Rioters set fire to vehicles, including a police van. On the streets, MQM activists clashed with police who tried to stop them, sparking volleys of gunshots and teargas at several places across Karachi.
#MQM USA TV#
Staffers of Neo TV station, whose office is located in the same building as ARY, were also beaten up.
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Television footage showed dozens of men and women barging into ARY’s office, smashing doors, windows and equipment with rods and batons and setting fire to vehicles. The violence was condemned by all political parties and prompted action by the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers. Shortly after Hussain completed his speech on Monday, MQM activists ransacked the offices of ARY News and Samaa TV and clashed with police, leaving one person dead and more than half a dozen injured. However, there was some talk against Pakistan and I can assure you that every supporter of the party denounces this act,” he added. “This party wants the supremacy and rule of Constitution. The MQM’s policy is to unite people on one platform and it could not “think about adopting an anti-state policy”, he said. “Slogans were raised yesterday regarding the state of Pakistan which should not have been raised at any cost,” Sattar said soon after he was released after an overnight detention. MQM leader Farooq Sattar distanced the party from Hussain’s remarks at a news conference. Pakistani media personnel gather outside the headquarters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) political party after it was sealed by paramilitary rangers following a raid in Karachi. “Being a Pakistani, I assure the Pakistani people, establishment, army, ISI, all higher authorities and leaders that I will never use such words again,” he said in the statement. Hussain, who is facing charges of money laundering in Britain, said he was under severe mental stress over extrajudicial arrests and the condition of MQM workers who were on a hunger strike. “From the depth of my heart, I beg pardon from my remarks against Pakistan, the establishment, including Gen Raheel Sharif and DG Rangers,” he said in a statement issued by the MQM.
On Tuesday, Hussain apologised to the military establishment, including army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and Pakistan Rangers official Maj Gen Bilal Akber.
He also shouted slogans against Pakistan and castigated the media for not giving coverage to MQM workers. Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism for the world…Who says long live Pakistan, it’s down with Pakistan.” “Pakistan is a cancer for the entire world,” Hussain can be heard saying in the videos. Hussain spoke over phone, and videos featuring the audio of his speech went viral on social media. The trouble began shortly after Hussain addressed MQM workers protesting outside Karachi Press Club against “enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings” of their colleagues. Soldiers cordon-off an area outside offices of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, or MQM, in Karachi, Pakistan. One case pertains to treason for his anti-state speech…and the other case pertains to the incident following his remarks which saw some media houses being attacked by MQM activists,” he said. “Two cases have been registered against the MQM. Sindh Police chief AD Khawaja said a treason case was registered against Hussain for his speech. Nine MQM leaders were detained on Monday night and the party’s headquarters was sealed after party workers, reportedly incited by a speech by Hussain, attacked two TV news channels, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to several others.
MQM leader Farooq Sattar said “there is a problem”, adding Hussain’s frequent apologies after incendiary statements is an issue that needs to be resolved. The party leadership said the MQM will operate from “Pakistan alone”, a reference Hussain, who lives in self-exile in London. Hussain apologised for his remarks but the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) appeared divided.
#MQM USA CRACKED#
Authorities cracked down on the most powerful political party in the financial hub of Karachi and filed a treason case against its leader Altaf Hussain on Tuesday after he described Pakistan as a “cancer for the entire world”.