Altaf Hussain’s speech: Rivals heap scorn, PPP sees upside
As the din from ongoing political recriminations grows shriller in the country, the Awami National Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz gave acerbic responses to Friday’s marathon speech by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain.
In a bad cop-good cop routine – more often associated with the government – the Awami National Party (ANP) leadership moved to rubbish allegations levelled at the party while the PPP leadership welcomed the address by Altaf as a step towards reconciliation.
At the same time, the PML-N countered MQM allegations by accusing the party of supporting PCO judges against the spirit of the Charter of Democracy.
At a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, ANP provincial president Afrasiab Khattak rejected Altaf’s allegations and alleged that the MQM chief had the “blood of Pashtuns on his hands”. Addressing allegations of the ANP misleading Pashtuns, Khattak said that the MQM chief should consider the thoughts of those watching Pashtun bodies from Karachi piling up in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Fata and Balochistan.
“Nobody has killed more Pashtuns than the MQM,” said the ANP leader, adding that the “ANP didn’t need a certificate of patriotism from Altaf Hussain.” He further said that Altaf had ‘verbally abused’ all political parties during his press conference except for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) so that the MQM could get ‘seats’ from them.
Nawaz Sharif in Nawabshah
Chief of his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif turned the tables on the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain on Saturday, accusing his party of supporting PCO judges against the spirit of the Charter of Democracy. “Altaf Hussain should know that the CoD was signed before the action on Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. We signed it in 2006 and the CJ’s [restoration] movement began in 2007,” Nawaz said, while briefing the media in Benazirabad on Saturday.
Responding to his party’s position on the Karachi violence, Nawaz praised the Supreme Court for taking the suo motu notice of the violence. “The faces behind the bloodshed in Karachi should be unmasked and brought to justice.”
Nawaz also emphasised the need to ‘do away’ with politics in order to restore peace in Karachi. “There should be no politics. Forget politics and save Pakistan,” he said.
Challenge to return
ANP leader Senator Zahid Khan said there was a shadow of fear around Altaf Hussain during his press conference, adding that he acted like “a person who does not know what to say.” He further said that if anyone had any allegations against the ANP they should come to the courts.
Khan said in response to Altaf Hussain’s statement on “foreign powers” working against Pakistan, adding that the MQM chief himself was a national of one of the powers he had mentioned. “Altaf should tear up his passport and documents and return to Pakistan if there was such a conspiracy,” he said.
Responding to the MQM chief’s statement that his party did not put up containers in the city on May 12, Khan said the MQM had its own home minister in place at that time and that the ports and shipping minister was from their party too. “The containers were taken from Port Qasim. The ports and shipping minister was from the MQM at that time too,” said Khan.
Reiterating the demand for a probe into the episode of May 12, 2007, he said without investigations into the incident peace could not be established in Karachi.
‘Role in Imran Farooq’s murder’
ANP leader Shahi Syed hit back at Hussain’s speech with an accusation of his own, saying Altaf Hussain was involved in the murder of Dr Imran Farooq, adding that international agencies had proof on the subject. Speaking to the media in Karachi, he said the MQM should focus on national politics.
Rubbishing all claims, Syed said MQM failed to address any of Zulfiqar Ali Mirza’s allegations, even after holding three press conferences, adding that Altaf’s allegations had come because the ANP lawyer had provided solid facts to the chief justice during the suo motu hearing.
‘Good cop’
Welcoming the address by the MQM chief, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) termed Hussain’s speech as a positive and important step towards democracy and the strengthening of its institutions. “Altaf Hussain is a key political figure and MQM is crucial for strengthening and continuation of democracy,” said senior PPP leader Fauzia Wahab.
The PPP leader believed that Hussain’s speech was an important step forward and crucial for the country’s politics, adding that there was hope in the PPP camp that MQM would soon return to the government as a coalition partner and play a positive role in the strengthening of democratic institutions.
(Additional input from Peer Muhammad in Islamabad and Manzoor Ali in Peshawar)
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2011.
COMMENTS (16)
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@grinz09: MQM is being isolated day by day by people of Karachi. People can no longer be kept hostages. Are you suggesting that MQM is being victimized by its own people?
It s only unfortunate that our national media so devotedly waited on the worst clown ever of our history and wasted many valuable subsequent hours in trying to make out some meaning.All this when millions of our brothers and sisters are pressed hard between pouring skies and inhospitable floody lands....To me the blood game in Karachi will only end when the people of Pakistan decide once for all to refuse to b killed like anything and instead of turning their back upon the dead bodies of their fellow countrymen to wait for teir own turn, hold the murderers by the collar. all the patriots should turn to their own conscience instead looking to the clownish leaders. If it is to be done it is none other than the Karachites who have to take the lead
@Danish....was this the most imp thing to comment on from whole Altaf's statemant and then Zahid's statement? huh
“In politics stupidity is not a handicap.” Napoleon Bonaparte
“Nobody has killed more Pashtuns than the MQM,” said the ANP leader, adding that the “ANP didn’t need a certificate of patriotism from Altaf Hussain.”
