Pakistan

MQM set for Senate clash

Babar Ghauri led a group of MQM lawmakers to submit privilege motions in the upper house of parliament.

Express August 26, 2010

ISLAMABAD: A day after submitting two separate privilege motions against PML-N chief and his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the National Assembly, the MQM did the same in the Senate on Thursday.

The move was initiated in response to PML-N’s criticism of MQM chief Altaf Hussain for his ‘controversial’ statement, inviting ‘patriotic’ military generals to step in to save the country from the clutches of ‘corrupt and feudalistic’ politicians. The assertion has since been rocking the national political scene, triggering angry reaction from almost all political parties.

Federal Ports and Shipping Minister Senator Babar Ghauri led a group of MQM lawmakers to submit privilege motions in the upper house of parliament.

On Wednesday, Dr Farooq Sattar told reporters after submitting the motions in the National Assembly that Nawaz Sharif “must come clean on why he betrayed the nation and chose to leave for Saudi Arabia along with his family after the 1999 military coup”.

He also called on the PML-N chief to clarify the issue of signing any agreement with the then military dictator, Pervez Musharraf, which he had been denying for more than seven years.

One of the two privileged motions is seeking to initiate a debate on the agreement between Musharraf and Nawaz under which the Sharif family was sent on 10-year exile to Saudi Arabia.

“The reality must be presented before the public…We want this,” Dr Sattar said about the alleged deal.

In the second motion, the MQM criticised the PML-N for its ‘non-democratic behavior’, accusing it of having enjoyed “good relations with the army” in the past.

It said that Shahbaz Sharif, the Punjab chief minister and younger brother of Nawaz, and Chaudhry Nisar, one of the party’s top leaders, have held secret meetings with the Chief of Army Staff Parvez Ashfaq Kayani, but failed to take the nation into confidence about the outcome of these meetings.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (12)

Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply If Altaf Hussain is in self exile, why has NS and his cronies have objections and problems. Remember Imam Khomeni spent several years in self-exile in France before coming to Iran and lead a blood-less and successful revolution. We hope that Altaf Hussain will follow the suit of Imam Khomeni and do this revolution smoothly early the better. Any delays will ruin this country and money is slowly but surely going out of the country. If no action is taken, a day will come no body will give us even charity as we have stared seeing at the time of recent floods as none of the country is bestowing trust. Regards Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Qatar

Amna | 13 years ago | Reply Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan raised the issue of MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s statement on patriotic generals intervening to clean up the political mess on the floor of the assembly, in response to which the MQM stalwarts threatened to expose the murky past of the PML-N. While it is necessary for all political forces to take an unequivocal and firm stand against any form of military intervention, the tone and tenor of the discussion and remarks passed on the floor of the National Assembly fell far short of a civilised debate and were reminiscent of the tit-for-tat politics of the 1990s. Both parties being the protégés of the same dictator, it is hard for them to assume a high moral ground; hence the resort to mutual mudslinging. It was very unwise of Altaf Hussain to stir this pot in the first place when Pakistan is going through an unprecedented disaster situation that calls for all our energies and attention to be focused on pulling the country out of an unprecedented conjuncture of crises. Taking this issue any further would not only be in bad taste, it would waste the precious time of the National Assembly, which has much more pressing issues at hand to discuss. We expect our elected representative to get serious and attend to these issues.

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Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply I fully agree with Khobar (UK) as MQM creation is not because of the result of Army. We may recall our memory when APMSO was student wing of MQM in Karachi. An ugly single incident of killing a College Girl student Bushra Zaidi under the wheels of speeding Wagon took place in Karachi. This incident lead to spark a bloody violence. This incident triggered formation of MQM which was created to voice the suppressed people. We have seen MQM was subjected to worst type of media and court trials and lost very many workers and its leader like Tariq Azeem and others. But Naukar Shahi and establishment were not able to dmake in road to their popularity to eliminate MQM which is the real mouth organ of the poor and middle class cadre. When given powers in Karachi, MQM has also proved that they can turn the tables on the development front too. See Karachi which was poor planned and a jugle of traffic before and now smooth traffic is the order of the day just because great planning and dedicated work of the MQM. All revolutions take place after great sacrifices and MQM has on the record is suffering from worst Media and State supperessions. It is widely believed that MQM will come out of this and any other challenge put before them as vast majority of are people observe all these tortures and are fully back MQM and no body can eliminate a party who is so popular in the masses. To me all the recent Target killings Drama in Karachi has been staged by establishment only to keep away MQM from making inroads in Punjab and other areas of Pakistan as the Feduals and Landlords were worried of continued popularity of MQM. Regards Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Qatar Note: The writer does not belongs to MQM but is writing these lines after careful past observations / experiences.

