MQM leaders surrender, offer arrest after local body polls
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KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar claimed that MQM is a victim of state terrorism for the past two years, adding that the party cannot continue its political activities if law enforcement agencies continue to raid its offices in Karachi.
Sattar was speaking to party workers and supporters during a protest rally, which turned into a sit-in at Numaish Chowrangi after police barred the protesters from moving towards the Red Zone.
The MQM lawmaker announced that he along with other MQM leaders and party workers will voluntarily present themselves before security agencies for arrest but after local body polls — which are scheduled for December 5.
"4,000 MQM workers were arrested while 5,000 raids were conducted on our offices," claimed Farooq Sattar.
The senior MQM leader claimed that some forces are trying to portray that MQM follows the politics of violence and crime, adding that “MQM is a political party and will talk about politics wherever and whenever it gets a chance.
"Today, you witnessed a million march, on December 5 (election day) there will be a billion march," said Sattar.
Later the sit-in ended after MQM leader Amir Khan ordered the party supporters and workers to disperse peacefully.
Earlier in the day, police stopped the MQM rally at Numaish Chowrangi, barring it from entering the Red Zone. The MQM had taken out the rally to protest against alleged illegal arrest of its workers.
The protest rally started from Liaquatabad and was scheduled to culminate at the Rangers Headquarters located near Sindh Assembly, but police stopped the participants ─ led by MQM's senior leadership ─ near Numaish Chowrangi.
The police forces deployed were under orders to stop the rally at Quaid-i-Azam's mausoleum. MQM leaders also stopped the party workers and supporters from moving forward, DawnNews reported.
Security forces had earlier sealed the sensitive area around the Rangers Headquarters, which is in close proximity to the Governor House, CM House and other important state buildings.
The police stated that it will not allow the rally to enter the Red Zone in Karachi's Saddar area.
High-ranking police officials, including DIG-South and Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali told media personnel that they will not allow protesters to enter the sensitive area and would employ water canons to disperse the crowd if need be, DawnNews reported.
Authorities had also placed barriers along the routes leading to the Red Zone, in order to stop the rally from proceeding. Roads around the area witnessed heavy traffic congestion due to the blockades.
MQM's leadership, on the other hand, said it will end the protest rally where stopped and will respect the law.
The party claims 22 of its workers were busy with the election campaign for the upcoming LG polls when they were arrested by the law enforcement agencies. The party alleged it was an attempt to curtail the activities of the most favoured contender in Karachi days before polling day.
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On DawnNews
Comments (85) Closed
Nov 26, 2015 06:18pm
Did they have a permit, and what is so special about the red zone
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Nov 26, 2015 06:20pm
"MQM's leadership, on the other hand, said it will end the protest rally where stopped and will respect the law." Unlike leaders of other parties that ordered their people to attack on govt institutions and were dealt with rubber bullets because mqm knows that they will be facing real bullets.
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Nov 26, 2015 06:26pm
"it will end the protest rally where stopped and will respect the law" quite a change there! thanks rangers ?
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Nov 26, 2015 06:30pm
This operation is against terrorists. Rangers should also do operation against banned outfits religious organizations and their sympathizers.
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Nov 26, 2015 06:32pm
Great work MQM, A real middle class and educated people representative of Pakistan.
MQM did great work for the progress of Sindh, especially for Karachi
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Nov 26, 2015 06:35pm
Glad MQM can no longer call strikes
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Nov 26, 2015 06:43pm
Very impressive show by MQM. Keep eyes the disappointed, depressed and so-called politicians who plan to postpone the LB elections. MQM is already declared winner.
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Nov 26, 2015 06:55pm
This shows that MQM with the support of masses seriously intends to begin a movement for a separate province following winning the elections. Now people of Karachi got sick of the feudal system begging for resources for the development of their city.
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Nov 26, 2015 07:04pm
MQM leaders have no doubt are very hard working, determined, loyal and sincere with Altaf Hussain and MQM. They present and defend upfront MQM view point with firm and logical arguments. MQM leaders and workers effort would never go in the vain and a new separate province is a imminent.
