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Today's Paper | November 15, 2024

Updated 10 Aug, 2015 03:03am

MQM calls strike in Karachi over death of worker

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has called for a "shutter down" strike to be observed across Sindh on Monday over what the party said was the extra-judicial killing of young worker Muhammad Hashim.

MQM leader Abdul Haseeb informed the media at a press conference that Hashim — a member of the MQM media cell and Unit 164 Liaquatabad — was going to his residence from Nine Zero on the evening of May 6, when he was arrested and taken to an unknown location.

Haseeb said Hashim's family had filed a petition in the Sindh High Court for his recovery, upon which an FIR was registered on July 28 on the orders of the SHC.

Also read: 'MQM' letters to Indian HC sought help over missing workers

After three months of his disappearance, Hashim's body was found from the Jamshoro area late Sunday night. His body has already been buried by Edhi, the party said.

He claimed that since December 31, 2014, 20 workers of MQM have disappeared while 35 have been killed extra-judicially.

Shutters down for Karachi

MQM Rabita Committee member Wasay Jalil took to Twitter to announce a peaceful strike and urged businessmen and transport company owners to "show solidarity" with the party's call for a strike in the city.

Jalil said Hashim was a member of the party's photography department and was picked up by law enforcement agency men wearing plainclothes on May 6.

DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar said the killing will be probed. “Murder of Hashim will be investigated and murderers will be apprehended wherever they [are] hiding. His murder is a conspiracy against peace of the city,” he said in a statement.

Sindh Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal put police on high alert to avoid any untoward incident. He asked police high-ups to keep an eye on the security situation in the city in view of the strike call.

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