KARACHI – Dr Hassan Zafar and Kunwar Khalid Younus, members of coordination committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) London have been detained on Saturday as they arrived to address the media at the press club.
Reportedly, Dr Zafar was to announce names of the persons who allegedly have joined MQM London.
Before they initiated the address, Rangers arrived at the press club and took both, Dr Zafar and Kunwar Younus in custody. Sources privy to the coordination committee reported that the members were aware of possible arrests after they addressed their first ever press conference earlier this month.
It was reported that both the detainees were shifted to undisclosed location. Arrests of others present in Karachi Press Club are also likely, according to the sources.
Different members, present inside the press club, are busy finalising party’s next course-of-action.
Women members of MQM London were to be arrested as well but no female security personnel were present with Rangers contingent and the politicians left the press club.
On October 15, coordination committee of MQM London had objected to the identity of coordination committee in Pakistan, led by Dr Farooq Sattar. Ishaq advocate, Amjadullah and Dr Zafar had denied any difference between the committees representing London and Pakistan chapters of the political organisation.
It was MQM London’s first ever premeditated and formal press conference since the division of the party over anti-Pakistan speech of founder, Altaf Hussain on August 22.
Over 50 different offices of MQM were either sealed or bulldozed by law enforcement agencies as a crackdown was launched following the speech that got the severest backlash to the party in its history.