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Nov 26, 2015 07:14pm
Another example of biasness from politicized partisan LEAs posted in urban sindh. All other parties has been given free hand to run their election campaign except MQM. Even then people of urban sindh will comeout and vote for their true representatives MQM. MQM clean swept Hyderabad's LG elections defeating 11 parties alliance and God willing will clean sweep Karachi LG elections as well. Urban Sindh will always be with MQM.
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Nov 26, 2015 07:17pm
The rangers have done great job in restoring peace in Karachi by curbing culprits, but unfortunately no political measures were taken in order to keep the balance in the operation. Only operation by rangers has reflected an image that one political party is being targeted and MQM was the only problem in Karachi. Since there have no steps taken politically except focusing and crushing MQM, people of Karachi are right in understanding that their popular party is being targeted by rangers and recent arrests of innocent MQM workers endorse and validate their views.
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Nov 26, 2015 07:24pm
Illegal arrests, it sounds so ridiculous, we can see peace in Karachi after such arrests!!!
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Nov 26, 2015 07:27pm
Great show of power by MQM and also a good respect of Law .
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Nov 26, 2015 07:28pm
It,s clear writing on the wall. MQM has its vote bank intact and the more actions push them towards the wall the more popular MQM will be. We want separate province so our future is secured.
God bless people of Karachi and Pakistan.
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Nov 26, 2015 07:29pm
MQM deserved to represent Karachi and entire Pakistan as they belong to middle class and none of them is an industrialist or jagidar.Being a Karachite my vote is for MQM.The opportunist will always be against a middle class party.
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Nov 26, 2015 07:41pm
I don't get it why rangers always being an obstacle when MQM comes close to election. They did in in NA 146 and doing it again. Why it is so hard to understand that establishment should be kept away from taking sides in politics.
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Nov 26, 2015 08:02pm
We karachites have given verdict in favour of mqm.........MQM will win inshallah
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Nov 26, 2015 08:02pm
I hope now MQM will exercise its political rights without harboring elements that engage in target killing and extortion.
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Nov 26, 2015 08:10pm
They (MQM) respect the law and armed forces. They also promised to eradicate criminals from their ranks.
Now, they must work jointly with Rangers and bring out and handover their criminals to the LEA's as promised. That is very normal and would promote goodwill and harmony. There should be no hard feelings about it from any quarters.
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Nov 26, 2015 08:23pm
When you have nothing to do and ample time this is the best thing to do...the political parties of Sindh fool their people by these chores...
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Nov 26, 2015 08:33pm
@Jahangir Sindhi will never accept divide of their mother land. This is point of contradiction. If one feel easy we welcome him in Sindh.
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Nov 26, 2015 08:39pm
What kind of msg is being given by govt with Disney land, tourist buses, metra trains in Lahore and with nothing for Karachi instead govt machinery is being to oppress the Karachities in all possible way..Anyway, whole world is watching it.
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Nov 26, 2015 08:40pm
This is Rangers controlled democracy in Karachi....
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Nov 26, 2015 08:43pm
@Alam .....Karachi was never part of Sind even before un-divided India....And after Pakistan's creation, Karachi was the capital of Pakistan not part of Sind......
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Nov 26, 2015 08:48pm
@Alam My friend look around you world is changing. Whether one wants or not reality prevails. Innocent people of interior Sindh have no problem except the corrupt jagridars, waderas who afraid of losing their hegemony. People of Karachi are educated and would never subjugate before corrupt waderas and feudal system. A separate province for urban sindh would be a warranty for stable and prosperous Pakistan.
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Nov 26, 2015 08:50pm
@NoNy We should appreciate MQM here.
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Nov 26, 2015 08:52pm
@Rashid Will hard to understand till the last moment.
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Nov 26, 2015 08:54pm
Long live MQM
Our hearts are with MQM
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Nov 26, 2015 08:57pm
Like QUOTA system , Urdu Speaking people freedom is captured by RANGERS and PPP govt
We must need a separate province , where our own people will guard us or provide security
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Nov 26, 2015 09:07pm
@Haque Parast - Yes, you're right what happened on 12 may was done by unseen creatures. Am i right?
Everybody knows that what MQM gives us in karachi instead of ruining lives of under 18 boys by giving them guns.
