MQM protests over Galloway’s anti-Altaf remarks

Karachi
Supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, along with members of the party leadership, staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club on Thursday against what they termed “derogatory remarks” by British parliamentarian, George Galloway, regarding party chief Altaf Hussain.
Galloway, a parliamentarian elected from the Muslim majority area of Bradford West, had earlier claimed that the Scotland Yard was inches away from arresting and initiating court proceedings against the MQM chief in London.
His statements created furore amongst the MQM rank and the party’s Rabita Committee called for supporters to take to the streets against the “biased attitude” of Galloway.
Raising slogans to the tune of ‘Down with George Galloway’ and carrying placards with similar messages, the protesters and party leaders completely surrounded the KPC for hours. With the entire area cordoned off and no vehicular traffic being allowed through, a chaotic traffic situation soon emerged, despite the presence of law enforcers.
Addressing the rally, MNA Dr Farooq Sattar demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of Galloway. He criticised the attempt to mislead Pakistanis and requested the election commission of Britain to take notice of Galloway’s remarks against the MQM chief.
Haider Abbas Rizvi said this was not the first time that British parliamentarians had issued such statements against Altaf Hussain. Rejecting his allegations, Rizvi said that “such Galloways were here and in Britain as well” but asserted that such forces could never degrade a party whose support remains rooted among the masses.
Another MNA Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui also addressed the protesters and reminded them that “everyone really knows what George Galloway is all about”. In his statement, the British parliamentarian had said that Altaf Hussain’s era of tyranny was nearing its logical end and advised the MQM chief to abandon his practice of murders and creation of chaos in Karachi from his ‘base’ in London.

Threats to Sattar’s life
Senior MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar has written a letter to the authorities concerned to demand better security arrangements at his personal residence.
The MQM Rabita Committee has also expressed concern over reports that certain banned outfits and Lyari gangsters were planning to assassinate Dr Sattar.
The RC said the officials concerned had been informed about the reports which, it maintained, were garnered from well-placed sources. The prime minister and other authorities have already been informed in writing about the threats to the Dr Sattar’s life, the RC declared in a statement.