One person was killed and several others injured in Pakistan when MQM activists, who were on a hunger strike for four days, went on a rampage and attacked the office of a private TV channel alleging biased coverage. Several journalists of various media organisation who were present there were attacked by the activists of the Mutthaida-E-Qaumi Movement (MQM).

“At least one person was brought dead (to JPMC) while several others were injured,” head of the Emergency Ward at Jinnah Hospital, Seemin Jamali, said. The protesters pelted stones and resorted to heavy aerial firing that had wounded people, including women.

According to the channel, MQM chief Altaf Hussain in his speech through a telephone call from London told the party workers “to storm the offices of TV channels”. The MQM had been holding the hunger camp for the past three days to protest the disappearance and arrest of their workers by the paramilitary rangers.

"We have carried out teargas shelling to disperse the mob, who were trying to attack a television office," senior police officer Saqib Ismail said.

Television footage shows dozens of men and women barging into ARY's office, smashing doors, windows and equipment with rods and batons and setting fire to several vehicles. The workers also set up bonfires on the road and fired aerial shots as they marched towards the Governor House.

Paramilitary Rangers have arrested the MQM's top leader in Pakistan, Farooq Sattar, as he arrived to address a press conference at Karachi Press Club. Officials said Sattar had been arrested in connection with the unrest.

By Premji