In his telephonic address at MQM headquarters Nine-Zero, he said he stood by his recent statements about the army, insisting that he had not said anything unconstitutional. He maintained that his comments were misconstrued by political opponents and he had only cited an example from history. He insisted that he had not invited the army to interfere in politics.
“I had said that if the government gives orders to authorities or institutions that go against the country’s constitution and national interest, then those orders should not be obeyed,” he said.
“Exploiters can neither appreciate nor understand my views, but the poor, the downtrodden and the patriotic can.”
Many precedents can be found in the law, stated Altaf. He gave the example of Zahid Akhtar v/s Government of Punjab, where the Supreme Court in its judgment said that the basic principle of law is that the authorities should not obey unlawful orders of the government. In Asghar Khan v/s Gen Aslam Beg, the Supreme Court clearly accepts that the chief of the army staff and the ISI chief should have accepted lawful orders only.
They should not accept the unlawful orders of the president, despite the fact that he is the supreme commander of the armed forces, the MQM chief maintained. Altaf said that when governor’s rule was imposed in Punjab during the previous government, Nawaz Sharif had asked the police and the security forces of Punjab not to accept the illegal orders.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2014.
COMMENTS (13)
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“Exploiters can neither appreciate nor understand my views, but the poor, the downtrodden and the patriotic can.”
This fact is behind the existence and strength of MQM.Since the poors and downtrodden can not make their voices heard, so these few master-blasters on TV shows assume themselves to be the authority deciding the fate of the country.
@Muslim Leaguer this is a delima of Pakistan PML rejected from all three provinces and badly from sind but still been able to form a government, in the prevailing condition where peoples are divided in cast and language its always the one who is in majority will win. PML N has majority in Punjab even the 80% will win him the crown. Dear For your Information MQM is 85% of karachi and you just have to take them seriously otherwise people will laugh on you.
"This is bulls eye" and comment from the bhai should always be taken with context and reference Peoples always take him as MQM chief and off course with the precasst mind thats where they faltered.
Sensible argument, I think we should focus on Pakistan now for the sake of 180 million people
My only objection is why Altaf Bhai, in fact, Baray Bhai Sahib, lives in London and not among us who need him badly. Baray Bhai is so effective in Karachi, while living abroad, what if he lived in Karachi? I beg Bhai to come back. Let us live and die together. I can see he is not keeping well. He has gained weight and added years to his age only because he worries too much for the people of Pakistan. I request the Brits to return our asset back to us. He is our asset, not theirs. We need his guidance and seek his wisdom.
He is absolutely right. IK is wrong.
Sir Karachi is shattered in tatters after six years of wadera occupation in the name of democracy out of which your party was partners to the waderas for four years and eleven months. Why don't take out time from your international intercontinental responsibilities to talk about the looting and destruction of Karachi under peoples party wadera occupation of the city???
ET, why are you covering this man on daily basis? We have already stopped taking him seriously!
I doubt the poor or downtrodden believe that someone who lives in the UK is really looking out for their interest.
Altaf Bhai is having unpleasant nightmares.
Yeah...there is only one person in the whole world who can Understand my words completely...and that is only Me.
Rgds Altaf Bhai
Wrong, coups are borne out of the personal greed and penchant for power of a few generals. Ever wonder why is it always the Army that is so concerned and not PAF or Navy? Obviously you cannot expect any different view from a party that benefitted hugely from the tenure of a dictator, Musharraf. @Mirza , if you are reading this, please shed some light on this. Why is that you are ready to pounce on other parties when the speak of Army intervention but find yourself at loss of words when MQM does it?
Agreed Altaf Bhai, but you should not be speaking loudly about revolting against suppression, injustice and tyranny in case someone in your own party gets this idea and uses it against his "peer sahab"