By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan 

Security forces raided the headquarters of a major ethnic political party in Karachi early Friday morning, arresting two key leaders, officials said.

Paramilitary Sindh Rangers raided the headquarters of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) in the city center, detaining the head of the party's central coordination committee and a former provincial legislator for "hate speech".

Rangers commander Maj. Gen. Bilal Akbar said the suspects were involved in arranging and facilitating speeches against the army. He said further arrests would be carrying out soon.

"Those apprehended tonight... have been arranging and facilitating hate speeches against peace of Karachi," Akbar tweeted.

The security forces claim to have arrested several gunmen killers belonging to the MQM in recent months. The party, the fourth largest in Pakistan, claims to represent migrants who fled India during the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.

It has strong roots in Karachi and holds 25 seats in the National Assembly. It was involved in factional fighting in the 1990s and has been accused of behaving like a mafia but now holds the majority of the city's legislative seats.

MQM's leader Altaf Hussain, who lives in exile in London, has accused the military of targeting his party. Hundreds of members have been arrested in the crackdown.