MQM reinforce position in Karachi areas, wants anti-Mohajir operationJuly 24, 2011 | Updated… 15:01 PST
Muttahida Qaumi Movement is reinforcing its position in Malir district of Karachi after rival Mohajir Qaumi Movement stormed the area on Friday.
The MQM leadership is also annoyed by the fact that its activists failed to put up effective resistance against armed Mohajir workers, who took them by surprise in wee hours and left only after security forces arrived at the scene.
Sources say the MQM leadership has tasked its Gulistan Jauhar Sector to take over security and control of Malir areas from the local sector level organization. Armed activists of MQM have established additional pickets in Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, Korangi, Landhi and Lines Area, according to sources.
The London leadership has also ordered action against intelligence committee of MQM Malir Sector for its failure to detect Mohajir activists, they said.
Source said the MQM had beefed up vigilance in all of the areas it controlled in Karachi after party walked out from the ruling coalition last month and armed workers were deployed at pickets round the clock in all sectors-the party has divided its organizational setup city into sectors in units in the city.
However, when MQM, after successful negotiations with the government, ordered Governor Sindh Dr. Ishratul Ebad to resume his office the MQM activists felt relaxed and lowered the guard, leaving pickets empty during the day and this allowed Mohajir workers to make way into Malir area, said the sources.
The MQM terrorists fled their positions within 5 hours – a letdown for the party leaders, who were baffled at the event, according to sources.
They said after the clash MQM workers established 33 pickets in Malir alone and dozens in other areas and looked at every person with suspicion, verifying identities by checking the national ID cards. Workers from Amir Khan group, which recently rejoined the party, were also seen as untrustworthy and kept away from “security responsibilities”, said the sources.
“MQM believes people from Amir Khan played important part in Mohajir Qaumi Movement entry into Marlir,” said a source.
Now MQM workers are manning dozens of positions in several areas and situation is very tense, said the source.
The London leadership of MQM was pressuring ruling party to start operation against Mohajir Qaumi Movement in Sherpao Colony but so far government did not entertain the demand, source said.
MQM demand was conveyed through one of its former minister and feeling the government indifference party leaders held a press conference to accuse provincial ministers for the Malir clash, they said.
MQM leader have asked their workers to name Awami National Party and Liyari Aman Committee activists, which allegedly joined Mohajir Qaumi Movement assault in Malir.