Pakistan forces seal MQM party headquarters after TV station attack

MQM activists clashed with police and ransacked a private television station in the southern city Monday, leaving at least one man dead and seven injured, after Hussain gave a telephone address to supporters from London in which he castigated the media for their coverage.

The police confirmed that it has received numerous calls from the public seeking action against Altaf Hussain. She added: “Where evidence of criminal activity is found we will consult with the Crown Prosecution Service”, the spokeswoman added.

As Hussain concluded his address to his workers by the phone, the workers stormed the office of ARY television in central Karachi and also attacked offices of two other TV channels Samaa and Neo, management of the channels said.

The MQM has a history of violent protests and clashes with police and rival political parties in Karachi.

Hussain’s anti-Pakistan speech triggered countrywide uproar and widespread condemnation. Nearly every political party, and even the Pakistani Taliban and other militant networks, have multiple factions consumed as much by infighting as anything else.

The market seems “off color” as political uncertainty rises, said Muhammad Rameez, global equity sales trader at Foundation Securities Ltd.in Karachi. In 2014, he was arrested in connection with money laundering and released on bail. The fate of this rare move will totally depend on Hussain’s reaction. Referring to DG Rangers, Akhtar reiterated his support for the ongoing operation in the city, and said “there are elements who want to derail peace of Karachi”.

Earlier on Tuesday, PTI’s London President Barrister Waheed-ur-Rehman protested outside Altaf Hussain’s house in Mill Hill while the MQM leader was present inside the house. He also crossed all limits by making remarks against the country and reportedly asking his followers to raise slogans against Pakistan.

Hussain also mentioned that he was under “acute stress” due to recent “incidents” and due to working on the party affairs day and night.

“Torture is not MQM’s policy”.

He further said that all four Chief Ministers (CMs) shall be summoned to Islamabad in a few days time in order to have a meeting to discuss the security situation.

Pakistani soldiers stand guard after sealing the head offices of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, or MQM, in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016.

London/Islamabad: MQM leader Altaf Hussain has given up control over the party after coming under widespread criticism for calling Pakistan a “cancer”, the media reported on Wednesday.