Armed workers of the political party snatched firearms from security guards, started abusing and torturing channel workers, stole and damaged property in the episode which continued for more than an hour.
Reception and marketing section of the channel suffered the most as violent party workers entered the section and started damaging work equipment and furniture.
Hundreds of ARY News workers including women were held hostage for about an hour with no help from police, Rangers or any other law enforcement agency.
MQM workers also resorted to aerial firing around the office and burnt cars and motorcycles belonging to ARY News’ employees.
It is pertinent to mention here that ARY News’ Saddar office is located within city’s Red Zone.
#ARYUnderAttack : Ary Karachi office pic.twitter.com/TtJu4RTCRl
— Benazir Mir Samad (@BenazirMirSamad) August 22, 2016
DG Rangers Major Bilal Akber, in a statement, said that those who perpetrated and executed the attack will be held accountable for every single second. He further said that orders have been issued to deploy Rangers personnel at ARY News office. Condemnations pour in
Hope all the workers of ARY, Samaa and GEO stay safe after threat of Altaf Hussain to these three channels..Govt should ensure security
Shameful & condemnable attack on Ary & Samaa in Karachi. Such deliberately instigated violence by any pol ldr is sheer criminal behaviour.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 22, 2016
Chairman #PPP @BBhuttoZardari expressed solidarity with journalist community and said that independent media is surety of strong democracy. — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) August 22, 2016
Altaf Hussain mentioned the names of Geo,ARY and Sama in his speech and instigated his workers to attack the offices of these channels — Hamid Mir (@HamidMirGEO) August 22, 2016
Where in the world do u see remotecontrol politics? Altaf Hussain sits in his recliner switching btw ARY&Samaa while workers storm offices — Meher Bokhari (@meherbokhari) August 22, 2016
Strongly condemn MQM’s vandalism against ARY. LEAs need to get in on the act and arrest all miscreants immediately. — Jahangir Khan Tareen (@JahangirKTareen) August 22, 2016
Altaf Hussain in his provocative address from London ordered protest against Geo, Sama and ARY – it has turned bloody and violent — Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaGeoNews) August 22, 2016
I m shocked and utterly disappointed. Condemn the Attack on @ARYNEWSOFFICIAL offices No one should take law In their hands — Irum Azeem Farooque (@Irumf) August 22, 2016
In solidarity with @ARYNEWSOFFICIAL and @SAMAATV The attacks on media houses are truly condemnable. A classic case of killing the messenger — Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) August 22, 2016
Altaf has pushed his party over the edge. Shameful preaching of violence against media and law enforcers will cost MQM dearly. — Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) August 22, 2016
MQM continues its 30 year reign of murder, torture/ violence by attacking ARY offices. PTI condemns this and calls for punishing culprits. — Naeem ul Haque (@naeemul_haque) August 22, 2016
Mob attack on ARY n SAMAA n other media is criminal…when will the real culprit be punished? — Andleeb Abbas (@AndleebAbbas) August 22, 2016
Isn’t there a single sensible person in MQM who could have stopped this insane step of attacking media outlets? — Maria Memon (@Maria_Memon) August 22, 2016
Attack on one is attack on all. No to violence on media by #MQM #ARYUnderAttack — Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) August 22, 2016
CM Sindh’s visit and condemnation Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, accompanied by DG Rangers Major Bilal Akber and PPP leader Maula Bux Chandio visited the ARY News office and talked to senior staff members about the attack. Talking to media after the visit, Shah said that the “terrorist attack was pre-planned” and ARY News suffered a lot during the attack. “At least 20 people have been arrested so far in connection with the incident,” said the CM.
COAS orders immediate arrest of culprits
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif later telephoned DG Rangers and ordered him to immediately arrest culprits who took part in the attack on ARY News office.
According to sources, DG Rangers assured the COAS of due and timely action and said that the situation is under control in Karachi.
