HYDERABAD, Oct 1: The activists of MQM took out protest rallies on Monday against attack and maltreatment of Dr Farooq Sattar, deputy convenor and parliamentary leader on Saturday, in Islamabad, by the lawyers.

They staged demonstrations outside local press clubs and demanded arrest of lawyers who attacked Dr Sattar.

Local Chapter of Mutahedda Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Hyderabad staged a big rally outside the press club against the attack.

Party activists including women, members Zonal Committee, parliamentarians and sectors in-charges carrying banners and party flags, raised slogans against lawyers who had resorted to hooliganism. They condemned the behaviour of advocates in Islamabad when president’s form was being scrutinised by Chief Election Commissioner’s office.

Zonal In-charge Mohammad Sharif said this had been proved beyond doubt Dr Farooq Sattar was not alone. He said they were followers of Altaf Hussain who had stopped them from reacting. He demanded arrest of lawyers involved in the incident and called upon the senior lawyers to take notice and expel hooligans.

The MNA, Pervez Yousuf said his party chief had always taught them the lesson of love and peace. If Dr Sattar was not safe then none like Asfandyar Wali, Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Qazi Hussain Ahmed or Imran Khan could be safe. He said the MQM knew how to respond to such tactics. He said these people must mend their ways otherwise they will not even find place to launch their movement in the country and will launch it in Dubai or London.

The MPAs Naeem Ishtiaq, Aslam Pervez and Farzana Saeed also condemned attack on Dr Farooq Sattar and said MQM was the third largest political party of the country and second in Sindh. They said they believed in democracy and supremacy of parliament but such tactics could not be tolerated.

They said lawyers should better play their role in removal of barricades that hamper delivery of inexpensive justice to masses. They termed the attack on Dr Sattar, former mayor of Karachi, as terrorism.

In Badin, MQM activists took out a rally against the manhandling of MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar by some lawyers. Protester led by Special Assistant to CM Sindh and MQM leader, Ghulam Murtaza Memon and Zonal Incharge Mir Lakhi Jamali, they marched from the MQM Zonal Office and reached at Kazia Chowk.

Ghulam Murtaza said some advocates in the cover of black coats, were committing “gunda gardi”. He condemned the attack on Dr Farooq Sattar by the advocates. Protesters demanded cancellation of licenses and arrest of lawyers involved in this act.

In Thatta, MQM workers took out a procession to protest the attack on Dr Farooq Sattar in Islamabad.