MQM announces Saturday as day of mourning

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Rabita Committee held a press conference on Friday evening to announce a day of mourning on Saturday, Express News reported. ‘The day of mourning’ is being observed to highlight the extra-judicial killings of MQM workers in Karachi, said senior MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi. He also said the MQM supports the targeted operation that the prime minister had sanctioned to establish peace in Karachi, but he added that this operation continuously targets innocent MQM volunteers and other citizens. “People are going missing and the list of the missing persons keeps on growing,” he said. “This is a worrying situation.” He alleged there were 10 extra-judicial killings of MQM volunteers over the past one year, and that 45 MQM volunteers have gone missing since the beginning of 2013. He added that the party had filed petitions with the High Court; however, no action has been taken on these petitions. The Karachi Transport Union has announced that it will comply with MQM’s request to hold off transport operations on Saturday. Bilawal’s response After the press conference Bilawal Bhutto tweeted that calling a strike will only lead to MQM losing good will among the people of Karachi.