Lashing out: Detach Karachi if you don’t accept our mandate, says Altaf
MQM chief warns protestors, establishment, ECP, politicians and media.
“If only Punjab is considered the entire country, then the future would be disastrous,” warns MQM Chief. PHOTO: MQM/FILE
KARACHI:
A day after historic elections in the country, the headquarters of Karachi’s largest political force, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), were adorned with lights and garlands to celebrate their victory. But in his first speech after elections, MQM chief Altaf Hussain was not in a festive mood.
Enraged by what he called “false accusations” of rigging, Altaf warned the establishment to respect the mandate of Karachi. Painting a bleak picture, he said that if this mandate of the people was unacceptable to the establishment then instead of hurling abuses at the party, they should separate the city from the country. He said there was a limit to tolerating false accusations against the party.
“Stop hating us and don’t force us to demand a separate province or country,” said Altaf, asking his supporters to be mentally prepared as he would call on them in a day or two, and then he will “see who is capable of creating havoc in the city.”
Responding to accusations of rigging by Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e Islami (JI) and others, he said, “If you claim that we have rigged the elections in Karachi, where did the tsunami go in Punjab?” He said that if parties want to criticise them then they should do so with proofs, and not indulge in abusive language.
Listing the party’s middle class credential, the MQM chief lashed out at protesting PTI activists gathered at Teen Talwar in Clifton calling them the “burger” class. “I don’t want to fight with you, otherwise my people could have turned the symbolic Teen Talwar into real sword on one order of mine.”
Delivering a fiery speech, the MQM chief warned, “You are playing with fire. If you don’t stop hatred towards Karachi and MQM, then this fire will spread all over the country.”
Taking the former ruling party to task, Altaf said that had the MQM not supported Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) despite having grievances, the PPP coalition government wouldn’t have lasted more than a year.
He reminded his supporters that despite deaths, bombings and threats the highest number of MQM voters had risked their lives to vote. He alleged that the media was showing anti-MQM demonstrators but did not speak of the thousands of MQM voters who turned up to support the party on polling day. “If media and politicians continue their conspiracies against us then…we will break their arms,” he warned.
MQM leader said that his party had secured 10,000 votes in Punjab and would sweep the next elections. In a warning directed at the election commission, Altaf asked the commission to take ‘just’ decisions.
Wrapping up his speech, the MQM chief said that he only had love for his people but warned once again that “If only Punjab is considered the entire country, then the future would be disastrous.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2013.
A day after historic elections in the country, the headquarters of Karachi’s largest political force, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), were adorned with lights and garlands to celebrate their victory. But in his first speech after elections, MQM chief Altaf Hussain was not in a festive mood.
Enraged by what he called “false accusations” of rigging, Altaf warned the establishment to respect the mandate of Karachi. Painting a bleak picture, he said that if this mandate of the people was unacceptable to the establishment then instead of hurling abuses at the party, they should separate the city from the country. He said there was a limit to tolerating false accusations against the party.
“Stop hating us and don’t force us to demand a separate province or country,” said Altaf, asking his supporters to be mentally prepared as he would call on them in a day or two, and then he will “see who is capable of creating havoc in the city.”
Responding to accusations of rigging by Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e Islami (JI) and others, he said, “If you claim that we have rigged the elections in Karachi, where did the tsunami go in Punjab?” He said that if parties want to criticise them then they should do so with proofs, and not indulge in abusive language.
Listing the party’s middle class credential, the MQM chief lashed out at protesting PTI activists gathered at Teen Talwar in Clifton calling them the “burger” class. “I don’t want to fight with you, otherwise my people could have turned the symbolic Teen Talwar into real sword on one order of mine.”
Delivering a fiery speech, the MQM chief warned, “You are playing with fire. If you don’t stop hatred towards Karachi and MQM, then this fire will spread all over the country.”
Taking the former ruling party to task, Altaf said that had the MQM not supported Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) despite having grievances, the PPP coalition government wouldn’t have lasted more than a year.
He reminded his supporters that despite deaths, bombings and threats the highest number of MQM voters had risked their lives to vote. He alleged that the media was showing anti-MQM demonstrators but did not speak of the thousands of MQM voters who turned up to support the party on polling day. “If media and politicians continue their conspiracies against us then…we will break their arms,” he warned.
MQM leader said that his party had secured 10,000 votes in Punjab and would sweep the next elections. In a warning directed at the election commission, Altaf asked the commission to take ‘just’ decisions.
Wrapping up his speech, the MQM chief said that he only had love for his people but warned once again that “If only Punjab is considered the entire country, then the future would be disastrous.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2013.