Share this article
Print this page
Email a friend
- RSS
- Today's Paper
- Subscribe
- beta 2.0
High: 35°C
Low: 27°C
Alerts
Diatribe of a lifetime: Hurricane Mirza shakes up political landscape
MQM is a terrorist organisation says Mirza; adds that Rehman Malik is "hand in glove with terrorists".
MQM is a terrorist organisation says Mirza; adds that Rehman Malik is "hand in glove with terrorists". PHOTO: NEFER SEHGAL/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Three and a half years of pent-up frustration exploded live on national television on Sunday as Sindh Senior Minister Zulfiqar Mirza lashed out against Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik – calling him a ‘congenital liar’ and ‘the single biggest threat to Pakistan’s future’ – as well as saying that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was working on an American agenda to break-up the country.
The fiery remarks came during a press conference in Karachi where Mirza started off by announcing his resignation from the Sindh cabinet, the Sindh Assembly as well as his position of senior vice president in the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). He was quick to add, however, that he would remain a PPP worker “till the day I die.” Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah was reported to have quickly accepted the resignation, no questions asked.
The allegations against Malik and the MQM were explosive and have already caused a stir across the political spectrum. Mirza accused Rehman Malik of being ‘hand in glove’ with target killers in Karachi, who are held responsible for nearly 1,000 deaths since the beginning of the year.
“I want to tell the president, the prime minister, the army chief and the ISI chief,” claimed Mirza. “Today, I am going away, praying that it is never too late to tell the truth.”
Mirza waved several documents (which he did not share with the media) that he said carried the ‘proof’ of the people responsible for the wave of violence in Karachi. “I have raised my voice against violence in this city and will continue to do so,” he said, adding that he would sell his properties if he had to but will unmask the killers.
Allegations against Rehman Malik
A large part of his rant, however, was reserved for the federal interior minister. “Rehman Malik is such a compulsive liar that if he is having an apple when you call him, he will say he is having a banana.” He also said that he had once requested President Asif Ali Zardari to enrol him at a university where he could learn how to lie, to which he was told by someone that there was one such university where Rehman Malik was vice chancellor.
Mirza also stated that Malik was not loyal to Pakistan, pointing out that the interior minister’s entire family lives in London. “If any harm comes to Pakistan in the future, it will be because of Rehman Malik.” In contrast, he said that his family and his properties and business interests are all in Sindh.
While he shied away from stating that Malik was responsible for former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s death, he said that Malik’s role was not that which would be ‘expected of a PPP supporter.’
(Read: Mirza demands ban on Malik’s entry in Sindh)
Mirza seemed to imply that Rehman Malik’s attempts to reconcile the ruling PPP with the MQM were one of the primary reasons why he (Mirza) – as Sindh home minister – was unable to curb the violence and the bloodshed in Karachi.
Speaking out against MQM
Not for the first time, Zulfiqar Mirza accused the MQM – including the party’s senior leadership – of being responsible for the violence in Karachi and even for trying to divide Pakistan, allegedly at the behest of the United States.
The most specific allegation against the party was Mirza’s contention that six MQM workers were responsible for the killing of Geo News reporter Wali Khan Babar.
“Five men – Mohammad Ali Rizvi, Shakeel, Faisal Mehmood, Shah Rukh and Tahir Naveed – are in custody and one Liaqat is still at large,” claimed Mirza.
He added that he had moved 20 men – ten of whom were facing the death penalty and ten facing life imprisonment – out of prisons in Karachi to prevent them from running criminal networks from behind bars, but that this effort was foiled by Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan (of the MQM), who brought them back to Karachi. He added that 25 ‘known’ target killers were released from jail.
“Saulat Mirza operates his network from death row,” claimed Mirza, referring to a convicted killer allegedly affiliated with the MQM.
He said that he had a list of about 15,000 people who were involved in target killings and affiliated with political parties and went on to claim that the MQM’s electoral strength was dependent on the power of the gun.
“MQM does not have a 100% mandate in Karachi and Hyderabad, but I will admit that their guns successfully get them that mandate,” he said.
Yet even as he once again called for the people of Karachi and Hyderabad to reject the MQM, he apologised once again for his remarks – made at Awami National Party’s Sindh Chief Shahi Syed’s house – that had upset many in the Urdu-speaking community. “The whole nation is not bad. Certain sections are bad,” he said.
