14 questions for COAS: Why is only MQM being targeted, says Altaf

Questions ‘conduct’ of security forces towards MQM.

KARACHI:

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain denounced law enforcement agencies’ actions and questioned the army chief on the institution’s ‘behaviour’ towards the MQM.

In a press statement issued on Friday, the MQM chief put forth 14 points or questions for Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and asked what steps had been taken to curb injustices against the MQM.

Altaf said that 41 party workers have gone missing during the operation in Karachi since last September and the bodies of tortured MQM workers were dumped in remote areas. “Why is it that only MQM leaders and workers are being targeted and subjected to raids when all political parties including ANP, Sunni Tehreek, Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan Peoples Party and others have militant wings?” he asked.

In his 14 questions for the army chief, the MQM chief asked, “How many officers and men have been punished under the internal accountability process of the security forces for killing MQM workers by torture?”

With reference to the 1992 operation, he asked, “When this was directed towards the MQM why did the former COAS Gen Asif Nawaz say chapter regarding Altaf Hussain is closed?”

He said Brig Asif Haroon had distributed a fabricated map of Jinnahpur and if the UN was asked to probe the case or a public court held at GHQ, eyewitnesses and former army officers could testify that Brig Haroon’s allegations are baseless. He said those testifying should be given guarantees that they would not be victimised.

Altaf said that 15,000 party workers have been killed in extra-judicial killings since 1992, and asked, “Why has the army been unsuccessful in tracing the killers of my brother Nasir Hussain and nephew Arif Hussain? They were not party workers but were tortured and killed.”

The party chief asked, “Is it the army’s training to beat women and misbehave with them during raids and arrests? Is it part of the duty of the armed forces to divide the nation along linguistic and provincial lines?” He asked about material such as photographs, videos, audio tapes and literature confiscated during raids in 1992 on MQM workers’ homes and why the material was never returned.

Referring to PTI and PAT workers laying siege to the PTV building in Islamabad during the sit-ins, the MQM chief asked, “Why did no one from the Rangers stop them?” He said that it has been over 40 days of the sit-in but some parties continue to go into the Red Zone. “If  MQM announced a sit-in in Islamabad after a week, I hope the army and Rangers do not take action against us,” he said.

Altaf said that during the Rangers raids at Scheme 33, Faisal Subzwari was stopped from meeting the Rangers major. “Do brigadiers, majors and captains of the Rangers have more dignity according to the Constitution than elected representatives?” he asked.

He said the MQM is the only political party to come out in support of the army when it acted against terrorists and the party. “The army should tell Mohajirs what to do. Why can’t we be acceptable to the army even when we have positive sentiments for them?” he said.

Sit-ins in Karachi

The MQM wrapped up its sit-ins across the city early on Friday morning. On Thursday, it staged sit-ins at more than 10 locations in Karachi against the arrest of 23 workers by Rangers on Wednesday.

Dr Sagheer Ahmed and Adil Siddiqui negotiated with Rangers for the release of the activists and 15 have been released, said a party leader, citing the release of the men as the reason for ending the sit-ins.

“Three men have been sent on remand for 90 days on PPO, while four are still in the custody of Rangers,” the party leader said. “We hope that they would be set free if they don’t have any FIR registered against them.”

14 questions

Following are the 14 questions posed by Altaf Hussain to the army chief:

1- Ever since the Rangers started operation in Karachi and arrested party workers from different places, 41 activists have gone missing.

2- How many officers and men have been punished under the internal accountability process of the army forces for killing MQM workers by torture?

3- The Supreme Court had ruled in the Karachi lawlessness case that political parties which include ANP, Sunni Tehreek, Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan People’s Party and others have militant wings. Why is that only MQM leaders and workers are being targeted and subjected to raids?

4- Regarding the 1992 operation, when it was directed towards the MQM, why did the former COAS General Asif Nawaz say that Altaf Hussain’s chapter is closed?

5- Brigadier Asif Haroon distributed a fabricated map of Jinnahpur. If the UN is asked to probe the case or a public court is held at the GHQ, eye witness and former army officers can testify that this was a baseless allegation. But a guarantee should be given that witnesses would not be victimised.

6- 15,000 party workers have been killed in extra judicial killings since 1992, and Altaf’s brother Nasir Hussain and nephew Arif Hussain, were not party workers, but were tortured and killed. Why has the army been unsuccesful in tracing their killers?

7- Is it the army’s training to beat women and misbehave with them during raids and arrests?  Is it the part of the duty of the armed forces to divide the nation along linguistic and provincial lines?

8- During raids in 1992, historic assets such as photographs, videos, audio tapes and literature were confiscated. Why is it that nothing has been returned?

9- The MQM is the only political party to come out in support when the army took action against terrorists, and even took out a rally of one million people in support of the army.

10- People from political parties stormed the building of PTV but why is it that no one from the Rangers stopped them?

11- During the Rangers raids at Scheme 33, Faisal Subzwari was stopped from meeting the Rangers major. Do brigadiers, majors and captains of the Rangers have more dignity according to the constitution than elected representatives?

12- The army should tell Mohajirs what to do. Why can’t we be acceptable to the army despite that we have positive sentiments for them?

13- It has been more than 40 days but some parties continue to go into Red Zone and carry their sit-ins.

14- If the MQM announced to carry out a sit-in in Islamabad after one week, I hope the army and rangers will not take action.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2014.