[h=2]Rangers take Farooq Sattar into custody, raid MQM headquarters Nine Zero [/h] KARACHI: MQM leaders Dr Farooq Sattar and Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan were taken into custody by Rangers personnel as they were trying to address the media outside Press Club on Monday night, DawnNews reported. Later in the night, Rangers raided MQM headquarters Nine Zero in Karachi's Azizabad neighbourhood and carried out a search operation. Senior MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar was about to address a press conference when Rangers personnel showed up at Press Club and asked Sattar and Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan to accompany them to the Rangers headquarters. DawnNews reported that Rangers officials informed Sattar that DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar wanted to see them.
[h=3]What we know so far [/h]
Dr Farooq Sattar, Khwaja Izhar taken into custody by Rangers
Dr Amir Liaquat arrested from him office
DG Rangers assures arrests will only be made after identification by Farooq Sattar
Rangers raid MQM headquarters at Nine Zero
MQM website blocked soon after the fiasco
PM Nawaz Sharif calls high-level meeting on Tuesday to discuss Karachi's situation
Rangers have decided to seal Nine Zero
Farooq Sattar and Khwaja Izhar had gathered at Press Club to address the media, however, when they were about to start the press conference Rangers officials arrived at the site and asked both the leaders to come to Rangers headquarters. Sattar did offer some resistance initially but later agreed, Khwaja Izhar also accompanied him to the Rangers headquarters. We don’t want the common citizens of Karachi to suffer any harm or losses, DawnNews reported DG Rangers as saying. He further said that a certain segment is inciting the security forces to violence but "we will not fall into their trap". Farooq Sattar and Khawaja Izhar sit in a car as they leave after taken into custody. —AFP
Major General Bilal Akbar assured that the future arrests will only be made on the identification of Farooq Sattar. Meanwhile, the paramilitary forces also arrested MQM leader Dr Amir Liaquat from his office on I.I. Chundrigar Road.
[h=3]Rangers raid Nine Zero[/h] A heavy contingent of Rangers has raided Nine Zero, the MQM headquarters in Karachi's Azizabad neighbourhood. Security personnel are searching MQM offices in Nine Zero including Khursheed Memorial Hall, DawnNews reported. Initial reports reveal that nine MQM members have been taken into custody from Nine Zero, including senior party leaders. Meanwhile, MQM’s official website has also been blocked and it is showing an error sign. In addition to this, a British citizen Tariq Hussain has launched a complaint with British police asking it to take action against MQM chief Altaf Hussain for incitement of violence, Geo News reported. MQM’s senior lawmaker Abdul Rashid Godil has tweeted a message saying he firmly believes in the supremacy of the country and its institution, “Pakistan comes first, nothing else.”
Sindh Rangers also urged the citizens to help them identify the "miscreants" who allegedly raised anti-Pakistan slogans during the protest outside Press Club.
Earlier in the evening, violent protesters attacked an ARY News office in the Saddar area of the metropolis, which resulted in clash between police and the angry mob — killing one person and injuring several others. Police later confirmed that "MQM workers pelted stones at police officials and the ARY office", adding that they also resorted to aerial firing outside the office. Director General Sindh Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar, while issuing statement following the incident, had guaranteed protection to the citizens. “The attackers will be made to pay for their wrong deeds,” he had said, adding that no one will be allowed to carry out violent protests. http://www.dawn.com/news/1279250/ra...-into-custody-raid-mqm-headquarters-nine-zero