File photo of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: APP/FILE
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has asked his supporters to remain calm and ‘committed’ to their cause in case he is arrested by the Scotland Yard.
“I’m innocent. I’m not afraid of confinement or any other action,” the MQM chief told his party workers in Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas by phone on Saturday.
Altaf Hussain is being investigated by the London Metropolitan Police over the murder of former MQM senior leader Dr Imran Farooq and suspicions of money laundering.
The MQM chief said he had faced ‘testing times, fabricated cases and imprisonments’ before, but had never compromised on his ‘beliefs and principles’.
“Arrests, false cases and difficulties of imprisonment are part of my struggle … Time has proved all allegations levelled against me were baseless,” he said, urging his supporters to remain united to attain their ‘usurped’ rights.
Talking about his self-exile, Altaf said that sometimes a leader struggling for the rights of the ‘oppressed’ is imprisoned in his own city and is thus compelled into staying away physically from his people.
He added that while he may be physically away from Pakistan, he was always spiritually close to the workers and supporters of his party. “No power on earth can distance me from my people,” he said.
The MQM chief said his party was not working against any ethno-linguistic group or community. “In my eyes, all communities are equal and I respect them all.”
He said previously the MQM had a Sindhi member of parliament elected from the Urdu-speaking dominated Azizabad constituency of Karachi. Altaf added that the fact that a Baloch party member had been elected for the same seat demonstrated that the MQM had no designs against any group.
Terming Mirpurkhas an MQM stronghold, Altaf alleged that armed individuals had taken over polling stations in previous elections and cast bogus votes. He urged the Election Commission of Pakistan and the government to ensure free and fair by-elections in the district. “If the government fails to do so, then the people will reserve the right to protest,” said Altaf.
He assured MQM supporters that the party would emerge victorious in the August 22 by-elections, adding that despite all difficulties, the morale of MQM workers remained high.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2013.
COMMENTS (61)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732085354-0/insta-(1)1732085354-0-165x106.webp "article")
1725366721-0/kyle-(1)1725366721-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732085810-0/Copy-of-Untitled-(51)1732085810-0-270x192.webp "pakistan proposes twin city status for islamabad riyadh")
1732084955-0/Untitled-design-(64)1732084955-0-270x192.webp "saiful malook s snowy charm captivates visitors")
1732011525-0/Express-Tribune-(8)1732011525-0-270x192.webp "smog eases classes resume across punjab")
Remain Calm and Peacefully Celebrate...
Nothing common with all of them. Jinnah was Sindhi while the other three are Mohajirs. Two were pre-partition elitists with Jinnah being highly westernised. One was a military dictator and the less said about the other the better.
i am not just typing lol. my co workers must be thinking I am crazy as I am laughing out loud.
Definitely the NA 250 constituency is not the representative of entire Karachi and in fact was never considered a 100% MQM seat. It was like a bonus seat in the last election in response to Mustafa Kamal's work. While MQM is a party to claim representation of all, it is not the ideal choice for the section of society that are in majority in the NA 250.
@mrs ahmed:
"PTIs lone NA memeber who was speak for karachi people was given no audience by the 'king o hypocrisy' "
When did we start talking about Altaf hussain??
@ABKhan: suc i am talking about only few polling station of NA250 , who made such a hue ad cry about thisseat as if whole of karachi NA250 , poor Avi totaly ignored durin Imran`s visit to karahi, PTIs lone NA memeber who was speak for karachi people was given no audience by the king o hypocracy
I feel the charges will be Money Laundering and un-explained wealth and Not murder charges. Let proper justice be done according to law
@mrs ahmed:
"for all karachiite who think PTI is the answer to our woes"
So finally you are getting out from the state of denial and accepting that Karachites think PTI is the answer. Well done for the first step towards sanity.
@Aysha M ...Diagnosis is Bipolar and prescription is being taken care of..If u know what i mean...:).. And this is what British intelligensia reports..:)
@Aysha M: you try.... TOO hard, true leader this..... true leader that. And looking at the comments you 3 get, clearly it does not work! He may well be your leader but not everybody's and that is democracy, right? so don't make it feel it like you are the only enlightened individual around (or 3) and others are in the dark. There is a reason why a lot of people don't agree with you.
In more stricter terms, let me clarify, whatever you write will NOT change the opinion of the masses. As another commentator rightly pointed out...."Delusion of grandeur is a well documented disease".
@Kiran: Following the philosophy of the only true leader of Pakistan Altaf Hussain, it is considered important to engage and respond with logical counter arguments and not be judgmental and go down the path of diagnosis and prescription writing
@mrs ahmed..... Delusion of grandeur is a well documented disease....:) and the best news is...its curable now....:)
It is unfortunate that this nation has never recognised and protected his true leaders like Jinnah, Liaqat Ali Khan, Altaf Hussain and Parvez Musharaf. It is unlikely that they will realise this and will continue following incompetent and selfish PML-N, PTI and JI leaders and judges.
