KARACHI:
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has condemned the assassination of Zahra Shahid Hussain, senior vice president of the Sindh chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in the upscale Defence neighbourhood of Karachi on Saturday night.
Speaking at a news conference in the wee hours of Sunday, MQM deputy convener said that while his party shared the grief of PTI, it was important to understand the motives of the gruesome murder and who were behind it.
“It’s yet to be confirmed whether this incident is a street crime or targeted killing,” he said, adding that the blame game at this stage would affect the investigations.
“It is unfortunate that PTI Chairman Imran Khan showed his political immaturity and blamed MQM chief Altaf Hussain for the murder,” he said and called upon the government to take notice of Imran Khan’s statement.
Dr Sattar said that Imran, by issuing such an irresponsible statement, denied them the opportunity to offer condolences to the bereaved family. No matter how much hatred Imran has for Altaf, he should have kept in mind the situation called for support from the MQM, he said. There is no different between Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI or even between the politics of the Taliban.
Dr Sattar said that Zahra Hussain murder could be a conspiracy to derail the democratic process in the country.
He said the MQM demands a judicial inquiry into the murder of Zahra Hussain and exemplary punishment for the killers.
Dr Sattar said that the MQM would file criminal and civil defamation lawsuits against PTI Chairman Imran Khan for character assassination of MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2013.
COMMENTS (73)
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@Salman: trust me brother most of mqm supporters are like that.
@Shah: u know nothing abt khi do u ?????
khan sahib said exactly what karachities wanted to hear from decades
This defamation lawsuit does not make any sense. If someone makes a death threat against a certain group, and then a leader of that group is murdered, it's only natural that the one making the death threats will be blamed for the murder. If anything Mr. Altaf has defamed himself by using violent and provocative language.
@Shah: Threats were made to PTI workers protesting at 3-Talwar, the TV anchors and the Election Commission. These threats were open and very clear. When a PTI worker is murdered 2 days after, one has to point fingers at the person who made these threats. Alternatively, his party should issue a statement that nobody should take their leader's speeches too seriously, as he never means what he says.
@SU Khattak: You seem to be a more ANP supporter than a PTI one
If ECP had conducted F&F elections i bet MQM would have hardly saved its seat from Azizabad
You assassinate somebody's character if he has one??
@naeem khan Manhattan,Ks: Yes, they dont have character that is acceptable to Pakistanis. They dont make money when in public offices. Mustafa Kamal was managing billions of rupees for Karachi but didnt have a house of his own, he returned to a rented accomodation. This is the character of MQM and its elected representatives. They dont have sugar mills or steel mills
Here is a petition you all can sign: http://www.change.org/petitions/house-of-commons-uk-arrest-altaf-hussain-for-spreading-terror-in-karachi-2?utmcampaign=signaturereceipt&utmmedium=email&utmsource=share_petition
@Rustam: No he is talking about altaf hussain
@Saad: no wonder Pakistan is in a mess - when it has people like you
@Shah: mr Shah - the truth in Pakistan never materialises. IK has done the right thing by speaking out bluntly.
What character assassination.........They have assassinated a lady in flesh & blood & people even can not protest??
Everyone thinks it, but no one actually says it, too scared to.
Imran Khan finally did. About time, I say.
I challenge mqm to file law suits against PTI anywhere!!!!! They are gutless women killing bovine faecologists.
A case of phantomicide; may be!!
Here we go again, the same centuries old Pakistani style detective work! Not saying that MQM is a party of angels, but how can anyone accuse someone from their drawing room and in this case hospital room? The root cause of all the current Pakistani issues is the unjust and incimpitent judicial and police system
MQM does not have any character, Pakistani nation know them well.
@Khair Khaw: "Whenever there is a cold blood murder in Karachi, why do people blame MQM?" . You can get away with murder.
Hat's off to Altaf Bhai for managing the MQM and the mafia so well on long distance! but at the same time i feel bad for all urdu speaking people/mohajirs in Pakistan- i somehow associate them with him and hate them and un consciously think that they are complicit with him.