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Nov 26, 2015 09:09pm
@Alam..... I agree with you..... well said
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Nov 26, 2015 09:12pm
I'm afraid rangers are creating an entirely avoidable situation by trying to throttle mqm's legitimate political campaign. The arrest of workers involved in just electoral activities clearly smacks of a vendetta based approach. As has been said repeatedly now, focus on criminals by any means but don't try to fight a media war with a political party of proven mandate. The highly questionable ban on Altaf husain's pictures and speeches have already proved the partiality of establishment towards Karachi and has only further endeared mqm, for all its faults, to karachiites.
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Nov 26, 2015 09:36pm
@Haque Parast - agree with you 100%. This bias attitude of establishment should stop.
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Nov 26, 2015 09:42pm
@Sohail Pirzada ......Dude...Unfortunately we are in the deniable mode. We unable to accept the fact that Karachi was never part of Sind....Check history....Once the urban Sind transforms into the province then we can say " Government of Karachi people, for Karachi people by Karachi people" :)
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Nov 26, 2015 10:06pm
@Alam merely emotional slogans cannot stop the rising storm.
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Nov 26, 2015 10:19pm
"(MQM) leader Farooq Sattar claimed that MQM is a victim of state terrorism for the past two years" And MQM has been holding the entire city hostage to its dirty politics by remote control, and destroying its economy for the past 20 years!~
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Nov 26, 2015 10:23pm
The powers that are must realise that Karachi has suffered enough. For over 8 years now, it has been denied its civic rights and the development funds that were its due. It has been denied power and representation both at provincial as well as federal governments. Local bodies elections, followed by granting of all powers due to such bodies, now provide the only hope to Karachiites for the redemption of their city. A positive role by the Rangers can yet endear them to the hearts of Karachiites; else it appears that the proverbial wall is now touching the backs of this city's residents. Can someone wake up and notice the vibes!
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Nov 26, 2015 10:23pm
@Mahmood ...This is what you are saying.....Election results since 1987 tell us otherwise.....People of Urban Sind stand with MQM....
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Nov 26, 2015 10:32pm
State policy of oppression/suppression and denial of rights, does not succeed in the longer run.
The whole world gets to know in due course.
But the proverb " might is right" is also true. All powers in Pakistan are against MQM.
In this scenario what MQM can do, except voicing protest and bringing our rallies?
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Nov 26, 2015 10:38pm
Long live MQM
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Nov 26, 2015 10:52pm
Right way to move!
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Nov 26, 2015 10:52pm
It is another drama written by Altaf Bhai but honestly no party can beat MQM currently and this is not because people LOVE MQM, it is because of failed and biased policies of federal and provincial governments. People of Karachi do not have many choices. Ranger operation is good and should continue to capture and punish crooks, in the mean time government should wake up and find some long term solution.
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Nov 26, 2015 11:09pm
Who has made he red zone. Red zone is also a part of Karachi, run by Karachi tax money. By the way not too many people know that AUTO RIKSHAW is not allowed in red zone because it makes noise and also five star hotels are located in this zone. What a British Raj mentality.
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Nov 26, 2015 11:19pm
@Pakistani What's wrong with you guy's, didn't we learn our lesson's from 1971 crisis of East and West wing collision of power politics. We should be fair in our dealings with all Pakistani's in the same manner as per the teaching of Islam (After all Pakistan is called an "Islamic Republic Of Pakistan)". We are losing our primary focus of providing justice and good governance through rule of law. Biases will create dissension and nothing else but further sub-divisions. Wake-up Pakistan.
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Nov 26, 2015 11:34pm
Not allowing MQM to enter into the red zone and letting IK and TQ to play havoc in Islamabad red zone and attacking parliament,PTV and other important places to destabilize the elected Govt.
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Nov 26, 2015 11:40pm
It is an insult to the collected wisdom of Karachiites when one sees the establishment hellbent on denying Karachiites their civic rights by using diversionary tactics. Whereas the discussion should have been centred on how the civic bodies should be best empowered, here we are with the city's most popular party, like it or not, being distracted into a needless war of nerves regarding electoral campaign. Does the establishment really think that such games are lost on Karachiites. This will only cement the belief of Karachiites that this is a battle for the gold of Karachi, not the soul of Karachi.
