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Rangers raid headquarters of MQM, arrest two leaders

Islamabad - Two other leaders Sufian Yousuf and Azeem Farooqui were also taken into custody during the raid but were freed after brief interrogation.

Paramilitary Rangers conducted a raid at Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) Karachi headquarters 'Nine Zero' early on Friday morning and arrested senior leader Qamar Mansoor and Rabita Committee in charge Kaiful Warah.
Two other leaders Sufian Yousuf and Azeem Farooqui were also taken into custody during the raid but were freed after brief interrogation.
This was the second time the Rangers in Karachi carried out the raid at 'Nine Zero', the first being on March 11 when about 200 people were picked up but a little less than half of them were let go after initial interrogation.
Director General Rangers, Karachi, Maj-Gen. Bilal Akbar, in a tweet said those apprehended were involved in arranging and facilitating hate speeches designed to disrupt peace in the city.
According to media reports, the Rangers also searched the houses of two other senior MQM leaders, Dr Farooq Sattar and Haider Abbas Rizvi who were not in their homes. A spokesman of the paramilitary force hinted some more arrests in coming days.
The personnel of the paramilitary force entered the 'Nine Zero' office and Khurshid Begum Memorial Hall after surrounding the area in Karachi's Azizabad neighbourhood, a stronghold of the Altaf Hussain-led MQM.
Altaf condemned the raid and vowed to continue struggle for rights of the people despite oppression and atrocities. In a statement from London, Altaf said his party is facing worst kind of targeted oppression in order to eliminate it as a political force that has fought for last more than 25 years to protect the rights of Mohajirs.
Confirming the arrest of Qamar Mansoor and Kaiful Wara, MQM's central leader Wasay Jalil said that the raid was carried out without any search warrant. He said he was not aware of any other arrests made during the Rangers' raid.
The latest raid comes amid fiery outburst by Altaf Hussain against the Rangers and its leadership besides oblique criticism of the role of the army and Sindh government. Altaf said he had extended support to PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari at a time when his own party had virtually abandoned him. "Mr Zardari, however, has been part of the current campaign of vilification against the MQM," he alleged.
news@khaleejtimes.com

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