I did not call for martial law: Altaf

MQM Chief spoke to Express News clarifying his earlier comments about the army and his calls for reform.


September 16, 2010

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said that he did not call for martial law but said that he was in favour of the army taking action constitutionally given the state of the country. The MQM chief was talking to Mubashir Lucman on Express News today (Thursday).

Hussain said that he is certain of the support of the people of Pakistan in his call for action against the lack of common sense prevailing in current politics. He reiterated that the MQM will not stand in the way of the masses if they rise for change to rid Pakistani society of crime and its problems. He clarified that he was not asking for martial law when he asked the army to intervene.

Hussain called for the accountability of governments under the constitution and law. He added that even the members of the MQM, if responsible for corruption under an MQM-led government would be held accountable for their actions.

Hussain said the system currently favours feudal landlords, the wealthy and the influential at the behest of the poor and landless. He cited the example of the course of flooded rivers being changed to cut across the land of tillers and villagers, allegedly affecting far more people than it would have had it run its natural course.

Hussain said that he was in favour of establishing local bodies. He added that due to the floods, a lot of people are now in dire need of assistance, and that their assistance can best be carried out by local bodies rather than the system currently in place.

When asked whether his party would support Musharraf's return, Hussain said that according to the constitution and law, Musharraf cannot be taken action against on the basis of Article 6.

COMMENTS (11)

Liaquat Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Here is the link to Altaf Hussain's interview with Mubashir Lucman: http://www.pinditube.com/?p=29323
Liaquat Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Regardless of how many times Altaf Hussain says "I did not call for the Martial Law" some people would continue to interpret it as Martial Law. These are the same people who believed the Jinnah Pur nonsense. These are the same people who still believe that the MQM is responsible for Hakim Saeed murder. That is inspite of the fact that the original accusors showed up on the national TV to acknowledge their malicious propaganda against the MQM that cost the party 15,000 lives.
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