MQM leader Nasreen Jalil on Saturday accused Jamaat-e- Islami (JI) activists of attacking and harassing her at the Karachi Airport on Friday night. Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club (KPC), she said that, when she arrived from Islamabad, JI workers who had gathered to welcome the former nazim of Karachi, Naimtullah Khan, harassed her and used abusive language against her in the presence of MNA Laiq Ahmad, MPA Nasrullah Shaji and Naimatullah Khan. She said they were chanting slogans against Altaf Hussain. âIn my entire political life, I have never faced such harassment as this. And it was done by those who claim respect for women,â she said. She urged the president, the prime minister, the chief minister and the governor to take cognisance of the ugly incident.Dr Farooq Sattar, the deputy convenor of the coordination committee the MQM, on the occasion, alleged that the âthunder squadâ of the JI was involved in âthe attackâ on Nasreen Jalil. He said that, the JI, sensing defeat in the local bodiesâ polls, was trying to provoke MQM workers. He said the JIâs demand for LB polls under army showed they believe in dictatorship and not in democracy. Anwar Alam, in charge of the coordination committee, and MNA Haider Rizvi were also present.
The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) on Saturday contradicted allegations against JI activists of misbehaviour with Nasreen Jalil, a member of the coordination committee of the MQM. In a statement, MMA Sindh MPAs Nasrullah Khan Shajee, Younus Barai, and Hameedullah Khan Advocate claimed that no incident of manhandling of the women MQM leader took place at the Karachi Airport, when she passed through the crowd gathered at the place to welcome the former CDGK nazim, Naimatullah Khan, on Friday night, who had just arrived from Islamabad. They said the JI and MMA leaders and activists always believed in decency and held women in high esteem. The MPAs said that Nasreen Jalil was provided with a safe passage out of the airport by JI activists, and that she safely proceeded to her destination in a vehicle waiting for her at the parking lot.