Sindh

Rangers raid Clifton restaurant owned by MQM MNA

The paramilitary force detained two people including the restaurant's manager before sealing the establishment

Rabia Ali/faraz Khan July 23, 2015

Biryani of the Seas (BOTS), owned by MQM MNA Ali Raza Abidi. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Rangers on Thursday evening raided the restaurant 'Biryani of the Seas' in Clifton, Karachi and detained the restaurant's manager.

The restaurant is owned by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MNA Ali Raza Abidi.

Rangers reportedly detained two men, including a manager of the restaurant while also sealing the establishment.

Abidi said that one of the detained men was his cousin, Hasan Raza. He added that the Rangers also confiscated a computer and some files.

Moments after the raid, MQM’s senator Nasreen Jalil and Fouzia Hameed visited the restaurant, Express News reported.

MQM's Rabita committee has condemned the raid, calling it an act of vengeance by the Rangers since Abidi had actively spoken against the raids and arrests of party workers. They added that Abidi had also gone to Darakshan police station to register a case against Imran Khan for speaking against generals.

The MQM said that Thursday's raid proves that those who speak against the state will meet a similar fate.

After the raid, Abidi while speaking to The Express Tribune said, "They released Hassan at 3:45am. We will try to get the place unsealed and equipment returned tomorrow."

Earlier on July 17, Rangers had conducted a targetted raid on MQM headquarters Nine-Zero in Azizabad, arresting Rabita Committee in charge Kaiful Warah and committee member Qamar Mansoor.

Read: ATC hands over MQM's Qamar Mansoor to Rangers on 90-day remand

The two MQM leaders were reportedly taken into custody for arranging and facilitating hate speeches that were “against peace in Karachi.”

Rangers sealed all roads leading to Nine-Zero before raiding party offices and Khursheed Begum Memorial Hall. They detained and questioned several MQM officials before taking Mansoor and Warah into custody.

Later on, Kaiful Warah was released but Qamar Mansoor was remanded into Rangers custody.

COMMENTS (38)

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply @Azi. Pakistan is full of mafias. What about Mian of Jati Umra, Zardari of Bilawal House Mafia, Imran of Bani gala mafia this mafia and that mafia. Jidhar dekhta hun mafia he mafia. Some are small mafias some are big mafias:

Muhibullah | 8 years ago | Reply Every mafia needs some legit front business to launder their ill-gotten gains. Restaurants are a favorite front business for mafias all over the world since they regularly transact business in cash and can be expected to have large turnovers.

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Pickyeater | 8 years ago | Reply Finally ...all places serving bad or too spicy biryani in Karachi should be treated the same. I mean really the spice level in their biryani was criminal. Every resturant with a bad is review now beware rangers are the "new culture police" in town.

Robby | 8 years ago | Reply I have eaten seafood from this Restaurant many a times, the food is good and delicions, i would like to ask the Rangers here how many times have their raided Bilawal House and the House next to it, the whole of Karachi knows what goes around there, but sad the Rangers are politicised just like the police with a one sided operation, ultimately this will back fire as the public are no fools in karachi.

A | 8 years ago | Reply This shows how foolish Pakistani men are being brainwashed by media channels generals politicians the innocent are being prosecuted he that was one healthy barbeque place that charges the least for good service fast they the rangers police wanted food free

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply @Masood Khan: How many arrested from Bilawal House or it was just a statement for the sake of uttering some irrelevant thing

Asad Shairani | 8 years ago | Reply They're making it pretty ridiculous now.

Afaq | 8 years ago | Reply Time to make money... Rangers are goldmine city named Karachi...

Arabian Sea | 8 years ago | Reply Message for rangers: Take a break, guys. Fine, you didnt like their biryani. But does it mean that you close down the whole establishment. Whose turn it is next, Students Biryani? :-) Biryani Centres of Karachi - beware and unite!

Masood Khan | 8 years ago | Reply What about Rangers allegation that a 70% cut from corruption money got routed to Bilawal House? All washed & purified?

Tanzeel | 8 years ago | Reply Just the way Karachites started supporting MQM more, now they will flock towards BOTS.

anita turab | 8 years ago | Reply Italian Seafood!!! MQM really needs some funding.

Karachiwala | 8 years ago | Reply Thankyou Rangers, coz of you MQM is now more popular in Karachi and is getting more smpahty among the masses due to your actions. I think they will shortly praise you for the same. lol

citizen26 | 8 years ago | Reply Well done Rangers. They had controlled city for quite a while, now its time to tell them who is the boss.

Napier Mole | 8 years ago | Reply From success to farce! That has been the story of this operation. Wait till they become the laughing stock of the town. Rest assured though that some 'incriminating evidence' linking the fiery biryani with anti state activities will be put up soon through twitters and press conference!

