MQM fears conspiracy of ethnic riots in Karachi
Bureau Report

KARACHI—MQM Chief Altaf Hussain said Saturday that the scheming elements are once again busy with their plots to fan Mohajir-Pakhtoon riots. Talking to the workers and the office-bearers of MQM Panjabi Pakhtoon Organizing Committee on telephone here, he said that with such machinations, Mohajir and Pakhtoon people were made to fight with each other in past also.
He said that in these riots, the loss was incurred by only the poor people; while, the conspirators kept on enjoying themselves. He urged all the workers and office-bearers of the committee to contact people especially Pakhtoon and apprise them of the evil plot.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement accused that violence on Friday’s strike was a conspiracy to spark Pukhtoon-Muhajir riots in the metropolis. Speaking to a press conference Sunday at Karachi Press Club MQM’s Punjabi Pukhtoon Organizing Committee (PPOC) in charge Sardar Khan alleged that workers of a religious party were involved organizing violence on the day of strike.
He said in past Altaf Hussain and Khan Abdul Wali Khan together had spoiled conspiracies to put Muhajir and Pukhtoon communities at confrontation but some vested interests were again active to create hostility between them. “These miscreants used call of Pukhtoon Action Committee for strike and pedestrians were attacked under well-sorted planning”, he said.
He noted only purpose to assail on Muhajir localities was to spread hatred in these areas. Sardar Khan said in many areas including Fareed Colony, Orangi Townand UC-8 Gadap Town flags of MQM were set ablaze. In Islamia Mohallah Frontier Colony, Bacha Khan Chowk, Banaras Chowk, UCs in SITE town and in many other areas strike was given the color of linguistic riots, he added.
He ruled out any hostility between Muhajir and Pukhtoon communities and they were living amicably side by side in the city.
Mr. Khan said MQM was striving for seeking rights of 98 percent people of the country but some miscreants were trying to destroy peace of the city. To a query about legal action against people involved in disturbance, he replied Sindh home advisor had been approached in this regard. Responding to another question, he said compensation could be given to those who suffered losses during the violence.