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Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain urged the government on Wednesday not to arrest Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Dr Tahirul Qadri, saying that cases against him should be dismissed.
“I would like to tell the ruling party not to arrest Dr Tahirul Qadri on political grounds. Don’t arrest him or his people,” said the MQM chief while addressing a meeting of his parliamentarians and senators at the Khursheed Begum Secretariat in Karachi.
Altaf was speaking a day ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and an MQM delegation in Islamabad to discuss the current political situation. The delegation comprising Senator Babar Ghauri, MNA Dr Farooq Sattar, MNA and deputy convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Rabita Committee member Kunwar Naveed will meet the premier in Islamabad today (Thursday).
“Protesting and demonstrating is the right of every party and citizen. It is the right of Dr Qadri to protest and to defend himself. The government should solve the matter through discussion and not use its power, and refrain from aggressiveness and threats,” said the MQM chief in favour of Qadri, although the party has not shown any willingness to be part of the PAT’s long march.
The government was criticising the upcoming long marches and protests but when the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were in the opposition, they were doing the same.
He said Qadri was observing Martyrs Day on August 10 to commemorate the deaths of its workers, which included men, women and children. “All these people were martyred and killed.”
The MQM chief said the country was passing through a critical stage and all matters should be solved through dialogue. However, if protests are held, they should be peaceful, non-violent and free from any bloodshed.
On a separate issue, he said if his party comes to power, a law regarding new administrative units will be passed and local government bodies would be made compulsory. Meanwhile, he said a party that supports Pashtuns is sheltering the Taliban that are coming to Karachi, but it is the same party, which was destroyed by the Taliban.
MQM wants to bring a fair system in the country, where everyone including judges, should be accountable, Altaf said. He criticised his senators Babar Ghauri and Tahir Mashhadi for their role in passing the Protection of Pakistan Bill, which he called a black law. He said that now that the PPB has been passed, changes should be introduced in it.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2014.
COMMENTS (9)
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Altaf Hussain has proved that he is most sensible and sober politician of this country. He should be offered President-Ship of this country for life term.
@Iram: That is the problem Iram. PTI has a feudal (Shah Mehmood Qureshi) and an industrialist (Jehangir Tareen) on IK's left & right, it doesnt give a message that PTI is against feudalism
@Karachi Mirchi: Not sure if i can agree with you that MQM failed miserably to have local body elections. None of the 3 parties, PPP, PMLN & PTI interested in devolving power to grassroots level, hence no L elections
Altaf if you are really against feudalism or dictatorship then this is high time to join hands with IK or TQ.
Altaf Husain should confine his attention to Karachi, which has elected MQM. MQM has failed miserably to have local bodies election held in the last several years. Karachi police continues to harass citizens. The Kutchi people in Lyari are being annihilated. And, MQM has agreed to rejoin Government. For what???
@Kashif Iqbal: This is because Altaf Hussain is a natural ally of Qadri since both of them are foreign citizens. Their cult-following in Pakistan create chaos on the streets. Both of them have taken OATH to the QUEEN and are themselves ineligible under article-63 to run for elections. Both of them enjoy a luxury life in UK/Canada and have "donations" as their only source of income. ET Moderator is scared to allow any comment against them.
If I try to threaten a police constable, I'll be in jail.. but if Qadri dares to threaten police and government.. he shouldn't. Why Sir Altaf?
@ ET, not the time for sensational journalism. It's not about choosing sides, it can no longer be about choosing sides.Choosing side is all too trivial a matter now. The only choice all leaders should make in the leadership of Altaf hussain, is to support, political maturity and informed decision making. It is important for each one to contribute in de-escalating tensions, and all parties step back, and show magnanimity. Altaf Hussain as he has led his party with maturity, magnanimity and malleability over the past 3 decades, is trying to give Pakistan a road map for way forward and end the stand off, choice lies with the players now to show if they are prisoners of ego and ambition or have some semblance of being leaders as they claim
Very good advise by Altaf Hussain, if really Government arrest Qadri,it also confirm that Punjab Government was involved in Model Town incident, good article by ET