Haider Abbas Rizvi. PHOTO: FILE
Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Haider Abbas Rizvi said if party chief Altaf Hussain accepted the verdict of the British court in Dr Imran Farooq’s murder case, even if it went against him, then the party would also follow suit.
Speaking on the Express News programme ‘To The Point’ on Tuesday, Rizvi said he was unaware of the arrest of two suspects associated with MQM in Pakistan. He added that Hussain has said as a matter of principle, he would accept the court decision be it in his favour or against him.
Replying to a question about a story published in The Express Tribune that two men belonging to MQM had visited Britain around the time of Dr Farooq’s murder in 2010 and were arrested on their return home via Sri Lanka, Rizvi said he paid no importance to such stories as he was daily presented with a lot of such stories appearing in newspapers.
The party leader added that MQM was concerned that those who murdered Dr Farooq could also think of doing the same with the party chief in London. When asked what would happen if Hussain was arrested, he said he never commented on speculative questions.
When asked who the party’s second-in-command was, Rizvi stated that decisions are taken by the MQM Coordination Committee and the party workers accept these decisions. He said MQM has a very strong system in place for making important decisions.
Speaking on the menace of extortion, Rizvi said some MQM workers may have been involved in the practice and other similar misdemeanors, but that his party was not the only one that had such members. He added that there were around 150 MQM workers in jails.
Rizvi said five of the party workers were arrested from their homes in front of their families and it was their right that authorities announce their arrests. “Rangers can arrest our workers according to the law but their arrests should be made known.”
Rizvi said that changing the governor of Sindh was a decision that the federation, and not MQM, had to make. He said that as soon as the situation improves, the results of the referendum about MQM joining the Sindh government will be announced. Commenting on his party’s alliance with the Pakistan Peoples Party in the Sindh government during the last five years, Rizvi stated it was a fruitless effort.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (31)
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@ABC: Thanks for the link. That describes "Ziddi" showing some self respect in face of being powerless. And thanks for giving me double promotion: gender and age wise; not complaining! By the way I found out the meaning of "Dheet;" photo on the top describes it beautifully.
@ Luciferous
Here you go brother http://meredithleighknight.blogspot.com/2011/03/on-being-stubborn.html
DHEET: Can someone explain what the word means? A picture or photo would be appreciated since it may help elaborate the meaning. Can anyone help?
Absolutely true @ABC
Nowadays countries are forming blocks to survive economically in this age and some (senseless) here in Pakistan talk of seperation.
@ Sohail Khan
My dear, just help me understand how I can be against my own ethnicity? If my point of view differs from yours, it does not mean that I am filled with ethnic hatred and blatantly distorting the facts and ground realities. I accept that a lot of harm has been done to us, but just give me a single reason which justifies that I am also supposed to do the same? There are hundred of ways to change the things, but kidnapping, street violence, ransoms are just to name a few of those attributes which have been associated with MQM since its inception. What MQM has reaped, it has to sow. And please also acknowledge the fact that it is more of our fault rather than the others which has brought us in this terrible situation. We have the biggest university of Pakistan, but is it really producing what it is supposed to do? How many of us sit for CSS exams? Do we have the courage to open the Tandoor rather than leaving a space for someone else and then discussing that why they are growing in large numbers in Karachi? Can our illiterate population of Karachi ever think to become a Mazdoor or Mochi ? No my dear! No!
We need to change ourselves first, otherwise there is no point of all of this crap. And for your last sentence I would like to say it with utter disappointment, that Pakistan is the only poor nation, where such foul words of separation are spoken in such a common way. May Allah help us all !
@sohail khan: Kudos for coming out with truth !! Above guys and all others like them are sane people of socal media age, but the problem is that they simply can not face reality simply it goes to prove them wrong. Please keep supporting truth whichever way it goes.
