Altaf says he never threatened army

KARACHI: MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Wednesday clearly said that he had never threatened the army and he believed MQM was a peace-loving political party and did not want any confrontation with the army or any other institutions.
He was speaking on telephone from London at the 31st Founding Day of Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) which was formed on March 18, 1984 and was renamed Muttahida Qaumi Movement in 1997.
“The army is mine and I am the army,” adding that his party was the only political party which saluted and supported armed forces in the war against terrorism under Zarb-e-Azb. He said that he was not afraid of any case against him. “You can arrest me but don’t call me enemy of armed forces and I am ready to fight against terrorism along with the armed forces and stands shoulder to shoulder with them.”
He asked a large number of supporters at Jinnah Ground if they were ready to support the armed forces in war against terrorism and all raised their hands in favour of the army expressing their willingness to sacrifice their lives for the country.
In an apparent reference to Nisar’s meeting with the British HC, Altaf Hussain said the government might send text of his controversial interview to any place and anywhere but the fact was that he did not threaten anyone at all. He said he did he not use abusive language against the institution or threaten. He reiterated that there was no place for criminals in the party and would made important announcement on March 23.