MQM leader announces hunger strike ‘until death’

KARACHI: In a bid to register a strong protest against “extrajudicial killing” and “unlawful arrests” of his party workers, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday announced a hunger strike until death, Geo reported.
In a statement issued from London, Hussain said he had vowed not to bow down before the “oppressors.” Therefore, he added that he will fulfil his promise by sacrificing his life.
The MQM chief said he will start his hunger strike as soon as he gets an approval from the local administration in London.
The announcement comes days after a Rangers’ raid on MQM headquarters Nine-Zero in Karachi, in which four party leaders including Qamar Mansoor and Kaiful Wara were detained and taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation.
Both leaders were, however, later released after satisfying the Rangers officials.
This was the second such raid on the MQM headquarters this year as dozens of workers and leaders among wanted suspects were arrested in the first search operation in March.
“MQM’s Rabita Committee will be responsible for running the party affairs after my death,” said Hussain, adding that it will be up to the coordination committee to continue the movement or to announce its end.
The MQM chief also regretted that few political analysts, journalists and anchorpersons don’t pay heed to what he termed “pertinent reservations” of the MQM by coming out of their political differences with the party.
He said all journalists, column writers, TV anchors and political analysts of Pakistan know MQM leader Qamar Mansoor very well.
“They should themselves decide if Mansoor can be a terrorist or not,” he questioned.