Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F) Sindh General Secretary Sardar Rahim has strongly condemned alleged attacks on his party workers by individuals associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), stating that MQM and People’s Party are two sides of the same coin.
Addressing a press conference today, Mr. Rahim claimed that “retaliatory actions” are currently underway in the city, and stressed that “Form 47 parties” are now facing a significant threat. He indicated an increase in the number of individuals joining PML-F across Sindh.
The PML-F leader detailed an incident that occurred a week ago in Surjani, where alleged armed MQM individuals attacked. He mentioned that he had previously spoken with Farooq Sattar and reached a “settlement for the sake of peace” in the city. However, when PML-F workers were attempting to establish an office in Baldia Town, they were attacked and fired upon, resulting in injuries, and tensions resurfaced.
Mr. Rahim stated that “police arrested our injured workers,” declaring the action illegal. He further accused MQM and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of being “two sides of the same coin,” claiming they are mutually cooperating to create an atmosphere of instability.
Mr. Rahim told reporters that the arrested workers appeared in court today and he is confident that bail will be granted tomorrow. He declared the alleged “oppression and barbarism” unacceptable, adding, “If we are not allowed to work in Karachi, then how can we work in other parts of interior Sindh?”
He attributed MQM’s actions to “desperation,” commenting, “If we had fired at them, our own people would have been injured.” The PML-F General Secretary also highlighted similar incidents in other districts of Sindh, where individuals are allegedly facing “false cases.”
Mr. Rahim warned that such tactics would prove costly for the perpetrators. He stressed, “They have already destroyed Karachi. Now, by creating an atmosphere of conflict, they are making it worse,” and reiterated the alliance between PPP and MQM in these matters.
In a critical comment, Mr. Rahim expressed hope that “Zardari’s dealings with higher powers would go awry,” accusing unknown individuals of “selling Sindh’s interests” and disappointing the public.
He also stated that he spoke with Anis Kaimkhani after an incident, following which, surprisingly, a case was filed against PML-F workers. Despite these challenges, Mr. Rahim informed of his party’s ongoing efforts to prevent the matter from escalating further.