Speaking during a press conference held at the MDP office today, party’s Spokesperson Imthiyaz ‘Inthi’ Fahmy claimed that the police are searching the Usfasgandu area to block the activities of political parties, especially to hinder and impede the activities of MDP. Inthi further stressed that no incidents had occurred in the area that warranted the issue of a Criminal Court order. He added that if anyone has been suspected of committing a crime, Police are required only to arrest that person and carry out an investigation, but stressed that it should not prompt a search of a whole area. MDP Spokesperson pointed out that a search of a mass area should only take place if allegations of major criminal activities are being conducted such as drug trade and the planning of a large scale assault. Member of MDP’s legal team Hisaan Hussain said that it was difficult to fathom that the items including a box of condoms, iron pipes, scissors and aluminum foil confiscated from the area till this afternoon can be labeled as a criminal offence. Hisaan explained that the aluminum foil confiscated from the area had been used in a barbecue a few days earlier; the scissors were being used on cloths while the iron pipes had been used to construct benches in the area. Police had begun searching the Usfasgandu area at around 9.30 this morning under an order of the Criminal Court.