@Kachee Goli: stop it please , and stop calling others hypocrite it is very crass to be judgemental like this , Altaaf Hussain never rode on the back of dictators like NS and Bhutto enjoying govt for yeas and years and then formed a party when fully sapped poor generals . Now MQM took part in election in Musharraf era in 2002 , like PLMn, PMLq , like Imran Khan kile PPP , won seats in parliaments and formed govt with other winning political parties. Altaaf did not landed into cabinet of Ayube Khan and Ziaul Haq ,need I remind you who were those political leaders. Altaaf struggled as student from the age of 25 for the rights of people of karachi first and then whole of Pakistan , never assumed public office to enjoy power and perks, he rules as political leader , the hearts and minds of his dedicated followers. Actually anti Altaaf people have not tasted how wonderful feeling a selfless leader create in the minds of supprssed awam , he doesnt know me but i know among all political leaders he leads by example no office for himself and nor for his family , he has created a dedicated team of leaders who belong to awam, leaders who eat and sit with them with pleasure and not one like arriving in helicopters of tax payers monies in sasat bazzar and just giving a darshan to lowly awam.
@mrs ahmed: It was your quaid who acknowledged Musharraf (a dictator at that moment) and made govt with him. So please don't be a hypocrite, just like your party
@Uza Syed: thanks for appreciting u see selfless Quaid Altaaf Hussain and rest of the leadrshp under him draws faithful followship which is unknown to these ordinary political parties and their narrow visioned narrow minded selfcentered leadership, thee they cannot understan Altaaf remains attached .to te heart strings of karachiites. I wish and pray that whole Pakistan realises that
@Aysha M: I wish you might think internally and just don't follow like a herd, some how I feel he is a cult figure and you guys worship him. No body should be above the law and believe me living in Western Countries, the law always catches up with you when you violate local laws. Yes, I must say and believe that he should be considered innocent till proven guilty in the court of law and I have lots of respect for British Courts and please rest assure his trial will be transparent and fair, if he is arrested. By the way you people could tear Karachi apart and it will not make an iota of difference in London Courts.
@mrs ahmed: brilliant link
@Aysha M: Good job! @mrs ahmed: Excellent efforts to enlighten the misguided!
Listen, you two, just tell these simpletons that MQM & Altaf Husain are what they are because people love them, admire them and consider them their true representative party and leader. To gain this stature and popularity all the political dwarfs in Pakistan would give an arm and a leg and still fail because no one can use or need their useless arms and legs, people need sincere and honest and dedicated leadership that Altaf Husain provides through MQM.
He'snot going to jail. The murder was well-planned.
@ali samsari: The course will be entitled PHILOSOPHY OF REALISM AND PRACTICALISM 90
http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?203125-Pukhtun-female-questions-Imran-Khfan for all karachiite who think PTI is the answer to our woes
oh boy..for a second i thought it was Nelson Mandela he was referring to....huhmmm...strange how some people define struggle....
@aaaaa: Is this a joke --- Karachi was never a strong hold of PPP. It was a stronghold of Zia supported Jammait-e-Islami and MQM did a great job to through terrorist JI from Karachi ----
@A-No.1: both because all trials are succeeded by prayers and needful actions , what is ur problem
@aaaaa: pls re-read history , karachi was never a stronghold of sindh , okay and tildate interior remains under PPP , not a single seat to PMLn or PTI or natinalist few to PLM functional..Therefore APMSO and later MQM dented Zia`s constituency that mullah were wiped out since 87 , therefore the argument MQM was created by Zia falls on its face , since mullah remains in Ziaist camp. It is by great blessing of ALLAH karachi wala realised that mullah is not needed if needs to progress , also bigots of PTI will not be able to keep karachi walas attention for long .Look aT imran TWO FACE PERSONALITY , for west he claims being liberal and in KPK agrees for no vote for women no recepie for success.
@aaaaa: FYI, PPP never won any elections from urban Sindh, so the argument that MQM was created by Zia ul Haq to damage PPP, has no relevance
@suzo: may be u think this way and for me and thousands and thousands others INSHALLAH party will cotinue on the lines of progress achieved thru realism and parcticalism ,under our able dedicated educated selfess leadership of rabita commeette. Speaking for truth and voicing against injustice , the loudest.
@Zara: @Ahmed: It is so easy to mock, but difficult to commit oneself to sincere analysis. The only hope to rescue Pakistan from this dark dimension of sectarian hate and violence is Altaf Hussain. In Altaf Hussain’s Pakistan there is a separation of state and religion in the matters of governance and citizenry. In Altaf Hussain’s Pakistan all are considered citizens and equal citizens of one State, where being part of a religious community would not affect being part of the nation. He is the only genuine secular, progressive and liberal leader. In his Pakistan, there is no room for sectarian division. Much before the Taliban phenomenon gained strength in the mid 90s, Altaf Hussain denounced sectarian discrimination and since then remains the hope of moral and intellectual recovery of Pakistani society. Altaf Hussain has continually and strongly condemned heinous activities of Talibans and LeJ.
I wonder what MQM supporters living in Edgware and surrounding areas will do? Will they hold prayer meetings or prepare food to take to Mr Husain in police lock up or both?
