Reference against Altaf being sent to Britain: Nisar

Says record of speeches made by Altaf is with govt; meets Sindh CM, governor, APNS, CPNE, PBA teams

KARACHI: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday said MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s Monday speech is the biggest proof against him and a reference against him is being sent to Britain. He said now nobody would be given an opportunity to make Karachi hostage again as one such attempt was made two days ago by attacking the media houses in the city.

Legal action against the leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Altaf Hussain will be initiated, on account of his provocative speech, in a few days after consultation with the Sindh government on the issue, said Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while addressing a press conference at the Governor House. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan flanked the interior minister at the press conference.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had a day-long visit of Karachi, met the Sindh governor, CM, owners of media houses and participated in a top-level meeting on security matters at the CM House.

“I have come to Karachi on the direction of the prime minister. Two days ago, TV channels came under attack as ransacking was committed while along with this an attempt was made to create the impression that Karachi would be sealed yet again or taken hostage,” said the interior minister at the press conference. “But I congratulate security agencies and the people of Karachi that they didn’t allow Karachi to become hostage again.”

He said the leader of the MQM, while delivering his speech, had made most disrespectful and maligning remarks against the country as heard and seen by everyone. This political leader had uttered his remarks against the honour of the country that had given him respect. But this issue is not confined to condemnation only but also concerned a particular mentality, he said.

He said the entire record of speeches made by Altaf Hussain had been kept by the government. Also, proof regarding instances of money-laundering  — such culpable acts didn’t  -- such culpable acts didn’t originate from Pakistan rather they had originated from one country and reached the land of another country -- were also present. All such affairs had been covered-up for certain reasons but the speech delivered the day-before-yesterday had revealed all the secrets and removed all ambiguities in this regard.

“Despite residing outside the country and notwithstanding all the faults, the citizens of Karachi have given honour to the leader of MQM, but irrespective of all of this, it is beyond comprehension who had given such an advice to him (Altaf Hussain). Either Altaf Hussain took the decision on his own or he acted on someone’s advice,” said Chaudhry Nisar.

He said the Urdu speaking community had been the most patriotic community of the country as this community had rendered sacrifices much more than any other section of the population in the country. He said the Urdu speaking community had always taken to streets whenever the question of Pakistan arose as sentiments of members of this community were always visible on such an occasion.

He said that no person in Pakistan could support Altaf Hussain for his latest speech as people here considered Pakistan both as their past and future.

The interior minister said that he had directed the inspector-general of Sindh Police, director-general of Sindh Rangers, and other authorities concerned that nobody should be taken into custody without any cause while persons against whom cases had been lodged should not be spared. Otherwise, concerned quarters would try to prove their assertion that the Pakistani government has been taking action against the Urdu speaking community solely.

“The attack on the media was condemnable as owing to which one person was killed while several others were injured but the role of the Sindh chief minister and DG Rangers was praiseworthy as they visited TV channels soon after the attack to review the situation.”

The Pakistani media didn’t come under fear of anyone, sending out the message to the outside world that this city could not be made hostage once again, he said.

He said the recent attack on the media had proved that certain elements were still present trying to destabilize Karachi but concerned citizens while giving their reaction to the incident sent out the message that they would not be cowed down again by any such fear.

The interior minister said that much progress had been made in the money-laundering cases and Dr Imran Farooq murder case though a foreign country had posed certain obstructions in this regard as such criminal cases related to the integrity of the country.

Regarding a question whether or not a ban would be imposed on the MQM, the interior minister said that all action in this regard would be taken in accordance with the law. Whether, there would be two or three MQMs in future, such matters would get clarified in the coming few days, he said.

He said the provincial government would make the strategy on sealing the offices of the MQM in Sindh as the decision would be taken in the light of the report on the issue sent by the provincial authorities to the federal govt.

Meanwhile, the Sindh and the federal governments have reiterated their resolve that nobody, at any cost would be allowed to ignite the fire of hatred and spread terrorism in any form in the city. Any activity which causes threat to life, liberty, public and private property, business activities and day-to-day life would be dealt with iron hands.

A high-level meeting was held here on Wednesday evening at the CM House in which Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad, Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar assisted by CM Adviser on Law Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar, IG Sindh AD Khawaja and some other senior officers deliberated on the overall law and order situation in the city, particularly the August 22 incident in Karachi.

It was observed that under a preplanned and organized move, an attempt was made to hijack the peace of the city but the accurate and timely move by a 'young and energetic chief minister' nipped the nefarious designs of the outlaws and enemies of Pakistan in the bud.  Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar said that the new chief minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah has taken a very good start for good governance and he was quite sure that not only law and order would improve but business activities would also flourish.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that his government had given top priority to law and order for which he was holding review meetings day in and day out. "Even today I held a law and order review meeting," he said and added that peace in Karachi has been restored after lot of sacrifices and now "I am committed to make it sustainable,".

He said that the FIR of the incident had been registered and each and every outlaw who torched vehicles, dismantled offices of a media house have either been identified or in the process of identification. "I would not allow any kind of terrorism whether it may be through hate speech, instigation or direct or indirect threats," he said and thanked the people of Karachi for supporting him in his peace move.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad said that there should be a coordinated effort between federal and provincial governments for sustainable peace. He called for close coordination between the two governments.

Chaudhry Nisar said that a one-day strike or shutter down in Karachi causes Rs5 billion loss to the exchequer apart from causing anguish and trauma in the hearts and minds of the people of this city.

The DG Rangers and IG Police briefed the meeting on the incident of August 22 and gave a detailed account of their initial investigations and the actions taken by them.

The meeting appreciated the move of the chief minister by reaching on the spot of the incident and then went channel to channel just to give confidence to the media houses and their workers. The meeting decided to work out a detailed plan to provide security to the media houses.

The police chief said that the case was being investigated from different angles and its report would be shared with the federal government.

Earlier, the interior minister met Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan at the Governor House as both resolved that in no way integrity and solidarity of Pakistan would be compromised while action on stern basis would be taken against those who had been making statements against the nation.

Both the authorities expressed the resolve that peace in Karachi should be maintained in all circumstances as peace in Karachi meant peace in the entire country as stern action would be taken against elements trying to create a law and order situation.

The Sindh governor said on the occasion that due lawful action would be taken against elements involved in terrorism and those taking law into their hands. Personnel of Sindh Rangers and other law-enforcement agencies had rendered numerous sacrifices for the sake of the country as these sacrifices would not be allowed to go in vain.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also met in Karachi representatives of All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, and Pakistan Broadcasters’ Association.

The interior minister said on the occasion that he had visited Karachi on the day with the aim to review the situation concerning recent attacks on TV channels while also taking recommendations and doing consultations with the concerned quarters for preventing such attacks in future.

He said that very soon a meeting would be convened in Islamabad with representatives of the media as consultation would be done with them on the subject of cooperation of media in steps taken against terrorism while adopting the future strategy in this regard.

He said the upcoming meeting in Islamabad would discuss the affairs related to security of offices of media houses.

He said that it was a very welcoming sign that all the media houses were present on the same page in the present day as such a consensus of views had been damaging the cause of miscreants. He said that owing to such positive attitude shown by the media, neither the city had been closed while business activities in Karachi also continued to take place uninterrupted.

Jabbar Khattak, Syed Sarmad Ali, and others also attended the meeting while representing the media houses in the city.