KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan on Thursday lashed out at the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for failing consistently when it came to the security of MQM-P workers and arrest of killers of its key leaders.

The MQM-P leaders also warned that if the PPP did not show any seriousness for its demand and kept ignoring its voice, the protest would continue in different parts of the province.

Speaking to a large number of workers at the Karachi Press Club attending a protest demonstration against the recent targeted killing of workers, senior party leader Amir Khan questioned the PPP’s viewpoint on 18th Amendment to the Constitution while ignoring key rights to the elected representatives of the local government.

“It’s quite unfortunate and a matter of concern as well that terrorists are continuously targeting our party leaders and workers,” he said. “The recent attacks show that terrorists’ main target is the party’s leadership. But it’s quite strange that it doesn’t bother the provincial government and it continues to fail in controlling the law and order situation in the city. They [Sindh government] are busy to save their corrupt leaders instead of arresting the miscreants involved in the killings.”

He said the MQM-P believed in a peaceful political struggle and its workers would never become part of any violent activity. But, he said, at the same time the law enforcement agencies should also ensure security of party leaders and workers, who had given “sacrifices” for peace in the city.

“The fresh wave of terrorism has already claimed lives of our senior member Ali Raza Abidi, our worker Shakeel Ansari and two activists of the Pak Sarzameen Party, but no arrest has been made yet. What does it suggest? It exposes the performance of the Sindh government, which is controlling the police with political intention and has no interest in maintaining writ of the state,” added Mr Khan.

Senior leader Faisal Subzwari also spoke at the demonstration and demanded that the authorities come forward to own the security situation of the city. He said that both the provincial and federal governments must fulfil their constitutional responsibilities and provide security to the party leaders and workers.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2019