Afaq Ahmed arrested by Rangers. Another politically motivated arrest has been done. Afaq Ahmed, chairman of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), who had been hiding for the last 16 months, was arrested in a pre-dawn raid yesterday in Karachi. The arrest of MQM Chairman was made at the behest of the federal government as President Pervez Musharraf wanted to seek support of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in connection with a bill tabled in the National Assembly for formation of the National Security Council. With this arrest a longstanding demand of the mainstream Muttahida Qaumi Movement - the key coalition partner in Sindh provincial and federal government has been fulfilled - which wanted a tough action against Mohajir Qaumi Movement. As news about the arrest of MQM chairman spread, all main markets in Landhi, Korangi, Malir, Shahfaisal Colony, Liaquatabad and Lines Area pull down shutters. However, a heavy deployment of law enforcers appeared and forced shopkeepers to open their shops and markets Karachi Police Chief Tariq Jameel said that Afaq Ahmed was arrested from a house in the Defence Housing Authority neighbourhood along with two other party members Mustafa and Riazuddin - both former sector incharges of Liquatabad and Landhi neighborhoods. But Kamran Rizvi, a MQM spokesman, said the arrest was made at a house in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. "We thank God that the authorities have finally declared Afaq bahi's arrest. In the morning no one was admitting that he has been caught. We were worried about his safety." Police said chairman of MQM was involved in the murder of Kafeel Ahmed, a taxi driver. It is the same case in which other top MQM leaders including Amir Khan and Younus Khan have also been booked. Salahuddin Haider, adviser on information to Sindh chief minister, said "Muttehida is not involve in this arrest." He had been arrested on criminal charges. Sources said paramilitary rangers, backed by the police, led the raid for Afaq Ahmed's arrest. They cordoned off the house where he was hiding and got hold of him at around 3.30 a.m, they said. At the same night, Police raided in different arias of Karachi and arrested about 30 activists of MQM. More than 750 party leaders and activists were now languishing in prison. Afaq Ahmed Said "The government is  being black mailed by a group which want to destroy all its political opposition." But Mohajir Qaumi Movement would continue its struggle.