War of words: MQM leaders lash out at PTI chief Imran Khan

The comments were in retaliation to Imran’s accusatory remarks against Altaf Hussain in London .

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has accused the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and, in particular, its leader Imran Khan of conspiring against Altaf Hussain and initiating a malicious campaign against him.

The latest string of war of words between the two parties began on Sunday when Khan, at an Iftar dinner in London, asked the British government to take action against its citizens who were inciting violence in Pakistan.

Back at home, the Rabita Committee lashed out at Khan at a press conference at the Khursheed Begum Secretariat, as its member, Haider Abbas Rizvi, questioned Imran’s agenda and accused him of spreading propaganda against the MQM chief, on Monday.

Khan’s remarks had hurt the sentiments of thousands of MQM workers, he said. “Why does Imran Khan want to provoke the people of Sindh and disturb the peace of the province?” he asked.



Rizvi alleged that Khan’s previous visits to the UK were also to conspire against Altaf Hussain and create propaganda against them. “Imran Khan wanted Altaf Hussain to be thrown out from the UK but all such attempts have failed. He will never succeed.”

Rizvi said that the murder of PTI’s founding member Zahrah Shahid Hussain, who was shot dead in May, was being used as a political weapon by the PTI to launch a false campaign against the MQM via social and other media.

He said that the PTI did not even openly condemn the murder of its two elected representatives but was rallying on about Zahrah’s murder. Rizvi said that Khan had not even gone to Zahrah’s house to express condolences with the family but was actively blaming the MQM for the murder. “Within an hour after Zahrah apa was shot, Khan falsely declared Altaf Hussain as the perpetrator. This showed Imran’s political immaturity and failure as a political leader.”

He questioned why Zahrah Shahid had been sitting idle at home for the past one and half year before the May 11 elections and not given any party position by the PTI. The MQM chief said that the blame game was also seen in the elections of NA-250 when the MQM was blamed for the inefficiency of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Rizvi also lashed out on PTI government’s performance in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP). He said that PTI had failed to live up to its electoral promises and control the law and order in KP. “Terrorism has increased in KP after the PTI took over. The party’s own chief minister does not follow orders from Imran Khan.”

Rizvi alleged that, by opposing the APC, Imran Khan had shown that he did not want to eliminate terrorism - rather, he supported it. Khan was leveling allegations against the MQM to hide PTI’s decline in popularity and its weakness. “Why did Imran Khan rush off to London instead of participating in the APC?” he questioned.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2013.