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KARACHIl: Hitting back at a Rangers statement denouncing its call for a 'peaceful strike', the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday said that protesting peacefully was a legal and constitutional right of every political party.
TV reports on Wednesday quoted Director General (DG) Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar as asking citizens to not follow MQM's strike call and vowing to take action against businesses which chose to shut down.
The party had announced a ‘protest day’ on Wednesday against what they said was "misbehaviour of Rangers’ personnel" and the cordoning off the residence of party leader Farooq Sattar during a search operation in the PIB area of Karachi last night.
"To hold peaceful protests is the constitutional, legal and human right of every political party," said a statement issued by MQM Coordination Committee on Wednesday.
"MQM exercised its democratic right by appealing for a peaceful strike against Rangers' illegal and inhumane practices.
"The statement of DG Rangers against MQM's appeal for a peaceful strike is condemnable," it said.
DG Rangers had earlier clarified that the paramilitary force did not raid the house of MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar but it carried out a search operation near the MQM stalwart's residence.
Meanwhile, situation in most parts of Karachi remained normal on Wednesday and most businesses remained open as usual. Regular public transport could be seen on the roads of the metropolis.
Appeal for strike
In a late night statement, MQM’s coordination committee appealed to people to keep their businesses and transport shut across the Sindh province on Wednesday in protest against the alleged action by the paramilitary force.
MQM alleged in the statement that Rangers personnel charged the residence of Sattar and hit the gate of his house with their rifles and shoes. The statement also alleged that Rangers personnel prevented area residents from offering Taravih prayers.
"The Rangers operation in Karachi is only and only against MQM," said the statement.
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On DawnNews
Jun 08, 2016 12:00pm
Did we learn any lesson from 1971?
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Jun 08, 2016 12:47pm
This is called across the board operation is only against one particular political party even a child can see and notice that. People who are nominated in various FIRs are openly doing press conferences and enjoying VIP protocols. Fortunately people of urban sindh are educated and very well know who is hatching these conspiracies against MQM and its leadership. I ask how many PPP, PML-N, ANP, PTI etc. workers and MNAs and MPAs have been detained? There are video evidences shown of their corruption and yet they are roaming freely. Street crimes in urban sindh is on a record high. What are the LEAs doing about this issue? It seems like LEAs are only settling personal scores and grudges against the most loved party of urban sindh.
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Jun 08, 2016 12:50pm
@M Taimur
No I don't think so.
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Jun 08, 2016 03:19pm
Lets see what comes out in future of all such efforts for suppressing a public party.
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Jun 08, 2016 03:37pm
Am I living in a democratic country. Why DG rangers request people to keep doing business.
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Jun 08, 2016 03:37pm
what happened to Punjab operation?
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Jun 08, 2016 03:39pm
The situation in Karachi is not more different than 1971.
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Jun 08, 2016 03:54pm
Very sad to see LEAs are involved in politics and now they openly contesting with a popular political party.
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Jun 08, 2016 03:58pm
If Establishment had brain, we wouldn't have lost East Pakistan and now loosing Part of Sindh and Balouchistan.
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Jun 08, 2016 04:01pm
@M Taimur. No, we have not.
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Jun 08, 2016 04:05pm
how come forcefully closing the businesses is called peaceful protest?
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Jun 08, 2016 04:19pm
Obviously no lessons learned from 1971.
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Jun 08, 2016 04:28pm
@Jamal - Part 2 -The incident of yesterday was to arrest an MQM MPA who is alleged to have committed crimes and being asked to report to authorities. Sind Assembly speaker has allowed it, as legally required. If there were reports that the guy is hiding in that neighborhood, does law enforcement agencies should not do their job. For the strike, as we know that it is a pressure tactic and people are coerced to comply with the call otherwise their properties are damaged. Rangers have achieved a lot and let them work and improve it further. We are with our beloved city of Karachi and will like to strengthen rangers for the noble job they are doing.
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Jun 08, 2016 04:51pm
Using power against poor, frustrated and bare hands people creates abhorrence which may in turn give dire results.
