KARACHI, 10 June — Police carried out raids on zonal offices of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz in Hyderabad and other cities to arrest activists of the two parties in an attempt to pre-empt a protest on water issue scheduled for today.
But the two parties vowed to go ahead with their protest plan that includes blocking the National Highway near Sukkur.
The MQM and JSQM have joined hands to protest water shortage and are scheduled to stage a sit-in on the National Highway today. JSQM leader Bashir Qureshi speaking to newsmen from his hide-out said the protest would be held as scheduled.
Most of the JSQM and MQM workers have gone into hiding after the government planned a crackdown on their hide-outs.
The Hyderabad offices of the MQM had been earlier raided on two occasions.
Criticizing the government action MQM convener Dr. Imran Farooq said the use of force to stifle the voice of opposition should end.
