Not a balanced view: Frogh Nasim responds to allegations leveled against MQM in BBC show

MQM claims that despite providing detailed responses, their version was not given proper coverage in the programme.

After a documentary on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was broadcast on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) earlier this week, Barrister Farogh Nasim complained that he had responded to allegations leveled in the programme, but these had not been properly covered in the broadcast.

The party on Friday released the detailed responses Nasim had sent NewsNight’s Owen Bennett-Jones. Jones had broadcast the first part of his documentary on the MQM last year, while the second was broadcast earlier this week.

MQM claimed that despite providing detailed responses to all allegations, their version was not given proper coverage in the programme which created a false impression that the MQM was loosening its grip and that MQM chief Altaf Hussain stood accused in a number of cases.

“We believe that it is against the norms of professional journalism not to include the proper version of the MQM in the report prepared by Jones,” the statement read.

In the responses, Nasim provides answers on outstanding cases against Altaf Hussain in Pakistan, claiming that the MQM chief has been acquitted.

Nasim also responded to the programme’s claim that party was losing its grip, and pointed towards the electoral victory MQM had secured in the May 2013 elections, and how their mandate had been upheld in subsequent challenges in the election tribunals.

He also pointed towards the use of MQM chief’s speeches out of context and removed from background in the BBC programme.

The barrister, who has often represents the MQM in court, said that the party was cooperating with British authorities in on-going investigations.