KARACHI/HYDERABAD: A day after scores of workers and sympathisers of the Altaf Hussain-led Muttahida Qaumi Movement, also known as MQM-London, staged a protest demonstration outside the temporary headquarters of the MQM-Pakistan, scores of activists took to the streets in Hyderabad on Wednesday evening to express solidarity with their London-based leader.

The MQM-P leadership was the target of the protests in Karachi and Hyderabad as it recently won a case pertaining to London properties against party founder in a court in the United Kingdom.

In Hyderabad, the activists emerged from Pucca Qilla, passed through Shahi Bazaar and gathered outside the MQM-P’s district office at Bhai Khan ki Chari.

They were led by former deputy mayor of Hyderabad Abdul Rasheed alias Bhayya, former district naib nazim Zafar Rajput, retired government officer Abdul Majeed and others.

Charged party workers shouted slogans against the MQM-P leadership and in favour of Mr Hussain. A tense situation developed when they tried to storm into the office but MQM-P workers, who also came outside, stopped them.

Some MQM-P activists exchanged hot words with the MQM-L protesters but others managed to pacify both sides asking the former to hold their protest outside the local press club. Later, the protesting workers dispersed.

Earlier on Tuesday, several MQM-L activists, including women, gathered in front of the MQM-P’s temporary headquarters in Bahadurabad to stage a protest. A heavy contingent of police had reached the scene to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2023