MQM, PTI cease fire after day-long slanging match

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief, Altaf Hussain, on Tuesday apologised for his remarks against the women of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), including Shireen Mazari.
“I apologise to all the women who were offended by my remarks,” the MQM leader stated. “I even apologise to Shireen Mazari. I am sorry,” Altaf Hussain said.In a magnanimous gesture, PTI Information Secretary Dr. Shireen Mazari accepted Altaf’s apology saying that Islam taught its followers to forgive if someone tendered an apology for their action.
In a statement, Mazari said the MQM chief had done the right thing by apologising to her for his earlier statements, which she had accepted.However, she demanded that the MQM Coordination Committee must also apologise to her for using “abusive language” against PTI women workers.
Mazari said her party was not afraid of Altaf Hussain and that the PTI would challenge the MQM again if its leaders used foul language in the future. Meanwhile, MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Tuesday also apologised to the law-enforcement agencies for speaking against them in his recent speeches. The MQM chief said he has always respected the law-enforcing anyone”, Altaf added.
Earlier in the day MQM held a rally in Karachi where speakers delivered speeches against PTI Chairman Imran Khan who in a press conference said that he would not tolerate derogatory words and remarks used by MQM Chief Altaf Hussain against PTI women.
Addressing the MQM rally Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Joint in charge Muttahida Coordination Committee, said that cases of Taliban apologists should also be tried in military courts adding that MQM has always preached love and believes in non-violence and non-aggressive policies.
A large number of MQM supporters staged rally from Ayesha Manzil to Noorani Kabab House, with people gathered at the main venue passed through major streets of the city in a procession form on their bikes, buses and cars.
Siddiqui said that today’s unprecedented rally is a clear message for all Pakistanis that Imran Khan was wrong and forcing nation towards wrong directions, and it is only Altaf Hussain who has adopted the right path and his supporters will not let nation pushed towards tyranny, he said.
He also said that this rally is a milestone in the political history and is a clear indication that there is only one Quaid and that is Altaf Hussain. “It is the defining movement” and the final round is going to be played.
Saluting armed forces for its war against terror and Zarb-e-Azb operation he said that we also salute those who laid down their lives in this war.Further, he reiterated MQM’s stance that Altaf Hussain and MQM is inseparable and said that no power on earth can separate Altaf Hussain from MQM and Pakistan’s fate is in the hands of Altaf Hussain, he added.
“God has chosen Altaf Hussain to change the destiny of the country. He invited Imran Khan for debate and said that keep the character of Altaf Hussain at one side and Imran Khan on other side.
Earlier speaking on the occasion, Abdul Rauf Siddiqui, an MPA said that FIR would be lodged against Imran Khan, his party PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami and its amir Sirajul Haq if suicide blast recurred and we will file cases against these supporters of the TTP.
The women supporters at that time were shouting slogans, “I am Altaf, wearing headbands and wrist bands inscribed with, “Only Altaf Hussain” and banner was posted at a truck set stage, “We love you Altaf Bhai”.
Another MPA Faisal Sabzwari in his speech condemned allegations against Altaf Hussain calling Imran Khan as Taliban Khan. Sabzwari rejected the accusations leveled against MQM chief adding that they have not come here on anybody’s direction but for love for their leader.
Sabzwari said, Mr Taliban Khan you lied to the people that you have never visited 90 and showed clippings of the newspaper The News that in December 1996 you came to MQM’s headquarter and said that Altaf was a revolutionary leader.
Baber Ghori said that people of Karachi would not allow you to hold jalsa or jalsi. He hit out at Khan’s personal life saying that he had ruined the career of many cricketers who belonged to Karachi and named Miandad. It was intelligence agencies who had given knowledge about attacks on the school but you cared about your wedding only.
MNA Dr Farooq Sattar said that the rally was answer to PTI’s uncivilized statements and said that Taliban ran Imran Khan’s entire election campaign and kept MQM, ANP and PPP away from their campaigns. He said that Imran had been to London in past also to lodge complaints but failed and this time too he would not found any proof against Altaf Hussain.
Dr Farooq Sattar said that Pakistan had already suffered great loss during PTI’s useless sit-in and now its chief was trying to dismantle peace and political stability of the country. He also condemned such an attempt to create chaos and deliberately derogate the war against terror to protect Taliban and other terrorists’ organisations.
Dr Sattar said it was the first time that Pakistan reached to a national consensus on war against terror, which hurt Imran Khan and his terrorist companions. He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was a political wing of Taliban and al-Qaeda. He said that PTI chief’s statement might cause extreme harm to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Tuesday dared Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to take steps for registration of a case against the MQM chief Altaf Hussain in London for his speeches inciting violence in Pakistan.
“Mian Sahab, if you are serious, then take action against this jackal that sits in London, runs a death squad, hurls threats at our ladies and gets people killed,” said Imran while addressing an emergency meeting here.He dropped no hint of any letup in his verbal onslaught on Altaf and alleged that he got his own men and others killed by the death squad.
The PTI meeting resolved to take their stand-off with the MQM and its chief to its logical conclusion.He called Altaf Pakistan’s biggest terrorist, who even issued threats to traders while sitting in London.“I am surprised, how did the educated people in Karachi accept him as their leader?”
