MQM MPAs stage token walkout against Karachi violence

KARACHI: The members of MQM Thursday stage token walkout from the budget session of Sindh assembly soon it started proceedings on Thursday to protest against extortion and target killings of traders in Karachi. Parliamentary leader of MQM and provincial minister for youth affairs Faisal Sabzwari rose as the session started and said former MQM MPA Shakir Ali’s two brothers were targeted in Sher Shah area where 13 traders were also gunned down. The killers of Sher Shah traders were arrested but later were set free. He said earlier the political parties used to give strike calls and the traders had been supporting it but now the traders are giving strike calls and the political parties supported it. “This year it was third strike by the traders,” he said. Faisal Sabzwari said the extortionist were operating everywhere and demanding the money from traders. The extortionists are making phone calls to the traders informing that the kidnapped person has been killed and you would face same if declined to pay extortion money. The MQM members later staged token walkout and returned to the house after two minutes. During the budget discussion, the MQM member Muzamil Qureshi in his speech said 72 dead bodies were found from Lyari River last year. (PPI)