Reaction: PTI terms MQM leader’s statements ‘anti-democratic’

Party’s Punjab chief decries Altaf Hussain’s constant call for an army takeover.

LAHORE: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain is continuously asking for the military to take control of the country, which is anti-democratic and a clear indication of the leader’s mind-set, criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry.

Altaf Hussain asked for the army to ‘take over’ twice last week and these statements come at a time when all political parties are trying to sustain democratic rule in the country, he said at a press conference on Wednesday. “This demand by the MQM is a result of their own failure to sustain and expand their position in Karachi where, despite massive rigging, their vote bank has diminished.”

Chaudhry said the situation in Karachi, where target killing and gang wars are common, should be the focus of the MQM chief, who himself has admitted many times that his own party needs to get rid of elements that are encouraging terrorism.

The prime minister had quoted the police as saying that militant wings of political parties in Karachi were responsible for the city’s law and order situation, said Chaudhry. He demanded that the MQM leader apologise for this anti-democratic stance as it was reflective of a very autocratic mind-set.

PTI Punjab general secretary Dr Yasmin Rashid said the MQM leadership should instead ask the army to come to the relief of Thar’s drought-hit people.

She said the MQM leaders who are elected from Tharparkar district are also responsible for the famine.

She said that it was time for the MQM leadership to change their approach as those days were gone when they would keep winning elections via rigging.