Imran urged the prime minister not to allow the MQM to attend any forum unless it disassociated itself from Altaf. He made it clear that no armed group under the law was allowed to operate in Pakistan.
Imran also reminded Nawaz Sharif of his pledge to wage a war against terrorists, as he had been given the mandate to do so. He wondered if the anti-terror war will continue as long as it pleased the West.
“Is the one perceived as threat to the people of the West a terrorist only?”Imran said in the past he would remain silent on Altaf’s statements fearing that his party workers in Karachi might be harmed; however, he insisted that Pakistan would not move forward unless peace was brought to Karachi. He called for smashing the chains of fear of the MQM and Altaf.
The PTI chief alleged that the MQM men had murdered his party leader Zuhra Shahid and now Shireen Mazari was receiving threats.He regretted that a semi-normal person in London used derogatory language against women and the media was compelled to cover his violence-inciting speeches. He called for trying all MQM-related cases in the military courts.
Imran said before the sit-in his party was a crowd that became an ideological entity after the record 126-day protest in the federal capital and its message was spread across Pakistan. He spoke highly of the women, who actively participated in the party programmes.
Meanwhile, Member of MQM Coordination Committee Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi rejected allegations levelled by Imran Khan and strongly condemned the use of slang language for party chief Altaf Hussain and MQM.
Talking to media persons during a press conference at Khursheed Begum Secretariat, Haider Abbas Rizvi said that PTI and TTP both were the two sides of the same coin. He said that TTP spread terrorism by doing organised killing of innocent people while PTI created political chaos and economical instability through campaigning civil disobedience, which was terrorism against economy.
Haider Abbas Rizvi said that MQM did not need any certificate to prove its penetration among the people because the constant mandate of MQM reflected its electoral worth. He said that MQM would not retaliate hatred against any aggression showed by such a so-called political leader.
He said that Imran Khan could fulfill his wish to visit London because Scotland Yard was not the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also demanded to resolve the death mystery of Sita White to provide justice to Tyrian. He said that Imran was well known playboy before turning to be a politician.
The MQM leader strongly condemned the speech of PTI Chief Imran Khan and termed it vocal terrorism by a political terrorist. He said that MQM had to face now a conspiracy that was designed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami. He said Imran’s speech reflected that it was also planned like the sit-ins.
He said nobody forgot that Imran had never condemned Taliban terrorism, including the most tragic incident of Army Public School Peshawar. He said that PTI chief was trying to disturb peace of the country by giving such immoral statements about a leader of millions of people.
Meanwhile Altaf Hussain asked a question to all the leading Ulema that can any of the adult Muslim man intercourse with a woman without any legal contract or religious bonding.
He continued to ask that if such illegal relation resulted in production of a child and if the male counterpart of the course denied of being father of the child then what would the Sharia say about the situation. While, the court had already given its verdict after a thorough trial on case and on the bases of DNA evidence.
Altaf Hussain asked the Ulema that did such an immoral person has any right to lead innocent people or did he has right to be obeyed? He appealed to Ulema to reply him through any of the medium including TV, newspaper or emails to guide him or clear his confusions regarding the issue.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has written an open letter to British High Commissioner Philip Barton, drawing his attention to alleged incitement of violence, use of abuse and antics, spreading hate by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain.
The letter has been written by the PTI information secretary Dr Shireen Mazari.
Following is the text: “Excellency Philip Barton,
I wish to bring to your notice the incitement to violence, use of abuse and antics spreading hate, of Altaf Hussain, leader of the MQM. He is not only a British citizen but is using British territory to incite people to violence in Pakistan. His party is known to have an armed mafia wing which indulges in extortion, blackmail and murder. The MQM has terrorised the citizens of Karachi for decades as well as indulging in murders of journalists and political rivals. Our woman leader Zahra Shahid was murdered by MQM in her driveway in Karachi in 2013. Journalist Wali Babar also fell prey to MQM in Karachi when he was exposing them.
Recently, a Joint Investigation Team found MQM to be involved in a factory fire in Karachi that led to over 258 deaths including of women and children - which was set off because the owners did not pay the extortion money to MQM’s mafia wing.
When PTI demanded action against the mafia of the MQM, Altaf Hussain went into a mad rage abusing PTI women activists in gutter language from his home in London. He has consistently hurled threats and abuse at our party chairman Imran Khan ever since chairman Khan had approached Scotland Yard after the MQM killed unarmed protestors on May 12, 2007, during the judicial movement.
Khan had presented a report on the incident along with other documents to Scotland Yard, but for some inexplicable reason the British government did not move against Altaf Hussain. Presently, the man has multiple murder cases pending against him in Pakistan but he remains in the safe protection of the British government. From his London base he exhorts his party to unleash violence and extortion in the urban centres of Sindh, especially Karachi. Unfortunately, the British government refuses to enforce its own laws which do not allow a British citizen to incite people to violence or indulge in extortion - either within the UK or overseas. We do not think it is morally, politically or legally justifiable for the British government to be seen as an abettor to violence and extortion in Pakistan by providing protection to their citizen who is publicly inciting violence against political rivals, journalists, the business community and also state institutions in Pakistan. We request you to realise the urgency of your government moving against Altaf Hussain by removing the protection of citizenship under which he is hiding and evading multiple criminal charges in Pakistan including of murder.