@ ABC Urdu speakings also would not like to be called Muhajirs, but they have been pushed to walls by hatered and unjustices. People say that MQM people are killing other ethnic groups in Karachi , if so then who is killings MQM workers and urdu speaking people almost every day? Plese open your eyes and mind Mr.ABC then you can see in Karachi that punjabi, pathan, sindhis , baluchis are living peacefully in the urdu speaking dominated areas and running shops even at Azizabad 90, but urdu speaking can hardly live and do business in the areas of other groups, such as sohrab goth, banras, lyari, maghopir etc. Where are urdu speaking in rangers, police, traffic police, customs, sindh secretariat and other govt. departments and why should you raise voice against this unjustice and discrimination against urdu speakings. In fact urdu speaking people are the only lovers of Pakistan by heart and soul, now some people and young utter some false words in great depression and confusion.
@I Speak The Truth: @Mrs Usman.: @ABC: @Karachiite: @Luciferous: @Ali Tanoli: Very well and truly said by Mrs. Ahmed and True Karachiwala. These people criticise muhajirs for ethnic slogans whereas their expression of biased thoughts clearly shows how they are filled with ethnic hatred and blatantly distorting the facts and ground realities. It is not true that before 1987 there was no ethnic hatred in karachi. Who attached and killed muhajirs in 1965 elections for supporting Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, who killed muhajirs in interior sindh in 1973, who massacred muhajirs in Hyderabad killing 150 innocent men, women and children, who killed 60 innocent women attaching pakka qila, hyderabad. who killed qasba colony, who killed muhajirs young in buses in karachi. Very pity on you people who can not see facts due to wearing glasses of ethnic hatred but blame others. I also do not support any act that MQM might have done but please please try to see the facts with open, clear and un-contaminated mind.
@ True Karachiwala
I am myself an Urdu Speaker, but I do not accept the word Mohajir for me. For me, Pakistan is my only place on this planet earth where I can associate myself. The day my ancestors decided to migrate to Pakistan, the very same moment all my connections were cut off from India. Therefore please do not give a false impression that this terminology is associated to every Urdu Speaker. Furthermore every Urdu Speaker IS NOT a supporter of MQM. And every allegation is always based on some fact. Nothing comes out of the thin air. All of my personal friends who are the supporters of MQM, deny the Jinnahpur allegation but on the other hand, always confess that they have a deep desire that a separate state should be created for mohajirs. This is the double face of MQM and its supporters that their wildest dream is always opposite to what they state as a Cyber and Media warrior. I completely agree to you that no hard evidence has ever been presented, but you CAN NOT deny that this is the wildest dream which MQM and its supporters are trying to achieve!!! As an example please read the comment of Uza Syed here link text I couldn't find the comment of Mrs. Ahmed, where a day before she was sharing some of her intellectual thoughts that countries are not created out of thin air blah blah blah....
Accept these bitter realities my friend!
**ET Please let it appear**@I Speak The Truth: @Mrs Usman.: @ABC: @Karachiite: @Luciferous: @Ali Tanoli: Alas ! you will have to live eternally with your agonies inflicted upon you nonother than yourself ! Blinded by unjustifiable biase, driven by hatred , with myopic vision trying to look into things that can not comprehended by you. Comments inspired by whims, fanatically in haste to see the opponents (who despite all efforts to stop them are marching forward) to be eliminated !
You all have every type of opinion about MQM and mohajirs, but you will find yourself miserably speechless, empty-minded, with hollow-souls, expressionless face when it comes to condemning the genocide of mohajirs on false allegations of creating Jinnahpur.
Do these facts compel you to say few words based on justice ??
@mrs Ahmed I think there is no disagreement on the fact that 'innocent until proven guilty' however if you really are fair to the people of your city and country then you must have the courage to at least acknowledge the Truth. Again you are wrong that people are anti-immigrants; please note that communities were living in peace before 1987 without any problems and look at the overall picture. People who migrated to other areas of Pakistan blended in well and never call themselves as Muhajirs and don't have any issues in other provinces. Clearly you have no recognition of what has been happening in Karachi. Just for my own knowledge I ask you how can anyone from middle-class have a house in Edgeware London without even going to work. Who pays the utility bills, municipal bills etc etc.
