KARACHI: Police lodged an FIR against seven Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) workers for involvement in Karimabad hassle with anti-terrorism clauses invoked in the case. The MQM leaders termed the arrests as unilateral action and partiality.
Several MQM leaders including Rehan Hashmi, Rasheed Godial and Asif Hasnain reached Gulberg police station in today’s wee hours. However, they were not allowed to enter the premises and the copy of the FIR was also denied to them.
The relatives of the detainees also were not briefed by the police.
According to SSP Central Noman Siddiqui, a case has been registered against the detained MQM workers with the state as plaintiff.
Police official Siddiqui said the case was lodged against the accused for dislocating the PTI’s camp and rioting in Karimabad, adding anti-terrorism clauses have also been made a part to the FIR.
The accused will be produced before the court today, he informed.
Talking to media standing outside the police station, MQM leader Asif Hasnain said the police are brazenly favoring the PTI, adding, “We have been standing outside the police station for an hour; however, no cooperation is being offered to us.”
Earlier, when the MQM’s activists were shifted in the lockup of Gulberg police station, security was put on high alert and the gates were locked.
The detainees include Mudassir, Asif, Naveed, Muzammil and Mateen.
Having been denied the entry, the MQM leaders along with the relatives of the arrested people staged a sit-in outside the police station. The participants of the sit-in are raising slogans for the release of the detainees.
