Khursheed says no one to tolerate Altaf’s anti-Pakistan politics; Kh Asif says MQM chief often speaks against country; Pervaiz says speech hurt millions of Pakistanis; Imran says time has come for action against culprit; Dastagir says mere apologies not enough after media houses attacked; Chandio says such slogans intolerable; Gabol for invoking Article-6; Balochistan govt seeks action against Altaf
By Asim Yasin/Agencies
KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Political parties on Tuesday condemned the anti-Pakistan statements and incitement of party workers to violence by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain that led to the killing of a person in Karachi.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Tuesday said there will be no compromise on the solidarity of Pakistan and no one will tolerate anti-Pakistan speeches and slogans. “It seems that there is a great conspiracy against Pakistan as a few days back there was a terrorist attack in Quetta and now the speech of Altaf Hussain as well as recent attacks on media houses. These give an indication of Indian involvement behind these incidents aiming to divert the attention from its brutalities and atrocities in occupied Kashmir,” he said while talking to newsmen here on Tuesday at his chamber in the Parliament House.
The opposition leader said the anti-Pakistan speech of Altaf Hussain is not only strongly condemnable but also regrettable. “The government immediately summon the British High Commissioner to lodge in strongest term that why the land of Briton was being used against Pakistan’s security and sovereignty,” he added.
Syed Khursheed Shah said it was first time in the history of Pakistan that the head of a political party himself is out to destroy his party's position but also the politics. “There were many seasoned and patriot political workers in the MQM and Altaf Hussain destroyed their political and patriotic image,” he added. He said it was difficult for the loyal workers of the MQM to continue with the leader who was against the ideology of Pakistan.
Khawaja Asif: Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said over the period Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain has adopted a habit to speak against Pakistan, its security institutions and incite people to violence.
Talking to media, the minister said Altaf Hussain had also been using indecent and derogatory language against the homeland during Pervez Musharraf’s regime. He also mentioned an anti-Pakistan speech by Altaf Hussain delivered in India during the Pervez Musharraf’s tenure and said no one had taken any action against him. He said Altaf was a British national and used British communication system to address the people here and incite them to violence.
Replying to a question, he said the MQM had played a role as a central forward party during General Musharraf’s regime and the people of Pakistan remembered the brutal incident of May 12, 2007. He said Pervez Musharraf protected the MQM chief at that time because that was his ethical constituency.
Khawaja Asif said he and other political workers always had a clear stance regarding Altaf Hussain. To another query, he said, there might be patriotic people in MQM but unfortunately they were led by Altaf Hussain and were helpless to stand by their leader.
The minister said although he was nobody to declare or reject anybody as a patriot but speeches of Altaf Hussain failed to reflect any sense nationalism.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan on Tuesday demanded from the federal government that the matter pertaining to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief’s provocative actions should be taken up with the British government.
Minister for Information Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Tuesday said Altaf Hussain's speech hurt the feelings of millions of Pakistanis and it would be better for the present Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leadership to distance itself from the militant element in the party.
The announcement made by Dr Farooq Sattar feels appropriate by the time. It can be stated as a right decision in the right direction though it needs further clarity. But any party having representation in the Parliament should distance itself from militancy, he said in a private news channel programme.
The minister said if the MQM ensured to distance itself from the militant element then the political parties in the country and the civil society would help them to play a role for the masses welfare. If the umbrella under which the militant element was functioning is no more there and militancy is shunned it will be better for the MQM. The minister said the government had tried to bring the MQM to the table for resolving their issues and it was mutually agreed that the MQM leadership would meet the Prime Minister on Thursday and submit their complaints. He said his meeting with the MQM leaders had ended on a positive note but afterwards the party workers stormed the media houses.
When I contacted Farooq Sattar on this issue he was dejected and perplexed. After this situation no further contact was made from either side. When asked any contact would be made after the press conference of Dr Farooq Sattar, he said it would be appropriate to wait for some time. It is not yet clear. Maybe the party workers exert pressure on these leaders about their same leader whom they used to defend earlier.
Imran Khan was talking to media representatives outside Bani Gala and said that Pakistani government should take strict action on the matter. He said that time has come for taking action against the party chief. “One British national stirs up violence time and again in Pakistan,” Imran Khan said.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted that freedom of speech is fundamental human right in democracy, sacrifices for which were made by his party and journalistic community. He further said that only a strong democracy could fight terrorism as he condemned attacks on freedom of press, be it by a political party, religious groups or the state itself.
Maula Bux Chandio: Advisor to Sindh CM on Information, Maula Bux Chandio, said that the slogans voiced yesterday were 'dangerous', adding, "We cannot tolerate such slogans". Condemning Monday's violent incidents in Karachi, he expressed determination to bring the culprits to justice.
