MQM announces rally in Zardari’s favour
In a political rebuke to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) announced it would hold a “protest rally against the derogatory language used against President Asif Ali Zardari by the PML-N leaders” in Karachi on Sunday.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain gave a go-ahead to the decision taken by the party’s coordination committee, said a party’s press release.
Denouncing the use of “derogatory and abusive language” against the president by Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and other PML-N leaders at the rally in Lahore, Hussain said it “harms the integrity of the country.”
Expressing solidarity with President Zardari, the MQM chief said his party “would continue to support [the president] at every difficult time, and would not refrain from any sacrifice for the sake of democracy.”
The MQM also extended an invitation for the rally to Pakistan Peoples Party leaders and workers.
Awans come to rescue
Senior PPP leader Senator Babar Awan said his party leadership can neither be pressured by threats nor provoked by sloganeering of Sharifs and the “comedy show would lead to their downfall.”
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the former law minister said that PPP “cannot use such derogatory language against its political opponents.” Awan said it was “strange” that chief minister of “a minority government” in a province was demanding resignation from a president elected by over two-thirds majority by all federating units.
The former law minister was backed by information and broadcasting minister, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, who said that using non-parliamentary language against President Zardari “reflects the character of PML-N.”
“Holding a rally by using official resources is also the worst form of corruption,” she said, adding that the Punjab government has given “dengue and lawlessness to the people of the province during its four-year-rule.” The people who left the country after compromising with a dictator cannot launch a movement against the democratic government, she said.
PPP avoids ‘fight’ but lashes out at Sharifs
Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters at Karachi airport that the political rallies in Lahore are a “fight between the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and PML-N.”
“Why is the Peoples Party being dragged into it?” he said, while also warning the PML-N against stopping PPP workers if they march in the Punjab.
Former law minister Babar Awan also criticised the Sharifs, accusing them of misappropriating Punjab’s resources. “It was a comedy show and government resources were used to organise it. They used police, health and all other departments to bring people to the rally,” he said. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2011.
COMMENTS (59)
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Kadam Barhao Asif Zardari, hum apkay saath hay!
@Salman Orangiwala
What happened to the rhetoric about fuedalism? Dude you need to understand all MQM can do is play the oppressed muhajir card every time when infact Musharraf ruled this country for so many years.
For once think for the country and not just F.B area.
Very good to support the PPP. It’s a sensible thing to do. Because if you 'live in the river, then make peace with the crocodile.' Please also remember November 06 2011.
@Salman Orangiwala: So all MQM wants is to divert media attention. I dont know about outsiders of Karachi, but from an insiders point of view, MQM supporters are just plain embarrsed, and guess what, you shouldnt come down too hard on the Sharif's or Imran Khan, cause you never know Altaf Hussain maybe praising them tommorrow.
And your childish mamia's and my my's cannot hide the fact that MQM runs a 'drag' bus services for such occasions. Specially when the rally demands the support for Zardari. You happy in supporting Zardari? Just dont be happy too much, you may have to criticise him later on
@Salman Orangiwala:
Everyone has its own perception,just the way many MQM supporters such as you believe that every citizen of Karachi cares about your beloved Altaf Bhai. My own family hails from Karachi and many of them have witnessed the dark history and activities of MQM workers...so please don't try to fool people by your claims. Nobody can deny the role media can play in the popularity of any person or party these days,then what's wrong if Imran Khan or for that matter anyone relies on media. OK tell me,If PTI's popularity was not a big deal then why MQM announced a rally in favour of Zardari all of a sudden even though Imran Khan didn't say a word against MQM during Lahore Jalsa....doesn't it really indicate that deep down in their hearts MQM leaders do have some concern,fear or whatever when it comes to Imran Khan. Atleast he's holding rallies for some reason i.e. daily needs of a common man,what's the motive of MQM's rally?
NOTHING new I remember MQM held a rally before long march 2008 & in favor of Benazir Bhutto's POSTERS in rawalpindi :D The more MQM criticizes a party the MORE Popularity it(the criticized party) gets. this criticism on PMLN will help PMLN in interior sindh.
My my , seems MQM has hit the hornets nest right on spot . errr..........what I mean is Imran's nest . lolzzzz . PTI wont get enuf media coverage , awww.....so sad ,thats the only thing PTIeers are only concerend with .
MQM will loose credibility , someone mentioned above . Outsiders of Karachi donot even have the slightest idea about the grassroot level die hard support of MQM . No matter who they support , their supporters will still support them .
Guys why are you so shaken into your boots if MQM is supporting the President ? Mamma mia....so you do know the power MQM commands over the masses of Karachi and you thought MQM has been kaput by all these CJ's allegations and Rangers operations .Rather childike wishes ,sorry you got disappointed . Wish I could say the same for Mr.Sharif or for that matter Kaptaan Khan .
Lets wait and compare how much heads showup in Imran VS MQM's rallies .
And please stop the Ghasa Pita blabbeing that MQM forces people to attend their gatherings . Visit ( no need to participate ) yourself and be enlightened once and for all .
MQM PML-N PPP are alle same. PTI Zindabad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GlFvQm0Fgas
This will pave the way for MQM to have its arrested target killers released by Zardari and Rahman Malik. What a dirty politics.
May Allah protect us from hypocrite, incompetent, careless, senseless, and greedy leaders.. Ameen
Shame on MQM for keeping up their end of the deal in a democratic way. Shame. I wonder how much the money that has been spent on these rallies would help the flood victims.
I would like to make sure that I attend the PTI rally tomorrow at Minar-e-Pakistan and listen to and judge Imran Khan as a political leader.
