Soldiers have raided the headquarters of a well-known Pakistani political party in Karachi, arresting about 20 suspects, seizing weapons and sealing the premises.
Colonel Tahir Mahmood said troops seized a large cache of assault rifles and detained the suspects - including six "known criminals" - in the raid at the Muttahida Quami Movement's offices in the heart of the city.
He claimed the party sheltered criminals and obstructed life in the neighbourhood by placing barricades in the streets.
The MQM is a prominent party that controls most of Karachi but is often accused by opponents of using violence to bolster its power.
Its leader, Altaf Hussain has lived in exile in Britain since 1992.
Party official Farooq Sattar condemned the raid as politically motivated.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here