Head of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) Pir Pagara demanded registration of a treason case against the MQM chief.
Ayaz Latif Palijo, president of Awami Tahreek (Peoples Movement) and central convener and founder of the Sindh Progressive Nationalist Alliance (SPNA) has said that the press conference of Farooq Sattar is just a cover-up and an effort to divert the attention of the state away from his leader. He said they want to escape justice. He said the speech of Altaf Hussain demands that a high treason case be registered against him.
Pakistan Sunni Tehreek (PST) chief Sarwat Aijaz Qadri said that the ones asking to voice slogans against Pakistan and attack media houses can't be pardoned. He demanded a treason case be lodged against such elements.
Khurram Dastgir Khan: Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan Tuesday said Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain in his speech incited the party workers to attack media houses and create anarchy in Karachi.
He said MQM leader Farooq Sattar addressed a press conference Tuesday to show his party’s democratic position. However, if he was loyal to the country then he should himself hand over the party workers, who were involved in violence and attacks on media houses, to police, he added.
Talking to a private news channel, the minister said attacking media houses was a highly condemnable act and mere apologies from MQM leaders were not enough to compensate the loss. Action would be taken against those who had attacked the media houses and also against those who had used derogatory language against the country and national institutions, he added. To a question, Khurram said it was an internal matter of the MQM as to who was the party leader.
Replying to another question, he said the operation in Karachi would continue till complete elimination of terrorism, target killing, street crimes, extortion and other crimes.
Aitzaz Ahsan : Senate Opposition Leader Aitzaz Ahsan held Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain responsible for Karachi situation. Talking to media on Tuesday at Parliament House, the PPP leader said Urdu-speaking people are civilized and patriotic; hence, they should distance themselves from Altaf Hussain.
Monday’s utterances by Altaf Hussain are as serious as assault on Supreme Court; however, a decision to invoke Article-6 of the Constitution against Altaf Hussain should be thought out in advance, he cautioned. Meantime, he demanded strict action against those who vandalized media houses in Karachi.
“Only Altaf Hussain is responsible for whatever happened in Karachi on Monday and it is like attacking the Supreme Court. Article 6 of the constitution could be imposed on him,” he said while talking to newsmen at his chamber at the Parliament House on Tuesday. He said Altaf Hussain asked to close the Sindh Secretariat. “The Urdu speaking people are patriots and they should keep distance from Altaf Hussain,” he added.
Aitzaz said the criminals who were involved in attacking media offices could be traced easily through available footages and strict action against them be taken.
Musharraf: Former President Pervez Musharraf said chief of a political party should weigh his words before he utters them in front of others.
Former leader of MQM and PPP Nabeel Gabol demanded invocation of Article-6 of the Constitution against MQM Chief Altaf Hussain for raising anti-Pakistan slogans. An outfit based in Balochistan was proscribed for opposing Pakistan, he remarked adding, but, the MQM was not outlawed on its prospect of future utility.
Replying to a query regarding Dr. Farooq Sattar’s stance he expressed in today’s press conference, Gabol asserted the MQM leader is not clear on ‘Who is he with?’ He added Farooq Sattar was being expected to renounce allegiance to Altaf Hussain, which he did not. Gablo is of the view that Sattar is not in a position to get Nine Zero re-opened and operate from there as he is at jeopardy from workers functioning there.
Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman, chief of Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, has said demanded strict action against those who attacked media houses in Karachi and spoke against the country and the military leadership of Pakistan. He said no Pakistani can tolerate such slogans that were uttered by the MQM chief. He demanded action against him under Article 06 of the Constitution.
Meanwhile Balochistan government has demanded of the federal government to take action against London based MQM leader Altaf Hussain for delivering highly provocative speech against Pakistan and instigating party activists to attack TV channels.
Addressing a news conference at Chief Minister Secretariat here on Tuesday Anwarul Haque Kakar, the spokesman for Balochistan government, said that Altaf Hussain used derogatory language against Pakistan and its armed forces which was not tolerable.
On behalf of Chief Minister Balochistan and Balochistan government I strongly condemn statements and speech of Altaf Hussain which he delivered against our country and our forces, he said and added that the entire nation including Urdu speaking community disliked Altaf Hussain for using bizarre language against our homeland.
Indian prime minister asked his agents to use derogatory and bizarre language against Pakistan after the United Nations condemned brutal violence of Indian forces in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOC), he said. Balochistan government not only condemns Altaf Hussain speech but also demands action against him under Article 06 of the Constitution, he said.