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Jun 08, 2016 05:05pm
Why rangers always run after MQM workers and leaders. There are other political workers in PPP and other parties who are alleged criminals but rangers do not raid at their homes.
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Jun 08, 2016 05:06pm
I am sorry but the word peaceful rally and MQM do not correlate!
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Jun 08, 2016 05:12pm
The decisive moment for Karachi yet to come but when? We all anxiously keep fingers cross.
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Jun 08, 2016 05:18pm
Had Mohajirs their province such disgusting behavior would never happened. A separate province for mohajirs is a must to live a respectable life
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Jun 08, 2016 05:20pm
anees qaim khani and PSP leaders are nominated in baldia town factory incident but they are given protocol of 250 police men as they are not mqm.....you can commit any crime in pakistan and remain secure if you are not the part of MQM.
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Jun 08, 2016 05:37pm
@LL "I am sorry but the word peaceful rally and MQM do not correlate!"
Spot on.
Did MQM followed legal procedure and asked for permission before protesting like all other civil societies ???
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Jun 08, 2016 05:41pm
@LL Then problem in your correlation sir. Check the equation again.
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Jun 08, 2016 05:43pm
Only solution of all problems is a separate province for Mohajirs. Sooner is better.
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Jun 08, 2016 06:09pm
When will Rangers carry out operation on the streets of Clifton and defence where afghan and sindhi criminals rob people in broad day light...cell phone snatching and mugging of people coming out of banks is very common in defence
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Jun 08, 2016 06:14pm
Mohajirs need separate province.....period.
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Jun 08, 2016 06:24pm
To hold peaceful protests is the constitutional, legal and human right of every political party but, not of a party that gets its funding, training and planing for spoiling and killing peace from the staunch enemy of the nation.
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Jun 08, 2016 06:57pm
This is a open discrimination against MQM. Why rangers don't stop protests and dharnas from other parties.
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Jun 08, 2016 07:03pm
MQM supporters need to understand that by sticking to the same old slogans and policies of the last 30 years, the party is moving into oblivion.
The policy of controlling Karachi thereby controlling the country has failed. Similarly, the policy of creating chaos and violence in the City has backfired too.
The slogan of deprivation and disenfranchisement within the state is also becoming hollow.
Also, blaming PPP and its Feudals for not allowing the party to function by not giving them their due share is becoming irrelevant too because if PPP is the reason for their failure then how they think the PPP will suddenly change course and will allow them to function in the future?
The reason MQM can not take on PPP is because PPP is a national party whereas MQM is a regional party. Also, irony of the situation is that you can not live in Sindh and mess with Sindhis on the basis of ethnicity.
Continue....
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Jun 08, 2016 07:02pm
@M.Saeed These are all false accusations which are never proved in any courts !
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Jun 08, 2016 07:03pm
Continue...
The policy of confrontation has also failed miserably as it has isolated the party and it has lost all support in the center, interior Sindh, other provinces and above all the Armed Forces.
Therefore, prudence requires it is time to think outside the box and rethink the strategy. MQM is in a bind because if it changes course then it loses its identity and therefore becomes irrelevant, however, if it doesn’t change course then it maintains status quo. So the question for MQM supporters is does it make sense to maintain status quo or join a main stream National party and make a difference? I hope they choose wisely.
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Jun 08, 2016 07:05pm
This is the punishment for bringing people together and giving them voice and power . Islamabad wants only one voice and that the voice of establishment and power of elite and feudals !
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Jun 08, 2016 07:19pm
Fact MQM has many criminal elements but somehow is still supported. Operation should begin against all corrupt politicians of Pakistan, because they are not capable of accountability of themselves, as proved by nawaz pmln
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Jun 08, 2016 07:24pm
Some adamant elite would never accept the reality. For the last three years the establishment again raided MQM to crush with full power using old tactics but it has miserably failed despite of spending huge money on dissidents of MQM. People of Karachi ought to opt between right and wrong. MQM is asking rights for people of Karachi and following winning the local bodies elections power and resources have been denied by the wadera mindset. Is it wrong to ask our due rights? People of Karachi need neat clean water, electricity, streets, bridges, transportation, employment, local policing etc. Is it wrong? The governments at all levels are constantly denying to give rights to people of Karachi and now we all must make up our mind do we want slavery and live a pathetic life or we want a respectable life. If we lose now we would never ever raise again. Please raise your voice.
