ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement expressed serious concern on Saturday over the nomination of party MNA Nabil Gabol in the murder case of Peoples Amn Committee leader Zafar Baloch and alleged that certain elements wanted to make the ongoing Karachi operation against extortionists and target killers controversial.

Speaking at a news conference, MQM’s Deputy Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui alleged that the name of Mr Gabol had been included in the First Information Report in an attempt to save real culprits.

Six MQM MNAs, including Nabil Gabol, were present on the occasion.

Mr Siddiqui asked President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to take notice of the registration of the case against Mr Gabol, who had been staying in Islamabad for almost a week in connection with the National Assembly session.

The MQM leader said that a senior police official had stated that Mr Baloch’s murder was the result of infighting within the group.

Mr Siddiqui said that MQM wanted peace in Karachi and was ready to extend its cooperation to authorities. He said his party’s demand for handing over of Karachi to army was constitutional. The MQM, he said, believed that every criminal should be arrested and taken to task, irrespective of his political affiliation.