KARACHI (INP): The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has called on workers to stage sit-ins protests across Karachi against the arrest of party workers during a raid late on Wednesday night.

Some 30 workers of the MQM were arrested during a raid carried out by Sindh Rangers in Karachi’s Gulshan-i-Maymar area out of which eight were released in the early hours of Thursday.

The MQM has selected 11 venues to hold demonstrations against the arrest of party workers. These include areas of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Rizvia Society, Sharah-i-Faisal, Landhi, Numaish and Liaquatabad. The central protest venue will be outside Chief Minister House.

In a statement issued here, Altaf Hussain said MQM is making efforts for peace in the port city, however, instead of encouraging such efforts the way party is being treated is condemnable.

He said what a dual policy is it that those attacking the TV station, the parliament and other public buildings in Islamabad were treated gently while MQM workers, carrying out peaceful political activities, were being arbitrary arrested.

Altaf demanded President Mamnoon Hussain, PM Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah to halt such brutal actions and all the workers arrested from Scheme 33 be released.

Altaf Hussain denounced in strong terms the rangers raid on the party office in Scheme-33 and arrest of several activists.

In a TV interview, Altaf was of opinion that only the MQM was victimized in the name of Karachi operation, people were killed extra-judicially and their bodies were dumped in bushes.

The MQM founder Hussain said the office of Sindh MPA Faisal Sabzwari and MNA Muzammil Qureshi, was raided and workers were taken into custody amidst a siege around the office.