A day after the military threw the ball in politicians’ court for a military operation in the North Waziristan tribal region, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain gave the “go-ahead” for the offensive.
Addressing a gathering of party workers in Karachi by phone from London, the MQM chief called upon the Pakistan military to “open their eyes” and act, offering his party’s support during the offensive.
In a speech largely critical of religious groups and marked with challenges, Altaf appeared to be invoking the military to act. He questioned whether the armed forces, which took 80 per cent of the country’s resources, were not responsible for safeguarding the country’s borders and its citizens.
Calling the terrorists “inhuman and living in the Stone Age,” Altaf criticised the military for stalling. “Why haven’t they taken any clear steps to find and arrest the culprits? Are they still confused?” he asked.
The MQM chief said if the armed forces did not fulfill their obligations towards ensuring the safety of citizens and apprehend the barbaric culprits responsible for attacking Malala Yousafzai, then the nation may be left with no option but to seek international help.
As the first political party to support the call for a military operation in North Waziristan, it is expected that the MQM might seek to build a consensus around future military action by approaching allied parties.
During his speech, Altaf condemned the attack on Malala and her schoolmates, Shazia and Kainat, and lashed out at parties that have refrained from condemning terrorists outright.
He said some parties hold marches but never protest against those elements that attack young girls like Malala, desecrate religious shrines and kill people belonging to other sects.
Urging clerics to stop becoming “merchants of Islam” and speak out against terrorists, Altaf said if religious leaders did not do this “people will socially and culturally boycott them”.
Altaf also condemned drone strikes and said his party would continue to do so, but “the answer to drone strikes is not to try and kill Malala”, he added.
The MQM chief said Malala had not committed any crime, she only wanted to acquire education. “My heart goes out to her and to the other girls who were injured.”
Calling Malala a “Daughter of Pakistan”, Altaf reiterated his party’s offer to pay for her medical treatment abroad.
In a remark aimed at an ever active judiciary, the MQM chief called on Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to also take notice of lawyers who showered Qadri with petals, register cases against those elements that seek to enforce shariah and act against all corrupt elements, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, rather than focusing on “just one party”.
On the occasion, MQM party leaders made speeches and appealed to the public to continue praying for Malala’s health.
(Read: We are not all brave)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 15th, 2012.
COMMENTS (24)
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The tragedy is that in spite of the courage, extraordinary maturity and wisdom demonstrated by a 14 years old brave Pakistani teenager, the Pakistanis continue to show ambivalence about the beastly nature of Taliban and are not yet politically and spiritually mature enough to demand for their politicians, the military, the supreme court and their beloved religious leaders to take their side and not that of Taliban.
Taliban and terrorism is a big profitable industry for military, big zamidars in the North Pakistan, and corrupt religious leaders. Death of Taliban movement is the elimination of source of US aid to the beneficiaries in Pakistan who use terror as a bargaining chip. Until people of Pakistan wake up and are able to differentiate between the values of savages and the spiritual values in their religion they claim to adhere, there is no hope and greedy politicians and the rest establishment will have no incentive and no compulsion to stop what they are doing.
@annonomous ,
Malala effect is for the citizens .
Salala effect is for the army .
What a coincidence ........
Malik is on correct stand .
And to add on. your leader sits abroad in a cosy home while so many Malala's die every day. How is this inspirational?
Before operation is conducted in Waziristan, Karachi shall be made clear of all types of small and large weapons, as weapons from NATO containers are smuggled from Karachi to FATA and to the rest of the country.
hats off to altaf hussain. from a former ppp supporter.
@the Skunk: Given we all have brain, we should make conclusions on our own. I noticed anomaly and I pointed.
Average ten - twenty deaths of innocent civilians in Karachi on a daily basis and calls for operation in North Waziristan!
Thanks alot Altaf bahi for opening the eyes of the nation.
We need to liberate the women and girls in tribal areas by defeating taleban and their likes in tribal fata and also areas of KP.
@Return Home: how you about you keep quiet(!) and let someone who is raising the only sane voice coming out from Pakistan (or outside, doesn't matter) SPEAK. Thank you.
He and his party are in power since last decade or more. But he always gives an impression as if they are a strong and aggressive opposition. Only for the consumption of the middle class educated people.
Malala effect in progress.
Hope other parties show similar courage.
@Return Home: because Altaf Hussain is very rational.No point to risk his life and become shaheed like Mohtarma.
Altaf bhai thanks a lot for showing courage against the enemies of Pakistan.Please don't stop unless Jinah's Pakistan is back on the track
Bhai ji, how about you com e back to your country first & leave that foreign passport behind?
@Walayat Malik: Let us first treat the systemic problem that Pakistan has suffered for thirty years. Taliban and American influence. The Taliban adopt pre-Islamic terrorist modes of killing people. Altaf is hitting the nail on the head and driving his point home.
@Moise: Why are your comments half way to what you want to say? That comment does not make sense at all. Drive your point home and be 'clear cut.'
Salams to all
In a remark aimed at an ever active judiciary, the MQM chief called on Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to also take notice of lawyers who showered Qadri with petals, register cases against those elements that seek to enforce shariah and act against all corrupt elements, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, rather than focusing on “just one party”.
More importantly, Altaf has said that he can send MQM cadres to fight along with the Army, if required.
No other leader has issued such a clear and courageous statement.
Jihad Bil-Qalam,
I second your suggestion wholeheartedly. I invite the rational and civilized sections of Pakistani society to stand up for the rights of all Pakistanis (including minorities, and the various Islamic sects). I would like to see a national communication campaign to educate people on an appropriate change in Pakistani constitution so that religion is not used in any way as a divisive force. I am an expat Pakistani and very much interested in contributing financially to any cause that works on the aforementioned lines. I would also like to emphasize that the term 'secular' not be used due to its inappropriate popular connotations. In other words, I am not promoting 'la-diniat' or atheism. I am talking about the state acting above religion, a neutral enforcer of basic human rights. I am a Pashtun as well, but I will vote for MQM if it spearheads this campaign (a more plausible situation, given the reluctance of other, even ANP, to come out openly with a clear policy stance).
A few ideas that could be pursued on this:
1) Spearhead a media campaign on the horrors of sectarianism
2) Explain through articles, particularly in Urdu media, on what it means to have a state policy without religious undertones.
If you share my vision of a 'Republic of Pakistan', and would like to share ideas etc, email me on: Pakistanforall1947 (at) gmail (dot) com
Of course, debates on this issue, particularly from those who oppose my idea are also welcome. But lets keep our interaction reasoned and civilized!
Regards
T. Khan
Read between the lines. Zardari wants this operation so that when this operation is ongoing, the elections can be postponed and same assemblies can elect him for another 5 years. Altaf is Zardari's real supporter.
Attack in Swat but operation in North Waziristan.
Mr. Altaf Hussain, thanks a million for saying all that. It is an excellent idea to seek international help if our state does not convincingly move against the terrorists. Now, the battle lines are clearly drawn and we are aware who is on which side of the aisle. In addition, let us unapologetically work toward a secular constitution of Pakistan. Whosoever wants a non-secular Pakistan should be amicably allowed to leave Pakistan.
Many things Altaf says makes lot of sense. "inhuman and living in the Stone Age", Pakistan military to “open their eyes” and act wow!. As he says, Pakistanis should be proud to call Malala as the real “Daughter of Pakistan”.
As a Pashtun and an Afghan I would say this much that I salute your courage Altaf wrora (bhai). The stand and the vision you have shown has won you a lot of well wishers and admires in Afghanistan because we have lived thru the ignorant and barbarian Taleban. Please stop the Frankenstein before it destroys your country. Peace