KARACHI(National Times)- Several individuals have been arrested for participating in a rally in support of MQM founder Altaf Hussain on Karachi\u2019s Arif Jiyeja Street, it emerged on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn,<\/em> was registered on Thursday and under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It nominated 11 people and said that police constable Deedar Ali, while on patrol duty, saw some people forming a group, chanting slogans in favour of Hussain and carrying flags with \u201cjiye Altaf<\/em>\u201d and \u201c48th foundation day APMSO\u201d written on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hussain\u2019s political career began during his student years at the University of Karachi (KU), when he and Azeem Ahmed Tariq founded the All-Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n As per the FIR, the constable said the slogans were causing \u201ctensions and hostility\u201d and inciting political parties in the area, indicating that the situation could escalate further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hence, police mobiles and personnel were called in, surrounding the demonstrators before arresting 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, in a statement, the MQM claimed its workers were arrested during a \u201craid at an office\u201d located at I.I. Chundrigar Road, asserting that the office had \u201cno link to MQM or its activities\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It also demanded the release of the arrested individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The MQM under Hussain was accused of using violent tactics to attain and retain political power. On the contrary, Hussain maintained that the state and other political parties have targeted MQM and its workers ever since its formation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n