(Read: Protesters disperse after full day’s rampage)
The dreaded ‘foreign hand’
Mirza also stated that the MQM appeared to be willing to work with foreign governments in order to strengthen its position within Pakistan and was even willing to go to the extent of breaking up Pakistan.
He claimed to have a letter written by Altaf Hussain in 2001 where the MQM chief told then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair that he would be willing to support the western alliance if the British government helped MQM supporters get jobs in the army and help disband the ISI. Mirza then contrasted himself with the MQM, stating his support for the ISI and the army.
He also claimed to have personally visited the MQM chief at his residence in London, where Altaf Hussain allegedly told him that the MQM was planning on supporting a ‘secret American plot’ to break up Pakistan.
“I can’t stand anyone who talks about splitting this country,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2011.
_____________________________________________
Loading ...
Read more:
zulfiqarmirza
Related Videos
Reader Comments (188)
Latest News
Pak-Us Ties: Obama refuses to paper over differences
Ddemocratic, stable Pakistan, in favour of US, says Obama.
US envoy to Afghanistan to step down shortly
The Obama administration is considering Deputy Ambassador James Cunningham to replace Crocker.
Two gangs busted, four robbers held
Two of them confess to committing HBL robbery, SSP rules out wrongdoing in Sunday raid.
Murder of writer condemned
Activists condemned the recent killing of intellectual, critic and poet Dr Shabiul Hassan.
Missing: Boy drowns while swimming in Khanpur Lake
Boys decided to jump off from the boat into the water to take a swim.
Recent Slideshows
More in Sindh
Federal Government restores DG Rangers Sindh
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2012 The Express Tribune News Network.
Technical feedback? webmaster@tribune.com.pk
Hmmm…….two torcher cells discovered in Lyari, hundreds of illegal weapons recovered, 18 urdu speaking hostages freed and over 100 terrorists arrested the same day and everyone fails to see the link~! If Zulfiqar Mirza was really a man of honor of (rather than just a Politician) as his followers on this blog would have us believe, maybe we’d have heard a clarification from the guy who called Lyari Aman Committee members his children~!Recommend
Finally someone has learned to speak the truth.
Recommend
i donot know who is right , but y MQM always remained against Army operation in Karachi, Some thing is there no one can ignore that.
Recommend
Sorry Zulfiqar Mirza. You do not have my support or my vote. Other people may have the memory of a Gold Fish but i do not. To me, this is just a reaction, to the operation in your beloved Lyari. If that had not happened, you would still be sitting comfy on your seat, knowing the truth and holding the, “evidence” and yet giving two hoots about it all. Sorry! But you are better running your own business rather than any part of Karachi. Good Riddance!
Recommend
Good work. Wel Done
Recommend
Dr Zulfikar Mirza outburst came the day after ‘Shab’e Qadar’ a holy night. I know someone who told me that he asked Dr Mirza why all of a sudden has he come up with such hard stance. Dr MIrza said to him that “I prayed and asked for forgiveness from Allah. When I slept I saw a dream that an angel is questioning me, Allah had given you a position and authority to maintain peace and provide justice to poor & innocent people. But you failed to do so because all you care for is your position, family, wealth and himself. To which when I woke up in the morning I decided that whatever from here and onwards I do, I will do it for people.” He also had vibes days earlier for doing something in the face of sacrifice. Lets s wait and see whether that was the case.
In my personal opinion, no muslim be it practising or not would never dare to sware on the Holy Book and deleiver scripted sppech. One could very well tell from his tone, speech and body language that words of truthand reality were coming out of mouth. As if some holy spirit was spilling the words and Dr MIrza was lipsyncing… Lets hope for the best….!!
Recommend
Nice start to clean up the mess !
Recommend
well-done but its show is over and we will not find them because our so called free media will never ever telecast him again and the so called supreme court will not invite him like they turned a blind eye on the parachinar issue with due respect for both pillars of the state, and what govt has to done they did.
Recommend
“A clear conscience is the sure sign of a bad memory.”
Recommend
Muhajirs must be repenting why they accepted Jinnah’s offer and left India for this, Life for Muhajirs in Pakistan is worse than hell.
