MQM chief Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: APP
The British high commissioner to Pakistan said on Wednesday that London’s Metropolitan Police had been ‘flooded with complaints’ against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain for allegedly inciting violence in Karachi.
Speaking at a news conference, Adam Thomson said that Altaf’s remarks on Sunday threatening Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters and demanding Karachi to be separated from the rest of Pakistan should be taken seriously.
However, Thomson insisted that it was up to the Metropolitan police, and not the British government, whether to proceed against the MQM chief.
Altaf’s statement caused uproar across the country, although the MQM chief clarified the next day that he didn’t make any demand for secession and that his statement was misinterpreted by the media.
“The British police are fiercely independent of the British government. And it is for the British police to investigate allegations of incitement to violence or incitement to hatred,” was Thomson’s reply when asked about the fate of ‘thousands of complaints’ against Altaf.
Thomson pointed out that “as far as the United Kingdom is concerned, we have very strong laws which prohibit incitement to violence or incitement to hatred. And we take these laws seriously.”
The British envoy added that the Metropolitan police do investigate such allegations seriously and on every occasion they have to make a judgment about whether they can bring a successful prosecution or not.
Commenting on MQM’s statement retracting Altaf’s remarks, he said, “So he is not as I understand it maintaining a position that he is definitely going to disintegrate. But I don’t want to quibble. I repeat my first point which is that such statements are taken very seriously,” he added.
To another question, the envoy ruled out extradition of the MQM chief to Pakistan. “About handing over an individual, you have to go through the whole extradition process for that. And as you know, that is complicated in the UK-Pakistan case as there is no extradition treaty. It doesn’t make it impossible, but it does make it quite difficult,” he added.
Switching the subject to the May 11 parliamentary polls, Thomson said the elections were “indeed a step forward for Pakistan”.
“I believe that Pakistan and Pakistanis can be very proud indeed of the May 11 elections. They stand taller in the community of nations as a result of 11 May,” he said. However, he voiced concerns over certain media reports suggesting disenfranchisement of women in some constituencies. “Of course, not everything on May 11 went perfectly. We are well aware of the claims. Things needed to be better and indeed lessons will, no doubt, be learnt from these elections,” Thomson said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2013.
COMMENTS (5)
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I'm not a PTI or any political party supporter. I'm living in Karachi near Nine-Zero and I'm always afraid to go outside with my family because of MQM Terrorism. I can't do my business without giving them Money "Bhatta". Recent years in Karachi many shutter-down strikes called by MQM forced us to close our businesses including grocery stores, medical/pharmaceutical stores etc. I was almost crying when MQM called 3 day strike last year. I went outside, spent hours to see if there is anything open so I can purchase milk for my 2yrs old son. ALTAF & MQM just gave us 1-thing i.e. "NA MALOOM AFRAAD" or MQM agents in their Unit-offices (torture-cells) in Karachi. 3days back that "Na Maloom Afraad" killed 20yrs old guy near Radio Pakistan, Karachi for not paying them Bhatta. You don't have freedom of speech in Karachi. If you speak against them or if you don't pay Bhatta money then you'll be dead next day. PLEASE ARREST ALTAF HUSSAIN AND MQM should be banned in the world.
Pakistan has been a frontline state in the war against terror and has sacrificed the lives of thousands of soldiers, civilians and has suffered a great loss to it's economy. It is extremely unfortunate that the British Government is harbouring a terrorist, Mr. Altaf Hussain of MQM. He is running his mafia like operation from central London actively engaged in extorsion, terrorism and murder. He is delivering hate speeches with open threats to the people of Karachi and any members of media who dare report against him. He is inciting violence amongst the people and spreading fear. If democracies like Britain are actually our partners in this war against terror then they should immediately stop this British national from running his extorsion and murder den from the heart of London so that the people of Karachi be rid of this constant threat and fear and live in peace.
Baluch leaders from different corners of the world declare that they no longer want to remain a part of the federation, they are not taken 'seriously or reprimanded but there is discussion and debate to address the issue. All Mr. Altaf Hussain said that IF and that is IF MQM mandate is not unacceptable then federation can think of detaching Karachi, he didn’t like Baluch leaders announce a need to separate.It is incredible that nobody would like to know why Mr altaf Hussian felt forced to say something like that.
How seriously beside rhetoric?
Let us see how fair is UK police in this clear cut case or their law & jurisdiction starts & ends at cricketers ???