Isi help: MQM to protest funding allegations

“Baseless allegations” have hurt the party’s supporters, a party statement said.

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has announced that it will protest across Pakistan today against allegations made that the party was involved in taking money from the intelligence agencies in the 1990s as part of an effort to create the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI). The party’s ire has been drawn, in particular, by questions directed towards MQM MNA Waseem Akhtar on a private television chancel. In Karachi, the party plans to protest at the press club. MQM’s Coordination Committee has sounded alarm over what they termed a “horrific propaganda” against the party and that “sections of the print and television media were being used to spread this”. In a statement issued late on Wednesday night, the committee noted that “baseless allegations” have hurt the party’s supporters and that the protests will be peaceful and will follow democratic, political and moral principles.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2012.