The Muttahida Qaumi Movement late on Sunday night withdrew shutterdown strike after Sindh Rangers warned strict action against forced shutdown of businesses, transport, and educational institutes.
The MQM Rabita (Coordination) Committee said “Following DG Rangers Maj Gen Bilal Akbar’s assurance that he will see that the murderers of our worker Mohammad Hashim are dragged to the dock, we are taking our call back,”
MQM party Supremo, Altaf Hussain also urged his party workers for full support of committee’s decision.
Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) nixed MQM’s strike-call.
Read: MQM announces shutterdown strike in Sindh
A spokesman for the paramilitary force quoted Director General Rangers (Sindh) Maj Gen Bilal Akbar as saying that there would be no strike on Monday.
“The MQM worker, Mohammad Hashim’s, alleged murder is as deplorable as it is unfortunate like any human being’s;however, we cannot allow anyone to bring the life in the metropolis to a paralyzing halt,” the Maj Gen Akbar said in the statement issued here.
The commander of the paramilitary troops made no bones when he said that clamping a shutterdown/wheeljam strike on the citizens by jumping to conclusions –without an investigation– was tantamount to trying to manipulate the day-to-day routine of Pakistan’s commercial center.
“You are requested to take Monday as any other working day. Do not be afraid to continue with your business or other activities. Call 1101 (Rangers Helpline) if anyone tries to force you to close your shop/office down for the day against your will,” Akbar said giving an emboldening message to the people at large.
Read: Rangers rejects MQM strike, issues warning statement
DG Rangers further said the MQM activist’s murder was an attempt to sabotage the ‘return of calm’ to the coastal city, which is trying to recover after a long reign of violence.
“Hashim’s murder will be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators will be exposed no matter where they are,” Maj Gen Bilal Akbar promised.
The MQM, often accused by its critics of using extortion and murder to cement its power in Karachi, has complained its workers have been unfairly targeted by security forces in a bid to curb its power.
The Metropolitan Police are currently investigating the MQM over money-laundering after a huge quantity of cash was reportedly found at party offices and Hussain’s home in London.
As well as the money-laundering case, British police are also probing the murder of MQM politician Imran Farooq in London in 2010.
Hussain controls the party from London, where he has lived in self-imposed exile since leaving Pakistan in the early 1990s, and now has British citizenship.
A BBC report last month said MQM members had told British police the party had received money and military training from Pakistan’s arch-rival India.
The party vehemently denied the allegations. (PhotoNews/Agencies)
