KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Friday announced it will observe a day of mourning on Saturday against the alleged extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of party workers, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to a press conference at MQM headquarters ‘Nine-Zero,’ senior party leader Haider Abbas Rizvi said that his party was pro-democracy which supports presenting suspects in courts of law.

He recounted that Muhammad Salman, an MQM worker of Korangi Sector 75 along with his nephew Noman, was taken into police custody from Korangi Crossing area of Karachi on February 3.

“Noman was later dropped off near Tower area the next day; however, the mutilated dead body of Salman was recovered from Shah Latif Town,” said the MQM leader.

He alleged that the MQM activist was subjected to horrific torture and presented some photos of Salman during the press conference as evidence.

Calling the ongoing targeted operation of police and Rangers in Karachi being carried out against the party, he claimed that more than 40 MQM workers have disappeared since inception of the operation in November.

“We don’t know their whereabouts and whether they are dead or alive,” he said.

Rizvi further added that despite 10 MQM workers being killed unlawfully in a year, his party was still waiting to get relief from the courts.

Announcing Saturday’s protests, he appealed to the traders, transporters and the masses to keep their businesses shut tomorrow.

Haider Abbas Rizvi demanded the authorities form a judicial commission to look into the alleged extrajudicial killings of his party activists.

‘Threatening people not philosophy of love, Uncle’

Meanwhile, Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticized the MQM’s decision in a tweet saying the party will further lose its goodwill for taking Karachi hostage with strike politics.

Appealing to MQM chief Altaf Hussain to call off the strike, he said threatening people on live TV was not “Philosophy of Love,” referring to Hussain’s recently launched book.

I appeal 2 UncleAltaf 2 call of strike.Pls tell MQM ppl tht threatening ppl of KHI, traders & transporters on live TV is not ur phil of love

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) February 7, 2014

The PPP chief went on further by calling Saturday’s strike a conspiracy against the MQM chief and hoped that his uncle (Altaf Hussian) will not fall for it.