'Free Karachi' campaign launches its second phase in Washington

The Free Karachi campaign has launched its second phase in Washington with around 100 taxis supporting the "Free Karachi" banners.

As part of the campaign, “#FreeKarachi and Urban Sindh from State Atrocities in Pakistan” advertisements have appeared on several highway billboards in the US. West Coast city of Los Angeles, reports said.

The aim of this campaign is to raise awareness on state atrocities of Pakistan against Mohajirs and came into existence after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Hasan Zafar Arif was found dead in a car in Karachi's Ilyas Goth area last month.

The campaign was started on January 15 when a number of taxis and cars with #FreeKarachi banners participated in the city’s annual Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade.

Digital Ads of 'Free Karachi' ran on the Washington Times website, urging the US administration and world community to save Mohajirs in Pakistan.

Pakistani-American politician, who is also the incumbent Convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement had tweeted during its first phase, "This is Washington D.C., the capital of the USA. Taxis are lining up with #FreeKarachi banners to participate in Dr Martin Luther Kind [King] Day parade in the capital. #FreeKarachi."

However, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary has said that Washington has assured that it will not support to any campaign against Pakistan.

The Dawn quoted Chaudhary, as saying, "We took it up with the State Department, and they assured us that they continue to support Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity as strongly as they always have."

The Ambassador Chaudhary further said anti-Pakistan posters and billboards have been removed from New York and Washington.

He also mentioned that US Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells had given a similar assurance during her recent visit to Islamabad.