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Jun 08, 2016 07:35pm
Yesterday Bilawal Bhutto made a statement saying the Fed budget is Punjabistan budget. There is more and more anger against Punjab because the way establishment and security agencies are handling situation in Karachi, Sindh, and Balochistan. The resentment against Punjabis is rising and if it will gets out of hand sooner or later Bilawal's statement will be true when he says the Federation will break.
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Jun 08, 2016 07:35pm
Saulte to Dr. Farooq Sattar for his unshaken loyalty with MQM and Altaf Hussain.
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Jun 08, 2016 07:57pm
@Shami "Had Mohajirs their province such disgusting behavior would never happened. A separate province for mohajirs is a must to live a respectable life"
you are suggesting a bloodbath. A better approach will be Mohajir integration into Sindh and for native Sindhis to reciprocate such integration with open hearts
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Jun 08, 2016 07:59pm
Rangers actions seem to be working well as the law and order situation is a lot better now and everybody can see that. It begs the question if the operation is against MQM then it is the right action.
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Jun 08, 2016 07:59pm
Mqm doesnt want bussiness to flourish.Stop making Karachites fool Mqm.
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Jun 08, 2016 08:10pm
Poor people are taken on street while MQM elites enjoy all the benefits what kind of hypocrisy is that.Mqm elites should stop using their poor workers for their own selfish purposes.
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Jun 08, 2016 08:33pm
@Ghaznavi You are asking Mohajirs to go 60 years back. This is 2016 and all efforts done by mohajirs for integrating in a Pakistani environment are failed. Now the only one point for survival of mohajirs is 'Mohajir Province'. Period.
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Jun 08, 2016 09:02pm
I learned from my childhood that, the institution of Rangers is suppose to be responsible for border areas of any country during peace time. If they are given additional responsibility then a million dollar questions are:
1- Did they performed well in their primary duty?
2- What purpose of LEA's which were suppose to maintain law & order within the borders?
3- If LEA's who are suppose to maintain law & order within the borders are failed, then what is the long term solution for urban and rural areas of the country?
These questions are very legitimate and need attention once for all.
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Jun 08, 2016 09:11pm
@N_Saq Party is moving into oblivion, and who won the local bodies elections. Bottom line is Pakistan needs to get its act together, Punjab party is coming to an end with complete isolation in the world, no foreign policy, no defense capability, and unfair internal policies, soon Pakustan will be ire event in world affairs.
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Jun 08, 2016 10:58pm
The Rangers stay at Karachi is so expensive that Karachi cannot clean its streets or get water. If Rangers wants to serve the people they should clear the garbage on side streets and monitor the process of common commodities during Ramadan.
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Jun 09, 2016 03:46am
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan the biggest militant wing is getting stopped. Other small groups are also being caught so don't complain please.
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Jun 09, 2016 04:14pm
1- If LEA's who were suppose to maintain law & order within the borders have failed, that is why Rangers are brought in.
2- What is the need of those LEA's who have failed to perform their primary responsibility?
3- What is the long term solution for law & order in urban and rural areas of the country does our Senators, MNA's & MPA's have?
4- If they don't have any solution, I mean if they really don't ! Then what purpose are these Senators, MNA's & MPA's are serving?for the country and nation?
These questions are very legitimate and need attention once for all.
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Jun 10, 2016 10:23am
1- If these Senators, MNA's and MPA's do not have any solution for the problems which the nation has been facing for many decades, I mean if they really don't have. 2- What purpose are these Senators, MNA's & MPA's are serving for the country and the nation?
3- Justice, Law & Order, Jobs, Drinkable Water, Health facility, Electricity, Gas are the main point of concern of the nation, not if they call each other tractor trolley or any such thing.
These are very legitimate points, which people need to understand.
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