I suspect Zardari League and the PML(N) might be a little surprised.
Did Shehbaz use derogatory language for queen, the british head of state?
The BIGGEST Deal in Town............
decisions without vision
Altaf Bhai Nooo .Please .i mean why is this for.??
@Mirza: Don't be emotional. You probably do not know the difference between GRIEVING and MOURNING. Grief is commonly defined as the process of experiencing a variety of physical, psychological, social, and behavioral reactions from some type of loss. Loss comes in two categories: psychosocial loss (divorce, death of a loved one, loss of meaning, etc.) and physical loss (wallet, body part, automobile, etc.). Looked at another way, we grieve changes of all types. The examples you quoted falls in this category of grief.
Mourning, on the other hand, is the critical expression of grief to the outside world. It is grief publicly exposed, that has been externalized from within the heart to without. And, that is a highly therapeutic process for everyone to examine.
You can grief loss of a loved one whole of your life but can not mourn for more than three days.
@Mirza: FYI There is no mourning in Islam beyond three days.
I think political parties are not going to deliver any good thing to Pakistan other than rallies. Why MNAs and MPAs are being paid 6 digit package? I guess for not doing any thing good for this country? I have a suggestion that MNAs, MPAs, Parliamentarians, Senators should be paid minimum wage of 233 per day (it is the minimum wage of a least paid class of Pakistan) What are your suggestions?? Guys i think we have to join hands against these ruling class. Together we can show some strength.
@Abdul: Valid observation mate.... ! I wish if their leadership could answer...
If MQM comes out in favour of PPP, it will be a disaster for them. They should not do it at any cost. They will lower down their image and the workers struggle will be ruined.
@Iftikhar-ur-Rehman: For God sake, do you understand the meaning of death and mourning? PPP has announced mourning period and their opponents are loading their guns like there would be no tomorrow.
As stupid as MQM always is. Altaf hussain's policies are always opposite to the wishes of the People of Pakistan. Now the MQM will forcefully drag people to their rallies.
PML-N has waited for almost four years and is ruling more than 60% of Pakistan with terrible results. However, for whatever reasons they cannot wait another year for the next elections. They are once again going their old ways of confrontational and undemocratic change of govt and come in power via backdoor. President of Pakistan is a symbol of federation and one party from one province cannot and should not delegitimize that office. It is the insult of the federating units who have elected the president by more than 2/3 majority. In fact most provinces have given full votes for president. It is not a matter of Zardari but democracy and federation of Pakistan. Any regional party cannot simply demean and delegitimize the elected govt anytime they desire. During the current situation Pakistan cannot hold early elections as it would provide targets to terrorists and early elections are a waste of time and money. Can the country go through this all just for the lust for power by a regional leader? Most believers of democracy should join hands against the politics of confrontation and bullying. MQM is not supporting PPP or Zardari but the president of the federation which they themselves have nominated and elected. PPP is in mourning and cannot go for the agitation, and its opponents have chosen the right time to target it before the March senate elections.
Next PM will be from MQM. No more Sharif
MQM wants it Punjab vs Sindh ..
Here comes the party with highest number of educated followers.
MQM exposed...
MQM's chief has lost it once again......he criticized the lawyers movement and would later show respect and trust in judiciary once CJ got reinstated. He showed solidarity with opposition parties on certain issues such as raising concerns over water and electricity, and now they are doing all this pro-democracy and pro-Zardari drama, even though Altaf Hussain himself invited army twice since 2010.
one day MQM will hold rally in favour of nawaz sharif,Imran khan and so ON....provided who so ever is in the government
I am disappointed because media coverage wi be divided between pti and mqm. we want full coverage for PTI MINAREPAKISTAN Jalsa.
@karachiwala:
The PPP has not announced a rally because the official mourning period for Begum Bhutto has not ended!
@NilmaAzeem
Good questions but i am afraid little search on google might have cleared your doubts. I am amused how we people raise concerns and reach conclusions without doing proper research :-)
May be we need mythbusters in Pakistan.
Pakistani Politics is full of BS. None of these are sincere to the country, all these politicians are working with external support and help one way or another. It is a game of musical chair for them and nothing else. For common Pakistani it becomes so emotional that they are willing to take the life of other party workkers just for their so called LEADERS. And see how they are scarthing eath others back.
Excuse me while I laugh. So MQM to take out a rally in support of PPP vedairas? Hahahahaha! Oi jageerdaroun!
@UnReaL Pakistani: Are you kidding us? This is the 'correct' direction for MQM, if Imran Khan or Nawaz Sharif comes to power next, they'll be rallying in support for them too. Direction for MQM is relative to whos in power
PML-N really showed its strength in Lahore..
aww.. MQM in frustration... i must say MQM is again playing in other hands.. just like 12th may when MQM played in Musharraf hands... now they are playing in Zardari's hands...
Frustration..
Zardare-Altaf bhai bhai :D
tch tch ..
MQM is not going in the right direction.....
lol @ MQM.
They only want to drive some quarters of media away from Minar-E-Pakistan on 30th of october. PTI is lucky to hold this procession in lahore, if it was in Karachi, it would be a repeat of May 12.
PML N was planning for bullet train.... Now check the PR ...Imran khan is indirectly supporting PPP and MQM... Why he did't went UK file a case against Altaf... Why he did't selected Kho for his part show..... MQM banned Imran in Khi. ... So think broad mind .. Why team he has IK he has all lootas from other parties... How IK is running his kitchen. Who is building palace on hills of Islamabad.. Who is funding... How much tax he himself paid....lot of things to be worked out...