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Nov 26, 2015 11:47pm
stop operations for 2 months and you will see body bags filling again... by unknown assailants.
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Nov 26, 2015 11:47pm
Ranger had already cut the wings of pigeon MQM,they should be allowed to contest elections in free fair environment .The real culprit party is there in rural areas,threatening people to only vote them,and spending lavishly the corruption money,paying Rs 5000 per vote,still lose at Badin,and using blackmail tactics in rural Sindh where bare foot hungry people have no choice except to throw vote in their boxes.Some one must break this feudal and wadera culture ASAP.
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Nov 26, 2015 11:50pm
So frequent shut downs of Karachi city were done without any armed wing of MQM? There was never politics of fear? How long will they keep these lies flowing?
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Nov 27, 2015 12:19am
Are you all looking for the na maloum afraad to come back again ???? yes MQM has a vote bank it needs to be cleansed of the Dons like Rouf Siddequi,Waseem Akhtar Babr Ghouri and company and let the real middle class come forward neat and clean no one has doubts over that but don't forget the days when the entire city was closed in half an hour that's the problem with us we have a very short memory.
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Nov 27, 2015 12:20am
The oppression forces eye in Karachi in order to control grass root party in urban Sindh but ignore the main culprits of the system in rural sindh where poor and naive people are suppressed by them. This discrepancy raises many questions consequently operation in karachi becomes controversial. MQM has mandate from learned society of pakistan and this should be respected rather humiliating them in the name of terrorists.
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Nov 27, 2015 12:25am
@M Jamal "MQM deserved to represent Karachi and entire Pakistan as they belong to middle class and none of them is an industrialist or jagidar.Being a Karachite my vote is for MQM.The opportunist will always be against a middle class party."
That is not how it works. How does that make them any different from the feudals and jagirdaar they or their supporters oppose??
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Nov 27, 2015 12:33am
What is wrong with the people out here... MQM is ruling Krachi for last 20 plus years and did not able to bring Peace in the city. If Rangers operation is biased then why we are seeing that things are getting better in Karachi. I always though that people of Karachi are educated and can differentiate between good and bad but seeing comments here, I can say be no doubt that they are ready to elect MQM again and then they will cry like a baby that stop Target Killing, Extortion and all low level crimes that are mostly done by MQM.
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Nov 27, 2015 12:37am
Mqm, will win inshallah, big land slide victory. Agencies should realize that denying resources, power, authority, leverage to the representatives of Karachi will only destroy Pakistan further. People of Karachi , specially mqm's supporters, voters and workers are as Pakistani as any one in this country, so listen to the masses and let them govern themselves otherwise it will be disastrous to the republic.
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Nov 27, 2015 12:43am
@naji you must be kidding! In last 30 years MQM has plundered Karachi , just go around in the city and see the land grab in the name of China cutting. Any one can look around and see the absence of government schools. They have done nothing for common karachite and everything to fill their pockets.
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Nov 27, 2015 12:45am
@warsi MQMis not getting popular rather people see no other alternate to them. PTI has done nothing to lure the karachite voters.
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Nov 27, 2015 12:49am
@Arisha G MQM leader were middle class but no more. They are all millionaires!
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Nov 27, 2015 12:49am
@Sami ...Dr. Asim and Sharjeel Memon are not from MQM. Anyone from top leadership of MQM have been arrested? LEAs are targeting cri!inals and terrorists. This is not the fault of LEAs if most of the arrested criminals belong to MQM. But MQM always deny any link with arrested criminals. MQM should submit the names of inoccents who have been wrongly arrested.
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Nov 27, 2015 12:52am
@Babar rubbish! The slogan for Mohajir Provence is just a way to attract popularity. What did the MQM do in last 30 years for creating a new province or ending the quota system ?
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Nov 27, 2015 12:58am
Not a fan of MQM or for that matter any other party. However, there is not much action against the religious seminaries and their rallies, that openly challenge the government's writ. Lal Masjid in Islamabad has to be dealt with an iron fist.