Its times for change Altaf Bhai - like zardari, you have made enough (ill gotten) money from Pakistan. enjoy the bhhatta millions and sit quietly now. leave us some peace.
@Shah: stop doing politics here, you soumd more bhai than a Pti supporter,
Altaf Hussain publicly threatened many times and Altaf Hussain just few days ago clearly sent a message 'Hum Thok dain gay'. Therefore, MQM, no court in the world will pay attention to your lawsuit. Lawyers and Media will be discussing all the past similar events conducted by MQM. I really don't see MQM excersizing this option - it will be a political suicide (IMO).
I sometimes think, Karachites who support MQM are responsible for 'Karachi k buray Halat'. People r taking IK's statement as a sign of immaturity. Then where the eff was ur 'maturity meter' when Altaf said that he'd tear apart the people at Teen Talwar protest.
what a shame, what a leadership: watch please: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqQOqtYSefw
And he is allowed to defame creation of pakistan in Dehli and London what a peoples..... and educated too....
@Salman: Are you talking about IK?
This is only for those few educated mohajirs who are still with MQM.
My dear fellows, I am no different from you but I have realized after going through the results of 11th May that Mohajir Brain-trust have voted for PTI.
Now what else you need to convince your Quaid to change policy and leave the government, sit in opposition and try to deliver something substantial otherwise next time you will be wiped out from Azizabad.
May Allah guide the leader of MQM. One can believe after knowing MQM that Power corrupts while absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Any murder esp that of a political leader on the eve of an election is condemnable unequivocally. No two opinions about that. On the other hand, PTI and its leaders should accept that it is chicken coming home to roost for them. I do not recall IK and its leaders coming out and condemning the blasts that took place in Karachi during the runup to elections. Doesnt it give an honest observer an impression that Taliban were facilitating the grounds for PTI. Did PTI show any sportsman spirit and stop carrying out rallies; even NS showed this much spirit, even if or a day.
imran khan not a politician..this is not good for democracy...imran khan pull down and derell nawaz govt.
Altaf threatened to murder the protestants at 3 Talwar Chowk.. so what else do we need to comprehend about the killers?? Brains?? or Eyes??
@Ali: No surprise with her murder. MQM is a terrorist organization and not a political party. British Govt is really really responsible for all this happening in Karachi.
What about PTI so called justice party cannot give justice to little Tyrian a daughter of Imran Khan and Sita White! please reply me after seeing this link:
http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2004/05/17/sitawhite/
MQM Qatil Namaloom Qatil
We see your defamation suit and raise you murder/ accessory to murder/ hate speech/ terrorism suits. Don't run away now, u hear.
off course Altaf Husain is responsible of The Murder of PTI leader, Imran Khan is all right, MQM is responsible of every Murder case in Karachi, because MQM has A special group of target killers, The Groups is responsible for performing the Nine Zeros instructions, I was a big supporter of MQM, because i am living just near Nine Zero, I was always participating in MQM Rallies and meetings , when I came to know that there is Terrorist group working for MQM, I left the party and supporting of MQM, because this party’s agenda is achieve its goal by killing people only, This is Pain full for every Pakistani. I request the all brave hearted Pakistani especially to the people of Karachi, please it’s the time to wake up and save Pakistan form terrorism.
@Shah: When Altaf hussain publicly threatens people, he is not immature. When IK says something fearlessly, he is childish.
every comment against the immaturity of IK. May I ask how much maturity did Altaf Hussain showed when he threatened PTI supporters ? How much maturity did he show when he called media anchors dogs? Keep your analysis with your self guys, if someone threatens you of your life and the next day, if you are killed then who else is to be blamed other than that person??
