PM Nawaz, Nisar discuss BBC report on MQM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday at the PM House.

According to sources Prime Minister Sharif and Interior Minister Nisar discussed the murder case of Dr Imran Farooq and allegations leveled in a BBC report pertaining to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) receiving funding from India.

Discussions were also held on whether to approach British authorities over the BBC report.

The meeting was also attended by PM’ Special Advisor Tariq Fatemi.

Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the BCC report was being reviewed. The spokesman said first the case would be carefully studied by all concerned departments before arriving at any conclusion.

On Wednesday, a report by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) quoting an ‘authoritative Pakistani source’ claims senior officials in MQM in formal recorded interviews told authorities in the UK they had ‘received funds from the Indian government’.

The report by Owen Benett-Jones states the BBC was informed by a Pakistani official that over the last 10 years hundreds of MQM militants had been trained by India in 'explosives, weapons and sabotage'. The training was taking place in camps in north and north-east India.

According to the report prior to 2005-06 training was provided to mid-ranking MQM members, while in recent years it was also provided to junior party members.

A list of weapons was also found at a MQM owned property by UK authorities.

When the BBC asked the Indian government about MQM members being trained in India it termed this ‘completely baseless’ while an MQM official said the party would not comment on "rumours".

In a statement following the broadcast of the report, the MQM rejected all allegations against it. “MQM is a peace-loving political party that believes in the unity and integrity of Pakistan,” said a statement by the party's Rabita (Coordination) Committee.

The statement said that the allegations leveled against the MQM were not new.