-Quaideen, where the motorists were advised for taking alternative routes.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2016