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Nov 27, 2015 01:00am
Inshallah MQM will win again more votes then b4
Long live Mqm
Long live Pakistan
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Nov 27, 2015 01:11am
Ban MQM and PPP from politics
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Nov 27, 2015 01:12am
@Arisha G Edit: Meaning to say - if you should vote for MQM because it is a middle class representing party and vice versa, then by that definition the Jagirdaars and Waderas also seem it their right to rule on the lands and people that they own because they are born into it?!? There is a serious flaw in that narrative Mr. M Jamal put forward.
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Nov 27, 2015 01:15am
Mr. sattar, please answer One question. Why is there no more target killings, extortion and robberie, street crime since the MQM "workers" been apprehended?
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Nov 27, 2015 01:23am
MQM was partner of loot and plunder during Musharaf era with PMLQ and is now partner of Zardari n PPP. They have done nothing except fooling poor Urdu speakers.
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Nov 27, 2015 01:30am
As long as the parties are ethinic Punjabis; Balochis, Sindhis, Pushtoons that is ok. PTI can cause disruptions it is ok, Lal masjid keepers can do whatever they want to do, it is ok too. Rangers agenda is to divide and rule Sindh; until the Punjab freeway is completed; then who cares about. It is time for ALL Sindhis to work together to solve problems of Sindh. Rangers goal is to replicate Badin results into Karachi. Who says Btitish policy of divide and rule is gone, it is the first chapter of how to make civilian leadership impotent.
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Nov 27, 2015 01:36am
@Sami Is it not true or are we idiots and blind
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Nov 27, 2015 01:38am
@Alam India has 23 provinces is it divided you dude
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Nov 27, 2015 01:40am
@Babar The tragedy with Pakistan is that most of its people never learned from history and history is gonna repeat itself, know the proverb.
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Nov 27, 2015 01:41am
This cannot continue anymore. Time to go separate ways.
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Nov 27, 2015 01:45am
@Aftab Ahmed ...in fact thanks for your comments, at least you acknowledged that Karachi belongs to MQM. Finally, some sense and sanity have been prevailing in other parts of the country.
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Nov 27, 2015 02:06am
Rangers is doing great We should be thankful to Raheel Shareef for bringing peace in Karachi
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Nov 27, 2015 02:14am
It is so sad that the only party that works with honesty in Pakistan, MMQM, is treated so brutally that it will have to go underground. This happens when legitimate rights are not given to the right owners who have mandate of the place.
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Nov 27, 2015 02:17am
The party MQM which has the mandate of Karachi was never the right to rule. When they got to rule for six years they did wonderful job for Karachi which some people do not like.
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Nov 27, 2015 03:11am
@Junaid It will call whenever necessary !
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Nov 27, 2015 03:15am
I am from Karachi and MQM does noy represent the whole just some areas so dont lie.
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Nov 27, 2015 06:23am
@Babar Karachi is not part of Sindh?????
Karachi is INSIDE Sindh, my dear friend.
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Nov 27, 2015 10:18am
@Owais Bayunus
Brother MQM did the work in Karachi but during the tenure of Mr. Musharaf and after that they are in goverment with PPP but we all know how PPP use them and show their real face and we all know how much work was done in Karachi during that time.
Question if they were targeted only than most of you dont even visited Lyari were Ranger did the operations against criminals and they shoot them at sight and now lyari is much better
Further if raid on their offices bring peace in the city than every normal karachi citizen want these raids to be continues, how come the target killing stop so suddenly please we all need to use our mind dont blindly follow it. A normal person need basic necessity and security thats it, all these politicians which divide us because of ethnicity are sitting together, eating together and even having marriages among each other but to achieve their objective they divide us.
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Nov 27, 2015 11:07am
Long Live MQM.
With hope learned from mistakes
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Nov 27, 2015 03:45pm
Pakistan i a lawless country made by its own law enforcers
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Nov 27, 2015 05:57pm
@Ghaznavi ....sir when it clomes to MQM rubbish comes out of the mouth from its opponents. You are another similar example. MQM never had the absolute majority to pass that bill in National Assembly. MQM presented the bill against that in 1988 and 1990.
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Nov 28, 2015 08:29am
recycled story
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Nov 28, 2015 08:35am
@Haque Parast too late
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Nov 28, 2015 08:35am
@NoNy lie
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Nov 28, 2015 08:36am
@Hammad they will all be exposed again
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