Pakistan

NA committee calls for Altaf's anti-army remarks to be legally pursued

Members of NA standing committee on defence call for strict action to be taken against MQM chief

Web Desk May 05, 2015

Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: TWITTER

ISLAMABAD: The standing committee on defence decided on Tuesday to legally pursue Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain for using disparaging remarks against the military, Express News reported.

"Strict action should be taken against the MQM chief," members of the community said in the National Assembly today.

In his televised speech on May 1, the mercurial MQM leader criticised the military and said the party had always been discriminated against. The controversial speech drew sharp reaction from all quarters including the top brass of the Pakistan Army.

Read: Altaf’s speech: Khurshid Shah condemns statements against army

The committee, headed by Shaikh Rohail Asghar, strongly condemned Altaf's anti-Army comment in his televised speech and passed the resolution against him.

MQM's Sanjay Parwani argued that this was not the most suitable forum for passing the resolution to which Asghar retorted that it was.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Raheela Khadim Hussain tabled a resolution in Punjab Assembly condemning Altaf's remarks.

On May 4, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had also submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly but was disallowed to do the same in the Sindh Assembly.

Read: PTI submits resolution against Altaf in Punjab Assembly

Opposition leader of the Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed along with deputy parliamentary leader Sabtain Khan had submitted the resolution in the Punjab Assembly.

COMMENTS (4)

MJS | 8 years ago | Reply What did our army and our assemblies do when the following public statements were made: Ghulam Mustafa Khar: "I will come riding on top of Indian Army tanks!" Benazir wrote to US ambassador: "US should immediately end all civic and military assistance to Pakistan" Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq: "Pakistani military is a military of pimps" Zulfiqar Mirza: "We had already decided to brake Pakistan. If Zaradari would have raised the slogan of Pakistan khappay we would have broken Pakistan" Imran Khan: "The generals of Pakistan army are cowards. Bring a crowd of 20 thousand people on the streets and these generals are going to wet their pants" Molana Abdul Aziz: ""It is forbidden to pray Janaza of Pakistani army dead" Munawwar Hussain: "Pakistani soldiers who die fighting Taliban are not martyrs" Jamat-e-Islami: "We are not going to apologize on Munawwar Hassan's statement" Hasan Nawaz wrote to Indian Prime Minister: "Please play your role in saving my father from the Pakistani military" Nawaz Sharif: "Send the plane back to India, don't let it land in Pakistan" (when Musharraf was on board that plane) Khwaja Asif (minister of defense): "Pakistani army has ripped even the flesh from the bones of the poor Pakistanis, Pakistani poor are dying of starvation, Army eats up all the budget, our poor nation is supporting the luxuries of our army" Why were the above not targeted for any action? Why was their no resolution against the above in National assemblies? Which of the above have apologized for these statements? Someone says in sarcasm that they will take assistance from RAW and they are now being targeted by the establishment. These are old tactics. Even Mohtarma Fatimah Jinnah was labeled as an Indian agent and US sympathizer by General Ayub Khan. Please take off your glasses made with lenses of bias and learn from your history. ET moderators ... please publish this post. It has been rejected several times.

Sync | 8 years ago | Reply Our memories not volatile and we can recall the speeches delivered by the sons of soil and note that no action was taken. Do not segregate or strive to alienate one educated part of your country or you do not know the repercussions of your well known wit.

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salman ka fan part 2 | 8 years ago | Reply Mind you previously the leaders who said that are all from Punjab! Hey i hope perception is tackled with and tried to be changed as it seems now as man on street reflects on it that there is victimization of an ethnic community. As frankly operation isnt coming out across the board while no action against criminals who are like in South Punjab or even interior of Sindh. So definitely you are inviting and creating an ever-strong sympathy wave which has taken its roots strengthening vote bank of Urban Sindhs largest party. Army should ensure the utmost to create the impression that its neutral which sadly isn't winning its cause up till now on streets of Urban Sindh and is alienating amongst the most educated demo graphical ethnic community of the country. Word is that Pervez Musharraf and Mr Hussain can be labelled called as traitors because of their ethnic roots while no one else has been labelled like this way oohh so because they're punjabis! Biased? I wont go into merits/demerits of this sentence but its dangerous the views and our country's brains should ensure that this grievance is put to rest as its disturbing our nation's social fabric.

salman ka fan | 8 years ago | Reply Condemning and totally in bad taste the speech what Mr Hussain said in regards to morality! Though his apology later on realizing his mistake seems to be a welcome exercise but frankly i would like to see a day when Imran Khan from Mianwali Punjab for his speech on Generals and blaming our premier institution for something, these speeches are available on cyberspace, Our current Hon Defence Minister speech who hails from Sialkot sometime back in National Assembly, speech on forming Kargil Commission etc and lot more by our politicians. Mind you except Mr Hussain no one has apologized for their remarks. Criticize and condemn all but if you're selective then certainly you are alienating an ethnic community which further disturbs the social fabric of this country. The word discrimination seems to be the talk of the town these days in Urban Sindh. We need unity, at this crucial time but frankly steps being taken are dangerously coming out counterproductive to it!

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