Khobar from UK | 13 years ago | Reply I agree with Altaf Bhai. He is a great leader Pakistan has produced after Qaid Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah as once Mr Nisar Khuhro said. Altaf is a statesman as a leading columnist Nazir Naji once said. He is a brave leader and who says he is a product of Martial Law. His whole life is spent on opposing dictators. Look he is a great leader and has iron grip on his leaders. His word is last word and no one can dare to say no him. Such leadership qualities are adored by our beloved President. His party is the most popular party in Pakistan and in next elections his party will be the largest party. Great. Ever since inception he has kept land mafia and bhuta khors at bay and Mustafa Kamal has developed Karachi which is now much better than London, Paris and Chicago.Karachi is now most peaceful city. Of course there are some incidents when MQM is provoked. Altaf's great leaders in the senate and parliament will give befitting reply to PML-N.

Khobar from UK | 13 years ago | Reply I agree with Altaf Bhai.

Pakistani Disgusted by its 'Leaders' | 13 years ago | Reply Where are we heading for. Whole country is paralyzed by one disaster followed by another be it man made or natural. All these guys can think of is mud slinging in Assembly. If they are so desperate then sling some real mud while helping out our brethren stuck in Sindh, Punjab or KPK. Army for once has its hands full with fighting insurgency, helping in flood relief and now these 'far sighted sages' want them to take over the country. If putsch is initiated to rid this country of dishonest leaders, I wonder how many current ones will be left in the end. I guess and hope none! People calling in the army in now were in not to distant past accusing its agencies for genocide and crimes against humanity. Similarly the blue blood of Raiwind should also gaze at their past. Right now this country cannot afford a squabbling corrupt bunch of people to distract the masses from the mammoth rescue efforts needed. Focus on the actual needs 'moronic leaders'.

Annoyed pakistani | 13 years ago | Reply About time! Let the games begin! Hope something positive comes out of this

nasim ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply What a pitty,Pakistan has sufferred mammoth losses on account of floods,our external debt may swell to $60 Billion and our two main political parties are engrossed in privilege motions and they say democracy is working in Pakistan.Long live Pakistan and long live democracy.

Sultan Ahmed. | 13 years ago | Reply Mighty flood victim laying on the roads crying for help, but major political parties which ruling over the provinces has made them busy in the politics. Debate has begun in the disputed statement of leader,playing with the fate of the people of Pakistan sitting abroad. In Punjab, police depart has been unleashed, beyond the control of political leadership, it is doing what it want to do. Electricity,is already too expensive to face by the common man further increased by the depart of 16 percent will make provincial government more hateful among the people. But ruler draw no attention on the plight of the people crying for help flood has made their life miserable,ignoring the real situation they are working on the statement because assembly session a head. May God Almighty show us right path.

Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply Great - Let this this healthy clash may take place so that a common know "Doodh ka Doodh - Paani ka Paani". Let the details of such "secrets come out from Cat's bag" which will certainly open a Pandora's box. Regards Dr. Saleem Siddiiq Qatar

DrunkPumpkin | 13 years ago | Reply YAY ! - Lemme get my popcorn now :D

Imran A. Azeem | 13 years ago | Reply No Body denies the fact that ARMY has its role in Pakistan Politics, So to save Pakistan from current crisis Army Should play a positive roles too. The leaders of PML Nawaz should first clarify their links with Army before rising finger on any other political party. PPP is taking a wise decision by not becoming too aggressive against MQM because they now the Facts "Army has its due Share in Pakistan Politics". PML N is so much afriad of Army intervention because they were mongering against PPP just to get in seat and now they feel endangered that if some action against corrupt politicians been taken by Army they will definitely suffer more PPP. Fake Degree issue is an example

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