Matter not pressed due to India’s pressure: Sethi

LAHORE: Senior analyst Najam Sethi on Saturday rejected the impression that MQM chief Altaf Hussain was able to get extension in his bail in money laundering case due to the absence of proof, saying everyone knew that all the necessary evidence had been collected.
Expressing his views in Geo News programme ‘Aapas ki Baat’, he said the earlier impression was that unlike Imran Farooq’s murder, the money laundering case would be pursued swiftly. However, the recent developments were quite opposite, with bails being granted in the money laundering affair while British investigators summoned in the murder case.
According to Sethi, Pakistan is interested in the money laundering case while the British are in the murder. The UK says the murder case is more important and has been pressing for handing over the wanted persons, as no legal action can be taken against them till they are given in the British custody.
On the other hand, Pakistan is demanding extradition of Harbiyar Marri, Mehran Baloch and other Baloch separatists who have taken political asylum in the UK in exchange of those accused in the murder case. The UK does not want repatriate them because of the constitutional reasons. But Pakistan says it will not hand over the accused without the proposed exchange.
The UK has interest in Karachi and Balochistan. The MI6 asked Harbiyar and Mehran not to be active as it generates pressure for their extradition. Secondly, Pakistan does not want speedy progress in Imran Farooq murder case because his arrest would cause law and order situation in Karachi.
Pakistan is now more interested in the money laundering case as it is established for the first time that India gave money to the MQM after the party officials’ confessional statements before the Scotland Yard.
Sethi said the British police denied the statement of Tariq Mir but they had to accept the authenticity of that of Sarfraz Merchant. The British police backtracked after Indian connection was discussed on the orders of MI6 due to India’s pressure, he said, adding that the tension between Pakistan and the UK will continue for some time.
According to Sethi, Altaf can feel comfortable as no action is going to be taken against him in near future and the matter would not be solved soon. The Karachi operation will continue in the same manner as the army chief has promised to eliminate all the criminals and the MQM won’t get any relief here.
Sethi said holding the dialogue between Kabul and Afghan Taliban in Pakistan was of great significance. The talks were held after a detailed homework, but it would be a lengthy process and was not going to be completed in a day or year.
He said the Taliban, unlike the past, were divided into several groups, many which joined the ranks of Daish. The Taliban were becoming weaker while Daish was getting stronger, which would slow the peace process, he added.