@Aysha M: Indeed. If it becomes part of academic discourse children will be learning mafia tricks before they even get to learn ABC
altaf bahi wants to say Don't expect bhata khori and target killing will end after my arrest; my disciples will continue their struggle
Altaaf is the only one who stand tall among current crop of leaders he is the only who abhorrs all prejudices , that is ethno-lingual and religious and racial and gender bias, . He practices equality in his party against all differences he is the one who says religion should be outside the matters of state and be left to the individuals faith and practices. Humanity and equality is his main pillar of teachings. Which is the route to success in the modern world and all nations who are developed and successful has achieved thru no other means accept by practising equality and humanism.
Another but "decent threat" from Iltaf Bhai!
@Atta: YES SURE U ARE RIGHT ONLY IF OUR PEOPLE LOOK AT HIS LEADERSHIP AFTER SHEDDIG VARIOUS PREJUDICES,
@Ahmed: yes it is hilarrious that Altaaf hussain will be taught in universities , who started a political party from the lawns of the karachi universiy , in pakistan where the norm was to jump into politics from the shoulders of militarydictators and two major political parties and their leaders find their origin in high drawing rooms.Yes only one party leader who did not ever espired high office for himself or family , he did offer lives of his brother and nephew but never any political or adminstrative position. Yes we iwll have leaders admired by iternational academia who have hoards of family members in the cabinet and party and how to accumulate wealth and can offord wrist watch..worth thousands of dollars Yes universities would be amazed at how one manages to be prime minister and younger brother chief minister with no other exmple in current domocratice society ,naturally universities would be intrigued to find the laws at which to achieve such hieghts. Yes no university would find it interesting that a bunch of youngsters with very little support from any mature person were able to create a formidable oragniaztion called MQM Shadow budget , deweoponisation bill , land reform bills , policy brief on terrorism , all women jalsa are of no interests to social and political departments of world universities , all the people belonging to the MQM being product of party unlike collection of electibles we have in all other parties. Mark it Inshallah Altaaf Hussain who is following SUQRAT , would be acknowledged in future and other leader would match his higher status among leaders of 20th and 21st cebntury.Two wonderful brothers would find place with Imelda Marcos.
Altaf Hussain has made me happy. It was my dream that is coming to be true soon.
Blessed be the day when you reach and reside in the Jail-----forever.
@Atta: True, soon more people will realize that Altaf Hussain is a leader par excellence
@ali samsari: Venom does go viral, that's ok
I pray from the core of my heart for your arrest.
@Ahmed: @Zara: It is so easy to mock, but difficult to commit oneself to sincere analysis. He is a true visionary. The only hope to rescue Pakistan from this dark dimension of sectarian hate and violence is Altaf Hussain. In Altaf Hussain’s Pakistan there is a separation of state and religion in the matters of governance and citizenry. In Altaf Hussain’s Pakistan all are considered citizens and equal citizens of one State, where being part of a religious community would not affect being part of the nation. He is the only genuine secular, progressive and liberal leader. In his Pakistan, there is no room for sectarian division. Much before the Taliban phenomenon gained strength in the mid 90s, Altaf Hussain denounced sectarian discrimination and since then remains the hope of moral and intellectual recovery of Pakistani society. Altaf Hussain has continually and strongly condemned heinous activities of Talibans and LeJ.
Hope ET puts this through and people can engage in clear thinking and unbiased analysis rather than using shallow emotive language for an altruistic leader who has enjoyed respect of millions over 3 decades
Yes Aysha, youre right - the class will be Criminology 101
Altaf Hussain is the greatest leader born after independence ---- I am not sure how Imran Khan Shameless supporters still active given PTI shambolic performance in first 100 days in office ------------------------- Nation need a strong leader (like Altaf) and a strong team unlike PTI player turn religious leader turn a joker
@Aysha M: " leadership of Altaf Hussain will be made a part of academic discourse in universities"
Hilarious! :)
@ Aysha M....Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.....ROFL......hahahahahaha...... Thanku u made my day bright....:D
Quad-e-Azam never went to Jail even for a minute so the only leaders who go to jails are the one who belong to that place or deserve it so good luck with the transition from Edgeware to the place you belong.cheers
Trials and tribulations are a part of a genuine leader's life. Altaf Hussain would soldier on and his party will continue to struggle following the vision of the leader. MQM will survive no matter how ugly things are made for them. South Asia has not seen anything like MQM which grew out of a student organization, in a decade or two life and leadership of Altaf Hussain will be made a part of academic discourse in universities.
Spiritually present in the form on a sprite called Bhatta....
Which helped his Physical state in the form of houses, and money.
Bhai,we are waiting Anxiously for that day....
Don't worry boss, we will not let our joy get out of control and will try to remain calm
We'll remain calm. But is this really going to happen. Can't wait anymore.
Bhai knows what he did so ready to face the music.
Once he is arrested, karachi will see a period of renewed violence. This will be very focused, as the infighting in MQM intensifies. The old guard will be brushed aside, and the new will splinter and the MQM will be a diminished political force. I hope the government realises what this opportunity means and moves quickly to fill this space and not let any other criminal organisation move in to fill this void. It is a turning point in karachi's history and can be very positive if managed well.
Finally, coming to its logical end.
A prudent approach and a good press conference.