MQM-P terms anti-encroachment operations a revenge

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leaders on Friday spoke their hearts out against implementation on the Supreme Court (SC) verdicts, and said this had turned into ‘revenge’ against the people belonging to an ethnic group, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing a press conference at party’s headquarters in Bahadurabad, Karachi, they said people of Karachi had been pushed to the wall. They were of the view that anti-encroachment operations underway in what they called ‘selective’ parts of the city raised questions.

Speaking on the occasion, MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said it was strange that those very people, who had allowed these settlements to grow, were now demolishing them. “First of all those who allowed these encroachments should be arrested,” he demanded.

Another senior MQM-P leader Amir Khan asked as to why the authorities were so much focused on bulldozing the encroachments in Mohajirs dominated areas. “Why don’t they swing into action against the encroachments at Sharae Faisal and Sohrab Goth? How was Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence regularized?” he questioned.

Wasim Akhtar, former Karachi mayor and senior party leader, said that a conspiracy was at work against the city of Quaid. “The city of lights is being deliberately destroyed,” he said, and added, “We are sick of the situation now. And one cannot rule out the possibility that we give resignations from assemblies and come out on the roads in protest against the Karachi issues.”

MQM-P leaders regretted that eyebrows were not raised when leader of a political party talked about the country’s dismemberment. “But when we demand partition of Sindh, we are branded as ‘traitors’,” he wondered.

Reporter Syed Zeeshan