Recommend
mind blowing sir, i have not seen that kind of conference ever before in my whole life, it was a conference which was fully filled with the true aspects and nothing else. plz do think about that.
i am requesting to my urdu speakers brothers and sisters kindly do not take it as ethnically, it was the statement from real son of soil who cares about the soil of sindh and who does not want karachi to be blood sheded. what ever dr mirza said he said by putting the HOLY QURAN on his head. i know he is muslim, no muslim can’t tell lie while keeping the Quran in his hand.
we proud of u dr zulfiqar mirza
Recommend
At last somebody had the guts to say the truth, doesn’t matter he has to lose his job in the process.
Recommend
Excellent Zulfiqar Mirza
Recommend
Dabang Mirza!!! Pride of Pakistan!! Sheer e Karachi!! We people of Pakistan have great respect for you.You exposed terrorist and mafia ethnic party with such a bravery that no one ever dared to do it before.You got guts and you are REAL man.Dabang Mirza Bravo!!
Recommend
@Faiz:
Whose whining-you are! All your sorry comments for a person who resigns the day an operation is launched in Lyari where TWO TORTURE cells were discovered.
Recommend
Nothing new,
In KP the local militants killed army but they are patrotic son of soil.
In baluchistan local militants killed army but they are patrotic son of soil.
From punjab the attackers attacked navy in Karachi but they are patrotic son of soil.
BUT when one person sho in past told i was about to break pakistan ZM alleges karachities and teir representativs only on basis of allegations the karachities and their representation in DECLARED ghadar by national media.
We urdu speaking shuld clear understand we must not get certificate of ptatrotism but to issue. To become paksitani we have to do what TT pk, BLA and others doing.
Recommend
salute to this great Pakistani from Punjab.
Recommend
@MH:
perfectly said.
There should me a dislike button.
Pls tribune do it now
Recommend
For:
MQM is not innocent.
Zulfiqar Mirza is courageous.
MQM knowingly killed innocent people after the killing of its MPA in august last year who was actually killed by banned religious party.
Against:
Zulfiqar Mirza is not an innocent man.
Zardari Sahib is using Mirza to play power politics in karachi.
Zulfiqar Mirza must also accept that he has been involved in leading Bhatta mafia of Lyari gangs, especially in last 6 months who killed scores of innocent people in karachi. Ask any trader in Karachi and he will reveal you the picture of Zulfiqar Mirza’s double face.
MQM, ANP and PPP all have killer criminal gangs in their ranks, who does not know this?
Why half truth (angled truth) to target only MQM only with Quran on his head. Also reveal the names of target killers of PPP and ANP. All three parties have blood on their hands.
Recommend
Mr. Mirza cannot tell what is good for Sindh. What is good for Sindh since there NO Ag TAXES IS A prosperous Karachi.
But his support of Commissionerate System revealed he didn’t want that. So who is he to say what is good for Sindh. he seems to be intelligence challenged.
Turkey had to modernize its cities for EU membership. And guess what? Those cities started improving with the change? That process started in the 1980s, so it is no news. But, Mr. Mirza must be be living with head in sand so has no clue!
Local government is a training ground for political parties so they actually deliver. Think Workers party of Brazil and AKP of Turkey. So local government is a critical tool for local governance that has been missed in Pakistan. Modern local government trains officials to deal with present day challenges not yesteryears’ challenges.
Recommend
Poor Pakistanis the moment they see a person, keeping his hand on Quran, theyfeel, hes telling truth.
Recommend
@Ayaz Bukhari
Thnik of the most prevalent phenomenon , every crimnal in a court of law takes oath on the Holy Quran .Does that imply they would spill the truth ?
Thanks for your good jesture for the Urdu speaking lot and trying to defend Mirza as the sanest of them all !!!
This might ring a few bells :
1 ) Mirza bragged he appointed 10,000 police personnel in Sindh and he “forced ” not to appoint a single urdu speaking in it .
2 ) Balochs are the OWNER of Karachi ,as per Mirza .
3 ) Alleged Imran Farooq and a pastun boy killed ,forgot to mention 54 sacked bodies .
