MQM appeals for calm amid Altaf Hussain's arrest
04 June, 2014
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| KARACHI: Bike rider passing by a bus set ablaze by angry mob during tension in the city following arrest of chief of MQM Altaf Hussain in London. |
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KARACHI: Senior MQM leader Dr. Farooq Sattar on Tuesday appealed to party's workers to show restrain and remain peaceful.
He made this emphatic appeal as thousands of MQM workers gathered at Nine Zero and chanted slogans in favour of Altaf Hussain. He stated that London police actions are incomprehensible considering MQM has always cooperated in investigation.
Dr. Sattar urged MQM's workers to keep an eye on saboteurs involved in acts of violence.
Earlier, soon after the news of MQM chief Altaf Hussain spiraled, Karachi and interior Sindh areas descended into chaos and panic, bringing all routine activities to a standstill.
Within minutes of his arrest, panicked shop-keepers and market stall owners rushed to close their businesses for fear of violence, residents said.
Unknown persons had taken to the streets and the city was in a state of frenzy with a number of neighbourhoods experiencing traffic jams.
Incidents of aerial firing were reported from different areas of Karachi including Gulshan-e-Iqbal, leaving at least three people injured.
At least nine vehicles, including tw buses, were set on fire in different parts of Karachi .
According rescue sources, a mini bus was set ablaze near Colony Gate in Shara-e-Faisal in Karachi. Another bus was torched in Korangi.
Two vehicles were torched in Gulberg areas.
According to reports, one Qingchi rickshaw was set on fire in North Nazimabad.
Sources say rangers have apprehended two suspects.
Sensing closure of the city, motorists started to throng petrol stations in large numbers as well as office-goers leaving their offices.
Intermediate board examinations scheduled in the city has been postponed.
Several areas of Karachi have also been shut with disappearance of public transport from roads.
Karachi transport body announced to take their vehicle off roads in view of the deteriorating law and order.
Additional IG Karachi has directed police to remain alert to cope with any untoward incident.
Mobile signals have been jammed in several areas and cable has also shut down.
Hussain's supporters gathered outside the party's headquarters, Nine Zero, chanting slogans in favour of Hussain.
They said they would continue protesting until Hussain was freed.
Reports were also received from Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad where business activities came to a halt after news of Altaf's arrest spread.
Pakistan Railways has stopped train operations in Sindh temporarily.
Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad has contacted Prime Minister, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and other top officials of the federal government regarding this issue
Meanwhile, security to British Consulate in Karachi has also been beefed up in view of the looming breakdown of law and order situation.
However, MQM leader Farough Naseem said the news of arrest of Mr. Atlaf Hussain was not correct. "He is detained for questioning," said Mr. Naseem.
Moreover, the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE-100 index) fell 780 points immediately after the news came and commercial centres across Sindh's provincial capital started to shut down.
Hussain was being investigated for money laundering worth at least 400,000 pounds as well as for incitement to violence and MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq's murder.
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