Mustafa Kamal’s allegations: Imran demands judicial commission

PTI chief says accusations should be investigated

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan has called for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the allegations levelled by Mustafa Kamal against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain.

While addressing the media on Sunday, the PTI chief said though the allegations of extortion, targeted killings, money-laundering and receiving funds from Indian intelligence agency were not new, there should be investigated since they were now coming from an insider.

He added that had there been similar allegations against an Indian political party for receiving funding from the Pakistani intelligence, there would have been swift action against it.

The PTI chief lamented that rulers in Pakistan had been brokering deals with the MQM, despite all odds merely for the sake of their governments.

Recalling the peace and prosperity of Karachi in the not too distant past, Imran said the metropolis had the highest literacy rate in the country and was the hub of all activities.

Movements in the past used to start from Karachi since people were educated and well aware of the surroundings, he said. But MQM chief Altaf started a campaign for the rights of people, cashed in and then turned it into a mafia.

“While Altaf takes the decisions about life and death of people sitting in London, the governments do nothing,” he claimed.

While talking about the reported plans of the government to clip the wings of the National Accountability Bureau, Imran said his party would staunchly oppose any such moves in the assemblies.

He said NAB chairman was appointed after consultations between the prime minister and the opposition leader of the national assembly and now the rulers were not allowing him to work freely.

“We will also oppose the government’s plans to privatise PIA [Pakistan International Airlines],” he said.

The PTI chairman also opposed the national cricket team playing India in a World T20 match in Himachal Pardesh because of security concerns.

“Pakistan should not play in Dharamshala as there will be a hostile crowd, which might become a security threat for the team,” the former cricket great said.

Referring to Himachal Pardesh chief minister’s comments on not providing security to the visitors, Imran termed the statement “irresponsible and totally against the standards of hospitality”.

Earlier in the day, the PTI leadership held a meeting to discuss the future strategy in view of the upcoming intra-party elections.

Sources told The Express Tribune the senior party leaders decided to speed up the ongoing membership campaign despite the fact there were concerns about the mode of registration.

The meeting, which was attended by PTI leaders from across the country, also decided to launch a massive advertisement campaign to speed up the process of registration of new members. The meeting, however, did not decide the date for holding the elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7^th, 2016.