Extortion threats: MQM claims that Taliban want them to pay up or else
Farooq Sattar says several party leaders received extortion slips asking for Rs0.5m to Rs2m
KARACHI:
The Taliban, according to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have demanded extortion money from 11 party leaders and have threatened party chief Altaf Hussain for his stand against the growing militancy in the country.
While addressing a joint press conference at Nine Zero, Dr Farooq Sattar, said that several party leaders, including Haider Abbas Rizvi, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Nasreen Jalil, Rashid Gondal, Babar Ghauri and himself had received threats.
"Now, they are threatening our leaders over the phone and through text messages," said Sattar. "The militants are demanding money ranging from Rs0.5 million to Rs2.5 million from us." He added that the militants had threatened them with dire consequences if the MQM leaders did not pay up.
According to Sattar, the threats started coming in after the MQM took a stand against militants who were wrecking havoc in the country.
He said that they received a threatening letter on September 15 and they were given a week to pay up or else.
"We have written to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and have sent these letters attached to inform him about the situation," said Sattar. "Despite our complaints and appeals to the prime minister and other authorities, nothing has been done so far."
He added that they had also written to the federal and provincial governments to provide them with more security at Nine Zero, the party's headquarters in Karachi but had not heard back.
Babar Ghauri said similar threats had been made to MQM Chief Altaf Hussain who resides in London. He added that militants had warned Altaf Hussain to not speak against them or be prepared for attacks on the party and its leaders. He claimed that the party's London secretariat had lodged complaints with the Scotland Yard and other agencies as well.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2014.
The Taliban, according to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have demanded extortion money from 11 party leaders and have threatened party chief Altaf Hussain for his stand against the growing militancy in the country.
While addressing a joint press conference at Nine Zero, Dr Farooq Sattar, said that several party leaders, including Haider Abbas Rizvi, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Nasreen Jalil, Rashid Gondal, Babar Ghauri and himself had received threats.
"Now, they are threatening our leaders over the phone and through text messages," said Sattar. "The militants are demanding money ranging from Rs0.5 million to Rs2.5 million from us." He added that the militants had threatened them with dire consequences if the MQM leaders did not pay up.
According to Sattar, the threats started coming in after the MQM took a stand against militants who were wrecking havoc in the country.
He said that they received a threatening letter on September 15 and they were given a week to pay up or else.
"We have written to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and have sent these letters attached to inform him about the situation," said Sattar. "Despite our complaints and appeals to the prime minister and other authorities, nothing has been done so far."
He added that they had also written to the federal and provincial governments to provide them with more security at Nine Zero, the party's headquarters in Karachi but had not heard back.
Babar Ghauri said similar threats had been made to MQM Chief Altaf Hussain who resides in London. He added that militants had warned Altaf Hussain to not speak against them or be prepared for attacks on the party and its leaders. He claimed that the party's London secretariat had lodged complaints with the Scotland Yard and other agencies as well.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2014.