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Police register case after MQM's show of strength

Islamabad - Muttahida says it will not boycott local polls despite raids.

The Karachi police have registered an FIR against nine Mutta­hida Qaumi Movement leaders, including Haider Abbas Rizvi, Aamir Khan and Farooq Sattar, for violating the Loudspeaker Act and Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code late on Thursday for staging a rally without prior permission.
According to the FIR, workers of the MQM gathered on Karachi's M.A. Jinnah Road to protest against the government, during which the party leaders made speeches criticising the security forces for frequent raids and arrests of party workers.
The case was registered at the Soldier Bazaar police station. MQM leaders and workers took to the streets after the Rabita Committee announced a protest rally would be staged in front of the Rangers Headquarters.
Party leaders claimed that more than 100 of their workers were arrested by the paramilitary forces in four days during raids on the party's sector offices in Korangi, Hijrat Colony and Shah Faisal Colony.
The MQM reiterated that it would not boycott local government elections despite "consistent raids on party offices and frequent arrest of workers", but said its members would court arrest after polling on Dec 5 if this was what the law enforcement agencies wanted.
"There is a limit to patience, which may run out if illegal raids and arrests continue," MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said while addressing the participants.
Meanwhile, Afaq Ahmed, chairman of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H), has alleged that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) always wins elections by using arms, and dismissed the rumours that he was joining the Altaf Hussain-led party.
Afaq said he has written a letter to the DG Rangers, asking him to arrest the people who use weapons to force people to vote for the MQM during the upcoming local government elections.
"Our candidates should be provided protection and Rangers should be deployed inside the polling stations during the elections," Afaq said while addressing a Press conference at his house.
news@khaleejtimes.com
(With inputs from agencies)