Govt decides to seal MQM offices across Pakistan: sources

The decision with regard to the ban on MQM will be taken within next few days, well placed government sources said.

According to legal and constitutional experts the government can impose a ban on MQM under Article 17(ii). The government’s decision to seal the party offices, however, could be challenged in courts without ban on the party. Under Article 17 of the constitution political activity is one of the fundamental human rights, which can be suspended under Article 17(ii).

MQM chief in an address to the party’s hunger strike camp in Karachi on Monday severely criticized the Pakistani state and its security institutions. In his diatribe the MQM chief also incited the party workers to attack the media offices.

After the speech security agencies have conducted raids at MQM headquarter Nine-Zero in Karachi and the party offices in the interior of Sindh and sealed them.

Baton and sticks wielding angry MQM workers gathered at the ARY News office on Monday adjacent to Zainab Market. After breaking into the office the mob ransacked the office premises, destroyed computers and other equipment, manhandled the television channel staff and tried to snatch the arms from the security guards.