Pakistani paramilitary forces have taken over the offices of the MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) party in Karachi. Consequently five of the party leaders have been arrested. The turbulences followed a violent crush of the MQM workers on the ARY News television office, allegedly called for by MQM chief Altaf Hussain. Hussain accused the media of not covering a six-day hunger strike. According to the Pakistani sources Hussain is guilty of expressing anti-Pakistani slogans. 

The raid on the ARY tv station took place on Monday. This was after chief Altaf Hussain called the MQM workers to ‘storm the offices of TV channels’. In response to that the paramilitary forces stormed the MQM headquarters. The rangers force commander reported: ‘We have sealed the MQM headquarters, their media office and hostel; some weapons have also been recovered’. Law-enforcement agencies additionally accuse MQM of racketeering, abduction, torture, and murder in its bid to maintain power, however, the party is denying all of this.

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