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30 JSQM workers held

KARACHI: Thirty activists of Jey Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) were arrested on Saturday for trying to hold a protest rally in front of Karachi Press Club (KPC) against the alleged retrenchment of employees from Pakistan Steel.

Over 300 employees were allegedly sacked by PS management about two weeks back.

When contacted, Sub-inspector of Artillery Maidan Police Station, Khalid Zaman said the police took action because the JSQM workers were holding the rally in violation of section 144 Cr.PC pronounced earlier in the city.

Those who were arrested under FIR 41/2000 included JSQM senior leader Bashir Ahmad Qureshi, the police official said.

ALTAF FLAYS

POLICE ACTION

Meanwhile Chief of MQM Altaf Hussain has termed the baton charging and large scale arrest of leaders and workers of MQM and JSQM as illegal and undemocratic act of the present regime.

In a statement, he charged that during the tenure of the present regime thousands of people have been laid off from Steel Mills and different government and semi government organisations. APP/PPI