Who do you thnik you are fooling ?Recommend
Funny how Altaf Hussain has been sick and for the past week and apparently went to the “hospital”. That, I can categorically state, is a LIE. Anyone who lives in Edgware (and for those of you who only visit London for vacations; Edgware is not the same as Edgware Road) knows that Altaf is seen in and around his house, coming and going, perfectRecommend
Whatever he said about the police is 100% true. In fact political interference has corrupted the whole bureaucracy. How can you expect ‘sold’ people to look after the lives and properties of citizens? The revelations about the MQM also ring true. Through personal experience I can vouch that even ordinary workers of MQM act like bullies in Karachi. The name MQM has unfortunately become synonymous with violence. It really puzzles me. For how long can MQM rule through fear? For how long can the party survive without reforming its leadership, its vision, and its strategies? It has people like Mustafa Kamal in its ranks who can change the whole county, but for how long will they be wasted in politics of corruption and violence? MQM needs to come out of Altaf Hussain’s shadow. The man has outlived his utility and has become an anarchist. It is time for new people to come forward. People who can think in terms of leadership of Pakistan and not just Karachi. People who know how to win through love rather than violence.
Recommend
Zulfiqar Mirza zindabad, truly a great, brave man.
Recommend
Zulfikhar Mirza has raised very serious allegations which must be investigated by a powerful independant commission.We can not take it lightly. It is 100% fact that political parties are collecting Bhatta in the name of FITRA/ZAKAT,and it is openly done even today.All parties are doing the same.Parties have their own areas for Bhatta Collection and trouble starts when some other party comes and collect Bhatta from their areas.Lets not deny the facts and supportes of political parties should exert pressure on their leaders to remove criminals from their parties and Bhatta collection must be stopped.Recommend
@Faiz:
Whose Whining!? ZM! The day an operation was carried in Lyari where 2 torture cells were found and many mutilated dead bodies.
Recommend
@Salman Orangiwala:
plz,, no one will losten to you,,,we all know who you are and which party(read mqm) you belong to,,,,,,,,,,,, may allah take away this devil namely altaf from our lives, ameen
Recommend
Nice try Zulfiqar Mirza (Best man)
Recommend
See the evidences presented by Zulfikhar Mirza on a website(terroristleaks.com) and then decide if he was speaking the truth or not.
Looking at all the evidences given I have no doubt what so ever that he was speaking the TRUTH.
He may not have disclosed some truth about his friends in Peoples AAMAN COMMITTEE.
Recommend
STRIKING TIME: In these days, the sincere and honest people in Pakistan are really much worried about Pakistan, especially after the resignation of Zulfiqar Mirza and his briefing to the media. The disclosures made by ZM lead to an irresistable conclusion that how long for the sake of seats and lust of power, dishonest, incompetent, greedy politicians/high ups are trying to destruct this country. If we put a glance to the history of the present PPP government, , then it is clear that most important, competent and sincere persons in PPP have been side lined one by one or were side-lined prior to its rule. When Zulfiqar Mirza has resigned, then what for his wife FEHMIDA MIRZA SPEAKER is waiting. Definitely this regime will oust her while bringing a slur on her fair name. This is the right time to strike. Moreover, when Mirza has levelled serious allegations against important personalities of PPP government and no action has been taken against those personalities, then it means that PPP or his leadership has not accepted the allegations as correct, rather made it mockery. In these series of events, the remaining of Fehmida Mirza as Speaker would be a blatant contradiction either in the personality of ZM or for that matter, his wife is not accepting his allegations as correct. What is the need of the day, every body knew it very well. Innocent citizens are being killed in a brutal way and barbarism is going on and our leaders say that they are trying to save democratic system. Either they are fool or they making the people of this country as fool. To my my mind, they are making the people of this country as fool. Even the leaders of PML N are trying to make the people of this country as fool. At this time, we need a leader.
Recommend
The show must go on…
Recommend
Geo sir very well done,Allah bless you.
Recommend
*very well done sir.God bless you.*
Recommend
Proved to be the son of brave soil. Need leaders like u…. Pakistan zindabad.
Recommend
extremly excellent job done by mirza,,,we all are with you to save our country pakistan… GOD bless you and help you,,,
Recommend
@shama:
Excellent job indeed! Admits he’s a ‘badmash’. Properties and sugar mills obtained through sheer nepotism thus admitting to corruption. Admits he used his position to obtain loans. Claims with confidence he drinks alcohol and much more. Good luck luck to our country if we have saviors like him!
Recommend
IFTIKHAR MIRZA you are an honest person in Pakistan. Every day after my prayers, I read AYTUL-KURSI for you and your family.
Recommend