KARACHI: Former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal on Sunday said Mutahidda Qaumi Movement's (MQM) workers and activists who are in prison for having indulged in crimes at the behest of the party should be given a way out.

“They may have committed crimes but we must look at who turned them into criminals,” said Kamal, adding that “if amnesty packages are given to rebels in Balochistan,” something must be done for these prisoners.

Reacting to MQM claim that imprisoned party workers were tortured by Rangers, Kamal said it was a good sign that the MQM was at least “accepting the jailed workers as its own.”

Kamal said Federal Investigation Agency Sindh Director visited him earlier in the day. “He sought cooperation in the money laundering case against the MQM chief,” said Kamal.

Talking about jailed political workers, Kamal said entire families of imprisoned workers have suffered for years.

The former Karachi mayor further said his new party will hold its first major political gathering in the second week of April in the metropolis.

Earlier in the day, MQM Coordination Committee member Dr Farooq Sattar had accused the Rangers of torturing party workers imprisoned at the Karachi Central Jail.

He said he had received reports that a heavy contingent of Rangers on Friday evening “conducted an operation” at the Karachi prison – in barracks 18, 19, 24 and 25 – and took away 40 under-trial ‘MQM prisoners whose cases are pending hearing.’

However, Sindh Home Minister Anwer Sayal denied these allegations, saying “such operations are a part of routine,” DawnNews reported.