close
Thursday March 28, 2024

Eliminating MQM is eliminating Pakistan: Altaf

Calls upon Ch Nisar to disclose authority which leaked information to BBC

By our correspondents
June 26, 2015
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief, Altaf Hussain, has said that the elimination of the MQM was tantamount to the elimination of Pakistan.
He said the Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan must disclose the authority that leaked the report on Indian funding to the MQM to the BBC.He said whether or not the “MQM’s loadshedding” would be done, the loadshedding of the defence minister would surely be done.
The MQM chief strongly refuted the allegations levelled by the BBC, saying that efforts were afoot to eliminate the MQM but all these conspiracies would be foiled.Addressing a workers’ convention from London via phone on Thursday, he said that he had a great deal of respect for the BBC and criticised Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali saying that he should first investigate his own party’s corruption and wrongdoings within the federal cabinet.
The MQM has been blamed for receiving funds from the Indian spy agency — RAW. It was reported that its workers were trained in terrorist activities, adding that India had trained hundreds of MQM militants.
He asked who the ‘authoritative sources’ were that the BBC quoted in its documentaries.He said in the past, these Western channels also claimed weapons of mass destruction in Iraq but the allegations later proved wrong.
A legal team has been constituted which is looking into the allegations and would surely take the BBC media into court after thorough investigations and consultations, Altaf said and added that soon the future strategy would be announced.
“It was not new,” said Altaf and added that many a time conspiracy was hatched against the MQM but these forces had failed to eliminate the party and would never be successful in their nefarious designs.
He was also critical of the interior ministry’s statement and asked that it should also investigate into Ishaq Dar’s money laundering cases as Dar admitted being involved in money laundering.
“If the Interior Ministry wants a probe into the BBC’s report against the MQM, it should also check the 2008 documentary against the ISI run by the same media organisation,” he said, challenging the government to come up with the factual position.
He said many ‘big fish were being given a clean chit with special reference to Nawaz Sharif who he said was made the prime minister instead of being sent to jail.He said, “I will not bow my head before oppressors whatever tactics of injustice and oppression they may use.
“We have always spread the message of peace and love and talked about the rights of the deprived people, but we are being made a victim of prejudice. The fire of hatred and prejudice had dismembered the country in the past, but no lesson was learnt. The same bias is being shown today.
“I did not indulge in politics of money making. Had I wanted to earn money, I would have been the richest man in Pakistan. I am the only leader in Pakistan who does not have any property in Pakistan or any other place in the world,” he said.
“My forefathers gave sacrifices for Pakistan. My entire struggle has been for strengthening Pakistan and getting the rights of the deprived people including Mohajirs. Our fierce opponents did negative propaganda against the MQM and tried to eliminate the MQM and to stop our struggle. The Mohajir localities were attacked with the tacit support of the government leading to bloodbath. The Aligarh tragedy and Pakka Qila tragedy were inflicted on Mohajirs,” he said.
“The operation that was apparently started against dacoits and criminals involved in incidents of kidnappings for ransom was turned against the MQM on June 19, 1992. This operation continued despite the change of governments. Thousands of MQM workers and sympathisers were targeted and killed during this state operation.
“Filthy language was used against the Mohajirs by different elements and a poisonous media campaign was started against the MQM for disenchanting the people. All sorts of allegations were leveled against the MQM,” he said.
“When the MQM could not be stopped despite all repressive state force and campaign in print and electronic media, conspiracies are once against being hatched with the connivance of certain media persons and those who have looted the national exchequer to harm the MQM,” he said.
Altaf told the Coordination Committee and other office-bearers of the party that the enemies of MQM were bent upon eliminating the MQM, but it was his firm resolve that he would not give up his struggle. “Even if I have to lay down my life, I will not bow to the evil forces. This is a testing time. You may leave me because of the force of circumstances.”
Everyone expressed their emotions for Mr Hussain by saying that they would not leave him under any circumstances.Altaf asked the workers and office-bearers of MQM not to get disappointed and maintain unity.
On the arrest of the killer of Waqas Shah, Altaf said that once again the Rangers were making false claims and demanded that a judicial commission should be set up and he would give proof of the Rangers involvement in Waqas murder.
Meanwhile, MQM’s Coordination Committee acknowledged that Asif Ali, the man arrested by the Rangers for the murder of MQM worker Waqas Ali Shah, was a party worker but termed the Rangers’ accusation against him “deplorable”, said a statement published on the party’s official website. The party recognised Ali as a worker at MQM’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar sector.The MQM maintained that Shah was shot dead due to the firing by the Rangers personnel.