KARACHI: Member of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Farooq Sattar was taken into custody by Rangers during a live press conference at press club, Karachi.
Farooq Sattar and senior leader Khwaja Izharul Hassan and among other party members had arrived at press club to talk to media regarding incident. According to news reports, there was also an exchange of harsh words between Farooq Sattar and ranger personnel.
In an available video, Farooq Sattar has been showed as arguing with rangers to go in his own car, a request which rangers denied. “I can go in my own car” said Farooq. At least one person was dead and several injured after the MQM workers stormed ARY News office in Karachi after the MQM chief Altaf Hussain incited the party workers to encircle and launch an assault against TV stations.
MQM’s involvement in ARY attack
Sindh Rangers arrested Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders Farooq Sattar and Khawaja Izharul Hassan after Monday’s attack on ARY News channel that left person one dead and five others injured.
The two Muttahida leaders were about to address a press conference at Karachi Press Club when the paramilitary approached Sattar and asked the MQM leader to record his statement, local TV channel reported. Sattar questioned the Rangers action, saying that under which law the paramilitary force was arresting him. A Rangers officer then asked Sattar to cooperate with the paramilitary force.
The development comes after one person was killed and five others injured after violent protesters stormed the office of ARY News in Karachi’s Saddar area. The private news channel has alleged that the protesters were members of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). ARY News further reported that the protesters entered the building and attacked the staff.
According to TV channels, MQM chief Altaf Hussain in his speech earlier today told protesters “to storm the offices of TV channels.” Earlier, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif directed Sindh Rangers Director General Maj-Gen Bilal Akbar to arrest those involved in the attack on ARY News office. The army chief had a telephonic conversation with Major General Akbar in which he ordered the Rangers chief to maintain law and order situation in Karachi.
