Clarion call: MQM chief backs operation in North Waziristan
Altaf urges military to ‘open their eyes’ and act now.
KARACHI:
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.
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.