According to sources, the suspects were raising anti-Pakistan slogans and directing protesters to attack the offices. They were identified after interrogations from various leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) including Farooq Sattar and Amir Khan.
Law-enforcement agencies including Rangers are expected to make several more arrests. A case over the attack has also been registered against unknown workers including women of the MQM responsible for the attack.
READ MORE: MQM workers attack ARY News office in Karachi
The protests were part of a hunger-strike outside the Karachi Press Club which was addressed by MQM leader who raised a diatribe against the country and raised anti-Pakistan slogans.
Afterwards, the workers were incited to attack media houses including ARY News located nearby but within the red zone of the city where they damaged property and snatched firearms from security guards before attacking several staff members.
The fiasco continued for over an hour before law-enforcement agencies reached the area to diffuse the situation. Earlier, there were violent protests outside the KPC where a police vehicle was burnt and at least five people were injured.
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, while visiting ARY News office, said that the “terrorist attack was pre-planned” and that at least 20 people have been arrested.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif had called DG Rangers Major-General Bilal Akbar and ordered him to immediately arrest culprits responsible for the attack on ARY News office.
