close
Thursday March 28, 2024

PTI and MQM step up their battle with resolutions and memorandums

Both parties submit resolutions to Sindh Assembly secretariat accusingeach other of maligning army; also submit memorandums to British Deputy High Commission against each other’s party chiefs

By Shamim Bano
July 16, 2015
Karachi
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement submitted resolutions against each other to the Sindh Assembly secretariat on Wednesday, both parties accusing the other of disrespecting the country’s armed forces.
The PTI resolution was submitted by party MPAs Khurram Sher Zaman and Syed Hafeezuddin to acting speaker Hassan Shah.
They were accompanied by party leader MNA Dr Arif Alvi.
In its resolution, the PTI asked the Sindh government to approach the Centre for taking action against the statements of MQM chief Altaf Hussain, who was a British citizen but interfering in the country’s internal affairs.
The party pointed out that the MQM chief had passed “anti-Pakistan” remarks on several occasions. It also demanded that Hussain’s British citizenship should be cancelled so he could return back to Pakistan and be tried in a court.
In the resolution, the party said the British government should investigate the sources of the MQM’s funding as well as its utilisation.

MQM resolution
In reaction to the PTI’s resolution, the MQM also submitted a resolution to the assembly secretariat against its rival party’s chief, Imran Khan.
The resolution seeks the termination of the PTI chairman’s National Assembly membership over his “inflammatory remarks” against the army.
MQM MPAs Amir Pirzada, Mohammad Hussain and Khalid Ahmed submitted two separate resolutions, one about Khan’s remarks and the other pertaining to the recent power breakdowns in Karachi.
Speaking to reporters outside the assembly building, Hussain said the party’s resolution pertained to the PTI’s televised address during his sit-in in Islamabad wherein he had passed derogatory comments against army generals.
“These remarks can be interpreted as an attack on a state institution and calls for strict action against Imran Khan under Article 6 of the Constitution and his membership of the National Assembly should be terminated under articles 62 and 63,” he added.
Hussain said the PTI and other parties were unnecessarily making a fuss over the MQM chief’s speech.
“In the past, Imran Khan passed derogatory remarks against the armed forces and a treason case should be registered against him,” he demanded.
He added that MNA Dr Arif Alvi should be stopped from entering the provincial assembly as he posed a security risk.
The MQM lawmaker said in the resolution regarding the power failure, his party had held the administration responsible for the four major breakdowns in the city between July 1 and July 15.
“We have demanded that the government should ensure that the K-Electric provides uninterrupted power supply to the city and upgrades its distribution system.”

Battle of memorandums
Later, the PTI leaders went to the British deputy high commission and submitted a memorandum.
Zaman told reporters that in the memorandum, the party had informed the British government that Hussain’s provocative and hateful speeches had deeply offended the sentiments of all patriotic Pakistanis who held the state institutions, especially the Pakistan Army and its branches, including Rangers, in high regard.
All Pakistanis respect and honour the Pakistan Army for the countless sacrifices it has made for the survival of the country since independence, especially during the recent global war on terrorism.
National institutions cannot be ridiculed in public with such disdain. It is disgraceful that a dual citizen like Altaf Hussain is using the safety of British nationality and soil to express such hatred against the armed forces, especially Rangers.
“We have the utmost respect for the British Crown and its government and people. As a sovereign State, we expect the same respect from you and your citizens for our State institutions. Even your government acknowledges the significant contributions and sacrifices made by armed forces of Pakistan in the global war on terror, the PTI wrote in the memorandum.
“I ask you and your government the following question: Would the British government tolerate the same type of hateful and venomous speech by a British-Pakistani dual national living in Pakistan broadcasted in the UK against the British Crown/government and/or armed forces? We strongly demand that the British Government take immediate action to stop these hate speeches by Altaf Hussain and criminal proceedings against him should be initiated.”
In response, MQM leaders including Dr Farooq Sattar and Senator Nasreen Jalil too went to the British deputy high commission and submitted a memorandum against Imran Khan.
Talking to reporters there, Sattar said Khan had been summoned by a court in the US but was not appearing before it, but was hurling allegations at the MQM.
“How can a person who doesn’t even recognise the US law ask the British government to hand over Altaf Hussain to Pakistan?”

Application for FIR
A lawyer submitted an application at the Darakhshan police station for the registration of an FIR against the PTI chief.
Police said they had received an application from Advocate Abdul Abdul Majid Karwani, a resident of Khayaban-e-Ghazi in Defence, wherein he had stated that he had seen Khan using derogatory remarks for army generals on a private TV channel’s talk show.
The applicant also wrote that Khan had planned to take over the PTV head office in Islamabad while leading the sit-in and this act was tantamount to treason.
Karwani stated that it was unfortunate that at a time when the armed forces was engaged in a war against terrorists, Khan, with his actions and words, was undermining and harming their cause and efforts.
The applicant also submitted a DVD of the talk show as evidence.
DIG South Jameel Ahmed said police had not yet lodged FIRs on the applications submitted by political parties and sent them to their legal department for its opinion.