@Mrs Usman.: @ABC: my fear prooved right , the wisdom expressed by Mark Twain , could not overcome deep rooted prejudices and false perception, i just meant that when huge number of people of people are so anti muhajir and ati Altaaf Hussain and MQM , rationality advices to look underneath the surface . What if Scotland Yard exonerate Altaaf hussain which i surely wish and strongly believe , pls look at the otherside also without passion and prejudice.
@mrs Ahmed & Aysha M It is really unfortunate; You compare your standards to Mozart and Beethoven. You call this deliverance; Bhattas, Bodies in bags, torture cells, snatching of hides during Eid, damage to properties, forced strikes and associated activities such as setting buses on fire vandalism of shops, firing by unknown riders, targeted killings, introduction of cheating in academic institutions of Karachi, threatening of teachers and students, discriminatory slogans and introduction of wall chalking full of ethnic hatred etc. as All this wasn’t there !!!!!!! before 1987. Like most MQM supporters you too are confused and unaware of the ground realities. Distorting history will not get you anywhere. You cant imagine how good it feels to talk openly about the Karachi issue after 27 years and that is why you see over 90% comments on various news clippings are mirroring the same stance.
You are really in denial...... I hope Peace returns to Karachi.
Come on ET show some spine, my comments are not factually incorrect or offensive.
@mrs ahmed, Real wisdom realy?? killing each other on bases of language and ethanicity and making new ethanicity muhajir which by the way is not any way. land graping changing demography of neighborhoods based on languages, making millions of ponds worth of homes in London and still saying leader of third world or telling bad about fuedals of Pakistan killing every community in Karachi and then asking vote in Punjab nwfp ??? what kind of politics is that.
@ Mrs Ahmed
On the contrary I have a blind faith in my religion which teaches me to stand against the corrupted majority even if am the only one to stand! You have the complete right to believe whatever you want to, but with due respect, I strongly disagree to your thoughts. Because the truth is far from whatever you have stated above.
so no more pyari pyari taqreeray???
@ABC: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” (Mark Twain) not mine , only if your wisdom permits , just give a considered thought , who the majority is siding with and who has few to support , therefore it reinforces my belief that MQM is the answere for deliverence of suffering humanity in pakistan , i go for their practiced policy of merit , liberalism and most of all much needed religeous tolerance. Remember MQM eradicated yes eradicated shai sunni feud in karachi , their MPA reza haider namaze janaza was lead by shia alim and all followed the imam , well that is what needed liberalism and secularism ( i mean the true meaning that is state not forcing religion)people be free to follow faith which ever they wish in the words of Mr Jinnah.
A British Citizen, murdered in Britain, with investigations being conducted by British Authorities, under British Law....yet all the backlash is in khi?!?
I am missing Aysha M's and Mrs Ahmed's "intellectual" comments...
3 years of investigations, hundreds of hours of searching, thousands of people interviewed. Focus is now on money laundering. Anchorpersons vehemence is subsiding, comments are in lesser numbers. Conviction is no where to be seen (SY is too too professional in leveling accusation).
I think we should expect another Brigadier Imtiaz style confession of conspiring against MQM.
Yeah!! as if not accepting would make any difference........... its Britain Mr. Rizvi, not the Goth next to 90
If the court's decision goes against Altaf Hussain, then he might call a strike to close down London and Karachi!!!
Mr. Rizvi seems totally confused. I think their communication channel with London is not working.
And what will MQM do if Altaf Hussain would not accept the decision? A month of strike in Karachi and more havoc than played on the day of mourning for Dr. Imran Farooq :-(
UK does not have capital punishment. Ouch, it is going to hurt; long hard and bad.....very BAD!
"He said that as soon as the situation improves, the results of the referendum about MQM joining the Sindh government will be announced."
Would parrot have any chice or it will be offered only one card?
Lol. They think they have a choice in accepting court decisions in UK? How naive can they be.
Do you even have any choice? its time to accept the reality and admit what you really are. Seems like they have seem the writing on the wall and preparing their"karkunaan" for the eventuality.
Don't know if UK laws allow it, but to me it looks like some sort of plea bargain is in process.
Good to hear that MQM has started thinking of Acceptance...........and TRUTH.. Truth prevails ONLY.