ISLAMABAD, Nov 25: The Mohajir Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM- Pak) on Monday alleged that it was being made a ‘scapegoat’ to appease Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) only to protect Zafarullah Jamali’s fragile government.

This was said by Mehmood Ahmed Qureshi, member of the National Assembly and MQM-Pak’s secretary information, and Mohammad Younus Khan, member of the Sindh Assembly and vice- chairman of MQM-Pak.

They told reporters that the government’s action against a registered political body was against all civilized norms, fundamental rights, Constitution and UN declaration on human rights.

They said they were repenting on their decision of supporting Mir Zafarullah Jamali in his election for the leader of the house in the National Assembly.

The party will be forced to reconsider its previous role if the attitude towards MQM-Pak is not changed, they added.

They said in the guise of removing “no-go areas”, the Sindh administration not only sealed Baitul Hamza, the MQM-Pak headquarters, but also other party offices.

The administration even resorted to baton-charge, injuring women supporters, who were protesting against the government’s action in different parts of Karachi city. Two MQM-Pak supporters were even killed, they alleged.

They said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was enjoying the support of the police, rangers and agencies which was evident from the fact that scores of MQM-backed thugs were being settled in Landhi and Korangi areas.

“If they really are displaced persons then why are they being resettled in camps and tents instead of the homes in which they were earlier living?” they added.

The MQM-Pak leaders said it was in the knowledge of the Sindh administration that the list of 1,200 displaced people released by the MQM was forged as only 22 persons had left these areas. But, their list was being honoured and MQM-Pak’s list of 300 genuine people was being ignored.

They alleged that the Sindh administration, on the pressure of Altaf Hussain, had offered financial and logistic support to the entire central leadership of the MQM-Pak provided they agreed to settle abroad. However, the MQM-Pak had unanimously turned down the offer, they claimed.

To a question, they said it was in the fitness of things that instead of four provinces, the country be divided into nine or 10 provinces to ensure equal rights to every citizen of the country.