• Home

Rangers are trying to change loyalties of workers: Sattar

Islamabad - Their relatives were also not allowed to meet. Most of them were tortured and asked to change loyalty with the promise of favourable treatment including dropping of some charges.

The Rangers in Karachi are trying to buy loyalties of MQM legislators and workers by putting pressure or using various tactics, party leader Dr Farooq Sattar told a news conference in Karachi on Sunday afternoon.
He said members of National Assembly, Senate and Sindh Assembly have received calls urging them to change loyalties and join a particular group.
They are being lured either by various offers or temptations or threatened with possibilities of involvement in various cases including terrorism.
Sattar said under-trial prisoners were being particularly targeted in jails with the promise of withdrawal of case. On Friday evening 40 MQM workers facing trial were picked up from various barracks and shifted to other barracks meant for hardened criminals.
All facilities provided under the jail manual were withdrawn including freedom to move around barracks during day time.
Their relatives were also not allowed to meet. Most of them were tortured and asked to change loyalty with the promise of favourable treatment including dropping of some charges.
"Their loyalties are being forcibly converted, (they are told) they will be given facilities in jail and maybe the charges against them will be relaxed and they will be released soon if they agree to certain conditions," he said.
Sattar appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Sindh homer minister to immediately intervene in the matter.
He said such tactics were also used in 1992 but failed to damage the MQM. This time around these will again fail, he added.
news@khaleejtimes.com

• Pakistan