KARACHI: the host of Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ on Monday presented his analysis in the programme over extension in the bail of Quaid of MQM Altaf Husain in London in money laundering case. Altaf was also questioned over the murder case of Dr Imran Farooq for the first time during the investigations, which MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar denies. The MQM is not facing favourable circumstances in Pakistan; an Anti-Terrorism Court has awarded 50-year imprisonment to a member of the MQM Chaudhry Sajid, who was arrested for possessing illegal weapons and explosive material. Another MQM member Obaid K-2 was also sentenced in the case of murdering jailer Amanullah Niazi. Shahzeb Khanzada referred in his analysis to Army Chief General Raheel Sharif’s statement regarding Daesh, which the General termed as more dangerous than al-Qaeda. He stated there are people in Islamabad who expressed their links with Daesh. The General vowed even the shadow of the Daesh on Pakistan will not be allowed. Shahzeb said the army chief’s statement about Daesh has great importance. It is to be noted that recently there was wall-chalking in favour of Daesh in Karachi, Islamabad and other big cities of the country. There were also videos in which the girl students of Jamia Hafsa of Lal Masjid were shown expressing oath of loyalty to Ameer of Daesh, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. There were also shocking disclosures during the JIT of the Safoora Goth tragedy, where Saad Aziz revealed that he, along with his companions, had done the wall-chalking for Daesh. Picking up another topic for his analysis Shahzeb Khanzada noted that the citizens and security agencies were upset with non-issuance of number plates for vehicles in Sindh. It was amazing that Sindh Home Minister found a solution and advised the citizens to yellow colour their old number plates, write the vehicle registration number with marker and attach them to their vehicles. Representative of Geo News in London, Murtaza Ali Shah while talking in the programme said in addition to grilling Altaf Husain over money laundering case, the London Police also asked nine important questions relating to Imran Farooq murder case. The officials of Special Operation Unit, who had interviewed Mohsin Ali Syed, Khalid Shamim and Moazzam Ali in Pakistan, were also present at the time Altaf Husain was being interviewed. Investigation in money laundering case normally takes three to five years in London. The Scotland Yard considers that charges could be framed against Altaf Husain on the basis of the available the evidences. Regarding the hiring of PR Firm by the MQM, Murtaza Ali Shah said it is about one year that the MQM hired the lobbyist firm, which works for improving the image of its hirer. Its charges are very high. Some people of this firm had briefed the MQM in Pakistan on the hearing at Scotland Yard and advised how it should react if money laundering charges are levelled against Altaf Husain. The MQM hired this firm to counter the Karachi operation and the problems it is facing and let them be known internationally, especially the Western world. The firm would lobby in matters relating to the cases and would also ensure that MQM comes out of the investigations safe and clean. Talking to Shahzeb Khanzada in the programme, leader of the MQM Farooq Sattar said no case has been registered against Altaf Husain. There are mere accusations against him. He said the MQM has not done anything against the law either in Pakistan or in Britain. He said the British law should be allowed to make its way. He said the MQM had been the target of many accusations, including the Jinnahpur. The MQM is an ideological movement of the middle class, he asserted. Farooq Sattar said the MQM extended complete cooperation in Imran Farooq murder case. We were summoned as witnesses in the case, he said. He demanded that all standards of justice should be maintained and real assassins of Imran Farooq should be arrested. The reality must no lag behind and presumption comes to the fore, resulting in the murder of justice. Imran Farooq’s murder is a national loss, the MQM leader said. Responding to Shahzeb’s question, Farooq Sattar said: “As far as I know Altaf Husain was questioned in money laundering case and there were no questions relating to Imran Farooq murder case. We have provided to the police the necessary proofs of the money recovered from Altaf Husain’s office and residence. All other reports are just media stories.” Dr Farooq Sattar said he cannot verify whether any PR firm had been hired by the MQM. In case it is so, it will not be justified to relate it with any charge or related with investigations. Farooq Sattar said the Nazeer Husain University Trust is functioning under the guidance and supervision of senior members of the MQM. He said Amir-ul-Ebad will get justice and paid if there is any amount payable to him by the university. “He should not have come to media,” Farooq Sattar said. Referring to anti-terrorism courts, he said it was not only the MQM activists, but Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was also punished by these courts. He said there would always be questions regarding parallel courts and special laws. He claimed that the MQM always stood for supremacy of the law and the Constitution. The election in the NA-122 is not merely a race between the candidates but is a contest between political parties, said leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Khwaja Saad Rafiq. He said the NA-122 is stronghold of the PML-N, therefore, even a puny candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf should be taken seriously. He reminded the PTI that Ayaz Sadiq had held the resignations of the assembly members of Tehreek-e-Insaf and had the key role in not allowing them to scatter away. He said the notification of the Election Commission was against the basic rights. This notification kept our hands tied, which were relieved after a verdict of the Supreme Court. He said the ministers engaged in the NA-122 election campaign are neither using government vehicles nor government resources. None of the ministers will announce any uplift project during the election campaign. “But it is our basic right to mention how we have served Pakistan.” The voter will cast his vote in our favour if he had confidence in us. Saad Rafiq said Marvi Memon, as an important leader of the PML-N, is accompanying us in the election campaign in NA-122. He pointed out that a poor man is more enlightened than a rich one and stated the voter of Lahore casts vote on the basis of his sense of right and wrong. He said the PML-N worked for Lahore; therefore, it gets the votes of the citizens of Lahore. Saad Rafiq said the PTI candidate Alim Khan knows very well how to rig as he had been doing so remaining the right hand of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. Saad Rafiq said the political leaders of Pakistan should decide whether the Army we should be used against terrorists or get it involved in the election process. We will have no objection if Imran Khan wishes to call in Rangers or the Army. Khwaja Saad Rafiq said the chances of PML-N win in NA-122 have increased after the campaign meeting of Imran Khan. No matter Imran Khan holds two or three more days in the constituency, the PML-N would secure three-times more votes. Defence analyst Shahid Latif said Pakistan will have to frame a comprehensive policy to tackle with terrorism. The Pakistan Army has crushed terrorists after operation in North Waziristan, he noted. Referring to Daesh, he said it is basically an organisation of Arab countries and has spread very speedily and has become strong. Its strength can be judged from its bases in Iraq and Syria. The targets of Daesh are big Muslim countries, he observed.