This scenario is pretty funny. There is no legal basis for filing a defamation case, Altaf Hussain has pending cases against himself regarding man slaughters and murders which he has to clear first before filing such a case. Furthermore , in any defamation case the very thing that makes such a case admissible into a court of law is if the supposed "defaming" statement is true or not. Altaf Hussain would have to prove that Imran Khan is not telling the truth in order to defame his public image this will be very difficult as Altaf Hussain did instigate his supporters in his speech which any 1st tier lawyer can prove with ease.
So the chances of such a case to be admissible are nil and even if it miraculously does , any lawyer can prove that IK's statement was in direct relation to the call for violence by Altaf Hussain against PTI and thus Imran Khan has the right to make such allegations.
Those of you who are asking for evidence,if 'they' threat to cut open peaceful protestors with swords on live tv and one of those persons die,'they' are the prime suspect,under any law around the world!!!
Chose your battles wisely Mr Khan ..... You seem to have opened one too many fights .....
Headshots, taak outside house, just before NA 250 polls, prequel to JI's UCU nazims' killing a few days back, reminiscent of Hakeem Saeed's killing a few decades back and yet, it was not you, dears, it was the Martians. Also, political murders do not happen in Punjab, so pls, stop putting it on the 'Punjabi- numaindaa' jamaat' or 'Khan's eleven' for not being at each others' throats for murder counts.
Oh please cmon MQM---grow up. The mode of killing, the way it was orchestrated (headshots) and the way it was done so closely before the polls all indicate a method in this madness, the same one that was also employed in JI UC former Nazims' killing in Nazimabad a few days back and Hakeem Mohd,Saeed two decades back. Political murders do not happen in Punjab so frequently: that is why, even after being at each others' throats for months, Nawaz and Imran have not implicated each other in any murder count whatsoever. There is a problem MQM supporters, and it has been there since the 80's. Try to read it through and get rid of it. Playing the ethnic card (much like the PPP's interior card), or calling for the detachment of Karachi from Sindh are old rants. 'Urdu-speaking people, including me, are supporting PTI', pls realize that. Time to grow up
What are MQM talking about? Are they from this planet? People seem to be confused - When IK says he holds Altaf Hussain responsible he doesnt mean Altaf Hussain ordered the killing. He means Altaf Hussain's inciting of violence lead to this situation. That, in itself makes him responsible. He also held the British Govt responsible for the acts.... that doesnt mean he think MI6 killed Zahra Hussain. It means their inaction led to it. A few lessons in English and common sense for the MQM would not be amiss...
Dear MQM, Your leader openly threatened PTI people on live TV. Later one of them got murdered. Please tell me who to blame? Regards Another Karachiite
Political Immaturity. Sums it up for Imran Khan.
No Offense ...this is traditional MQM game to Kill leaders and cry like a baby later on....what British govt did on the case investigation of Dr. Imran Farooq.....MQM is the biggest terrorist organization in Pakistan.
MQM is not responsible for the happening yesterday. But since they are passing through a bad patch, everything would be blamed on their shoulders.. !
@Khair Khaw: You were brain washed by MQM when you were 16 years old. So it's hard to explain your kind of people as whatever happens you will only support the terrorists.
Please we dont want MQM in karachi...Please Imran khan come and save people of Karachi from MQM.
What about 21 innocent people killed in a mosque in Malakand on May 17, their relatives are asking why PTI didn’t come out to protest their murder; instead their CM-designate promised to grant the 'respect' to TTP.
Basically UK is responsible while exporting terrorism to Pakistan, because this man Altaf is a citizen of UK and involved in terrorism in Karachi.
Altaf Hussian defames his own party by his fascist speeches, by his Immature style of delivery, he should file a suit against himself. His own political worker once told me "Raabta committee" work as a sweeping broom for Altaf Bhai's comments.
When people are killed in street crime in Lahore , why these haters do not held Nawaz league responsible who also enjoy administrative powers of Punjab . MQM should also take an aggressive position & drag these haters in to court .
So who was responsible for Imran Farooq's assassination? Everyone knows what mqm is. Who are they trying to fool? May this lady's death not have been in vain.