OBSERVER | 8 years ago | Reply Zadari gave a food for thought to the military hierarchy,yet Islamabad GHQ did not moved beyond routine statement and its top leadership were allowed to leave the country and Sindh gov. allowed to hold cabinet meeting in offshore capital . IT seem karachi operation is caught in circle.Those in charge are unable to honor promises of impartiality .But if targeting speak of vendetta the exercise risks of becoming counter productivity which seemingly is close o the present situation in karachi.Now businesses run by MQM members are being targeted..... Across the board accountability and impartiality must be ensured.

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply BOTS needed a shake up.....their quality was getting quite inconsistent.

kemal | 8 years ago | Reply Rangers was out there to weed out crimnals and terrorist from trouble sports of Karachi, they were succeed to certain extent but lately, they 're some how drifted altogether from their direction of noble couse.........they become politse...... And now aiming their guns towards MQM with discrimination.......... Lately most of their actions 're aimless, cold blooded!! As if they're all out to steal their urban mandate......

SK | 8 years ago | Reply Even though I am glad that KHI operation is underway but it is again turning out to be MQM focused only instead of targeting all corrupts. This is not only confirming forces' biased attitude but will actually make MQM victim again resulting in raising its popularity graph. Seems like KHI will again have to see MQM as its representative instead of getting rid of this mafia

Karachiite | 8 years ago | Reply One thing is a fact, peace has returned to Karachi ever since these operations started against MQM. No denying that, means Rangers must be doing something right.

Jawed Saleem | 8 years ago | Reply It's getting ugly. Supremacist Rangers gone overboard. Losing credibility !

Salim | 8 years ago | Reply Is it that whoever files a case against Imran will be raided by Rangers? Is PTI an agent of the establishment? Where is the Justice League (Tehrik-e-Insaf) now? Or is their sense of justice confined to making false rigging allegations only? Are they fair enough to speak against the brutality and oppression suffered by Karachi based politicians workers? Or is Insaf merely a slogan to get their T Khan in power? MQM may be bad but what this operation has now become is a joke. Its focus has shifted to political elimination of a party whose support comes from a group that has suffered discrimination since Pakistan's inception.

MK | 8 years ago | Reply pRAWns were arrested

PakPower | 8 years ago | Reply I mean I support the Ranger's operation, as a whole, but this is getting out of hand. Raiding places just for the sake of raiding them is ludicrous. Rangers should come up with a solid reason for invading this establishment.

Anon | 8 years ago | Reply Have the rangers lost their mind. Do they intend to be the new mafia of Karachi? Haven't we done enough in East Pakistan, Karachi 92', Baluchistan. When will our rulers/establishment stop harming our country?

Emad | 8 years ago | Reply Its true that all operations are mostly seen to be done against MQM but then it is also true that since the start of these operations crime rates have gone down significantly. This comes to show that MQM is then major player in town although there are other players such as PPP,anp etc aswell

Karim Siddiqui | 8 years ago | Reply Even Indian army in Indian Kashmir treats Kashmiris better than how Rangers are treating Muhajirs.

such bolta hoon | 8 years ago | Reply Thanks Rangers, please get rid of these thugs. Peace of Karachi should be restored at all costs.

Mir Ali | 8 years ago | Reply Kudos !!

SHN | 8 years ago | Reply This "operation" is getting out of hand. Rangers better have a solid explanation for this raid, if not the entire country should reassess the credibility of this operation. When is the last time we heard about Rangers raiding the businesses of PPP or ANP law maker's businesses or offices? Then everyone wonders why MQM continues to have a strong support base in Karachi, and sadly if you see nothing with this one-sided operation you are part of the problem.

Kala_bacha | 8 years ago | Reply I told them do not charge for food and delivery charges !

zain | 8 years ago | Reply Rangers should also raid Nawaz party establishment as well. The raids are one sided although crime rates have decreased but still they should do this to all parties.

Ih | 8 years ago | Reply Money is life blood of any Organisation. Cut it off and it falls. Should be careful before shouting your mouth. It is not difficult to find illegal activities in resturant business. From Heath violations to taxes and probably lot more. Others should straighten their business dealing or new Sherrif in town might come after........

Hasan Tasleem | 8 years ago | Reply Indeed this only proves, whomever will speak up against injustice and aristocracies of the state will meet a similar fate. Please keep on telling all this is FREE and FAIR without any BIAS.

Azi | 8 years ago | Reply Rangers mean business. I am very glad they are taking a strong stance against MQM mafia now

Hasan Askari | 8 years ago | Reply Establishment will increase such criminal activity because of failure of their dharna plan. Their aim right now is to divert attention from JC report.

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply A replay of previous attempt to quash MQM

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