Media watch: Altaf Hussain and martial law

MQM chief Altaf Hussain's statements have caused an uproar in multiple ranks of society.

Media watch is a daily round-up of key articles featured on news websites, hand-picked by The Express Tribune web staff.

MQM chief’s remarks

In the past, just as Mr Hussain urged on Sunday, generals have indeed taken over with the declared goal of cleansing the body politic of ‘corrupt politicians’. But each time the generals have eventually found themselves political bedfellows with many of the very same politicians they initially condemned. (dawn.com)

Altaf's call to the army

Comments favouring martial law are always unwelcome – particularly when a democratically elected government is in the middle of its tenure. But at the present time these comments may represent the kind of general feeling that exists and the desperate desire of people to see something that resembles good governance. The fact that an ally of the PPP has made this call should give its leaders pause for thought. (thenews.com.pk)

A strange call

However, this does not mean that the reappearance of military rule will resolve any of these problems. After all, some of these issues stem directly from the military rules of the past – which have dominated Pakistan’s political history to date – which have left our society dangerously militarised. That is why we have been seeing resort to violence as the arbiter of all disputes and conflicts. (nation.com.pk)

Marching towards tyranny, again?

It would be wise if Mr Hussain could think with a cool mind instead of giving an open call to the military to seize power. Pakistan has already suffered greatly in its history by not adhering to democratic norms. Military interventions have brought nothing but pain to us and a fresh one will not bring anything new. (dailytimes.com.pk)