Strange statement from ANP.....Pashtuns killed Pashtuns for centuries, History says.
@Rehmat Ullah Kundi: "They are being squeezed from all sides by political parties, media, judiciary and civil society." You said it!!! That's the reason why they feel victimised and insecure.
It's amazing no one mentions 27th Dec and the days thereafter. There was murder and mayhem across the country. Hundreds were killed across the country. In Karachi about 150. Thousands of cars, buses, trucks with containers were destroyed. Properties and factories were set alight.
(I hope this won't be censored as some others I have writte. ET there is nothing wrong with it)
Your moderation process is very slow and discourages comments.
Does anyone realise that the country is going towards a path of self destruction. The current set of political leaders have no long term vision about the future of the country....their only interest is power and all goodies that come with being in power. This sad state of affairs that has to end.
The way Altaf Hussain acted was not ethical but what he said cannot be ignored. We have to accept that controlling 2 crore people and the biggest city of Pakistan while sitting outside the country is not normal at all. Its amazing! We see but we don't accept that Altaf Hussain is one of the most powerful leaders in the World unlike Zardari & Nawaz Sharif. These two are just nowhere to be found when serious issues are going on in Pakistan. Zardari only take notices and Nawaz Sharif is ready to do a speech everywhere in Punjab only. Why don't we accept that its not possible to get 85% majority in a city of 2 crore people on Gun Point? You just can't kill all Urdu Speaking people. Why are the followers of MQM called urdu speaking only when we all speak Urdu while communicating with each other? This hatred and discrimination should be stopped. We are destroying our own country. May Allah save us and stop us from doing so!
“Altaf Hussain is a key political figure and MQM is crucial for strengthening and continuation of democracy,” said senior PPP leader Fauzia Wahab.
Says it all really.
Now you people will understand why the late, great Zulfikar Ali Bhutto said, "Politics makes strange bedfellows." If you dont, please give it a try. You won't have to think very much; it's a simple aphorism, as all Pakistanis hate to think too much and prefer 'HEARSAY.' In fact to make things easier, it's a very elementary lesson in human nature, that says it all. Altaf was only mimicking the psyche and behavior of our hackneyed politicians. Salams.
Altaf Hussain and MQM are on the run. They are being squeezed from all sides by political parties, media, judiciary and civil society. They have to account for all the ills of Karachi. Altaf Hussain's speech was mere an attempt to divert attention from these pressures. Altaf Hussain called Musharaf a coward person but he forgot that it was he (Mush) who made MQM, the undisputed masters of Karachi for 8 long years. In return, they fully supported the ruthless, dictatorial and all out corrupt regime of Mush. 12th May events are still fresh in the minds of people of Pakistan and everyone know the full involvement of MQM with the help of Mush. People can not be fooled any more by comedy of Altaf. As far as the allegation of receiving money from America by ANP leadership is concerned, their may be some truth in this and it is the duty of media and civil society to investigate the matter. After all Americans are known for extending bribes in the garb of humanitarian aid.
We need another Sir Syed Ahmad , another Iqbal and another Jinnah
At the battle of Trafalgar , the English Admiral Viscount Horatio Nelson sent a message to his sailors ‘ England expects every man to do his duty. One cannot imagine how hard life has become ; immense poverty , loadshedding , shortage of water and gas , non availability of atta and sugar , lack of quality education and health facilities. People living in the lands of milk and honey cannot imagine the misery of the common Pakistanis. The people are daily committing suicides with their wives and children to escape their misery .
But things CAN redeemed . Muslims never lose hope in the Mercy of Allah. When the English ruled India , it was all dark particularly for the Muslims of the sub continent . But Allah had different ideas . In this darkness were born Sir Syed Ahmed Khan , Allama Iqbal or the great Quaid and many others . Now we need another Sir Syed , another Iqbal and another Muhammad Ali Jinnah .Another Iqbal or another Jinnah has to come from amongst us. They cannot come from the heavens.
@umair: Yes, only here one can see such perfomances from a leader of national stature and get away with it. This is the logical progression from 'madari-pan' of Bhutto era: cussing and calling names at political opponents, tearing off your shirt, tearing papers in the United Nations Security Council meeting and barging out and sending goons to beat up and breaking JA Rahim's nose are just a few such examples. Altaf's performance was an amazing spectacle unbecoming of a political leader. Political speeches are made to unite and unify people, motivate them to work in the national interest, and generally to ingrain sound human beliefs and principles. Not this!!!
Without exception ALL the country's politicians have been derobed by Wikileaks and ZM and Altaf's disclosures