Closely monitoring situation in Karachi: US

Washington, Sept 17: The US is closely monitoring the current situation in Karachi, where political party MQM is facing a crackdown after its former self-exiled leader Altaf Hussain in London delivered an anti-Pakistan speech and asked his workers to launch attack on media, an official has said.

"We're monitoring those events very closely," State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Friday when asked about the arrests of the leaders of Mutthaida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the biggest party in Karachi.

"We're aware that Pakistan security forces have arrested some MQM members allegedly involved in violent protests and that these operations have included the closure and the demolition of offices deemed to have been illegally constructed," Kirby said.

Responding to a question, he said the US routinely communicates with Pakistani about issues like this.

PTI