It is about time to see if this guy can back up his claims against MQM
everybody knows that MQM was involved in the killing !! just denying it will not help !! first they threatened PTI and then killed a woman jut to make a point !! SHAME !!
I heard this man's speech last night. It was disgusting and full of hate. People who follow him are characterless souls who have no sincerity to pakistan
Yes Altaf Hussain should be nominated in FIR as the main culprit behind this cold blooded murder. If proven then time to do another army operation in karachi.
No surprise with her murder. MQM is a terrorist organization and not a political party. British Govt is really really responsible for all this happening in Karachi.
Cool headed approach is required from MQM/PTI. Who has snatched the understanding amongst the two is worth searching otherwise nothing is left there to give to the people who voted you for national assembly for real strong opposition and early local bodies election-one point agenda for both to regain lost ground fast.
Now after various parties vs MQM, Imran Khan of PTI has given statement against Mr. Altaf Hussain of MQM that he is directly responsible for the murder of PTI leader in Karachi.
I can see that the workers of MQM and PTI will be facing each other in a very short period of time.
The leftover peace, whatever it was, will also go from Karachi.
May Al-Mighty Allah save us all. AMEEN.
Whenever there is a cold blood murder in Karachi, why do people blame MQM?
Now Altaf Hussain and British government both have full rights to file defamation suit against Imran Khan provided that Imran Khan doesn't prove his accusations and allegations against Altaf Hussain and British government because when you accuse the others of any crime then you do have solid evidences to prove your allegations and accusations........
I am speaking with a rational mind when i say this. 1. Altaf hussain should be considered a prime suspect in this case due to his past statements. The British high commission should place an enquiry on him for this action. 2. One of the possible motives for such a crime is possibly to postpone the re elections in Na-250. 3. 3. To anyone who says Imran khan is politically immature, try losing a beloved founding member of your party, who has seen it through thick and thin and try keeping your head. She appears to have been like a motherly or sisterly figure to the man who lost his mother.
I wish to offer my condolences to the People of Pakistan for another senseless killing and I'm Quite Surprised by the " MQM"s affronted stance" when their Leader has clearly brought this upon himself as He Did in a Mafia Style cowardly threaten anarchy n violence on the Pakustanj people at Large and their Past Actions MAKE the MQM a Reasonable suspect in this killing I challenge any person to Deny that if this Happened in the UK or America Altaf Hussein would have been Arrested if he threatened UK citizens and I believe that the UK is. Adopting double standards
Altaf Hussein should be immediately deported to face the charges levied against him in Pakistan and I guarantee that the majority of his " supporters " will DUMP him as Evil cannot prevail for ever and Man has been created to be kind gentle and Humane even if they are Temprorarily swayed by Devilish emotions As a Tribute to Zahra please unite to kick out corruption and Thugs and clean up the criminal activities of the Past as I know investigation Yield Nothing and are a waste of. Money and in Notting concrete is achieved
Farouk Sattar response is Typical What do we Expect Ic course he has to adopt the High Moral Ground It's a Typical Stance of this Party and anybody who has something to Hise makes U Think?????
ET now I know you guys are biased and you are not putting my comments about the hypocracy of PTI. I did not know that Imran Khan has shares in ET.
sad on this killing.pray for soul.who is responsible time will tell.if only saner element had come forward earlier this killing might had not taken place.post election there were ways to tackle rigging or any thing else.there is EC tribunal,judiciary (supposed to be fair).why come on roads.who gained .who lost eventually PAKISTAN.blaming won't help.BE MATURE .BE SENSIBLE.DONT PLAY WITH FIRE.STOP ACCUSING.WE ALL ARE PAKISTANIS.please stop hatred .
I am a very passionate supporter of PTI but sometimes these immature comments by IK make me wonder chances of PTI's survival. Previously running after Nawaz Shareefs life now ALTAF hussain. I seriously wonder whose next?? A responsible leader should know before putting up any allegations against anyone that he is not only representing himself but his entire followers.
MQM must exercise restrain.