Police bring normalcy after MQM, PSP workers clash in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Police were called in as workers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) clashed in Bhai Khan area of the city on Thursday night, Geo News reported.

The clash erupted during a rally taken out by the newly-formed PSP, with both the parties accusing each other of instigating violence.

The MQM accused the PSP workers of attacking its Zonal Office in the area, a claim that the latter denied. 

Tensions remained high in the area as police seemed helpless to calm down the enraged activists of both the parties.

According to Geo News, shots were also fired by unknown gunmen at the onset of the clash. The MQM claimed that some of its workers were injured in the attack but local hospitals denied treating any patient from the clash.

A large number of policemen were still present in the area to normalise the situation.

MQM lawmaker Rashid Khilji later told the media that a dozen workers of his party were injured in an attack on MQM’s zonal office, demanding the home minister to take notice of the situation.

MQM’s coordination committee condemned the incident and called for arrest of “terrorist elements”.

A spokesman for the PSP also condemned the incident and demanded the government to arrest “terrorists” to ensure peace. He said PSP leaders Mustafa Kamal and Anees Qaimkhani are due to arrive in Hyderabad on Friday. 

The PSP was formed by former Karachi mayor and MQM leader Mustafa Kamal and other former lawmakers and workers of the MQM.