Altaf rules out return to PPP-led coalition in Sindh
Scotland Yard releases suspect in Imran Farooq murder case without any charge
KARACHI:
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Tuesday made it clear that his party will not rejoin Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led Sindh government.
The move comes as PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari urged party members to do all it can to convince MQM to rejoin the provincial government.
In a phone conversation with Sheikh Rasheed, the MQM chief said that his party “will not be a part of the Sindh government at any cost.”
The MQM chief said that there was pressure from workers belonging to different departments of the party on the party leaders and members of the Rabita Committee to not to join hands with the PPP, and it was 100 per cent unacceptable for them to become PPP's coalition partners again.
On Sunday, the MQM had decided to quit the provincial government in Sindh in light of Bilawal Bhutto's statements against the party and its chief.
Party sources say that Babar Ghauri had first spoken to Sheikh Rasheed seeking PTI's support to unseat PPP's Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah. MQM has already submitted a resolution in the NA to unseat Shah, but lacks enough seats to force the motion.
Meanwhile in Karachi, the Rabita Committee held a press conference stating that it had received a threatening letter from the Taliban and demanded security from the government for its leaders as well as for its premises and headquarters.
At the Khursheed Begum Secretariat, Rabita Committee member Kunwar Naveed said, “We are not scared of these threats but it is the responsibility of the government to provide us security.”
The MQM leader also expressed concerns for Hussain's safety in London and demanded security measures for him.
Scotland Yard release suspect in Imran Farooq case
In London, the Scotland Yard released Iftikhar Hussain on Tuesday, a relative of the MQM chief, stating that they had found no evidence of linking Hussain to Dr Imran Farooq’s murder.
A spokesperson of The Scotland Yard confirmed to The Express Tribune that a “52-year-old man had been released and no further action would be taken against him.”
Hussain was arrested last June from Heathrow airport after his arrival from Canada. He was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder but was released on bail.
Meanwhile, the Scotland Yard is said to be working with Pakistanis to bring back two suspects, Mohsin Ali Syed and Mohammad Kashif Khan Kamran, who have reportedly been held by intelligence agencies.
Apart from Hussain, the Scotland Yard in August had arrested a member of MQM's UK unit, who is currently on bail.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Tuesday made it clear that his party will not rejoin Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led Sindh government.
The move comes as PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari urged party members to do all it can to convince MQM to rejoin the provincial government.
In a phone conversation with Sheikh Rasheed, the MQM chief said that his party “will not be a part of the Sindh government at any cost.”
The MQM chief said that there was pressure from workers belonging to different departments of the party on the party leaders and members of the Rabita Committee to not to join hands with the PPP, and it was 100 per cent unacceptable for them to become PPP's coalition partners again.
On Sunday, the MQM had decided to quit the provincial government in Sindh in light of Bilawal Bhutto's statements against the party and its chief.
Party sources say that Babar Ghauri had first spoken to Sheikh Rasheed seeking PTI's support to unseat PPP's Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah. MQM has already submitted a resolution in the NA to unseat Shah, but lacks enough seats to force the motion.
Meanwhile in Karachi, the Rabita Committee held a press conference stating that it had received a threatening letter from the Taliban and demanded security from the government for its leaders as well as for its premises and headquarters.
At the Khursheed Begum Secretariat, Rabita Committee member Kunwar Naveed said, “We are not scared of these threats but it is the responsibility of the government to provide us security.”
The MQM leader also expressed concerns for Hussain's safety in London and demanded security measures for him.
Scotland Yard release suspect in Imran Farooq case
In London, the Scotland Yard released Iftikhar Hussain on Tuesday, a relative of the MQM chief, stating that they had found no evidence of linking Hussain to Dr Imran Farooq’s murder.
A spokesperson of The Scotland Yard confirmed to The Express Tribune that a “52-year-old man had been released and no further action would be taken against him.”
Hussain was arrested last June from Heathrow airport after his arrival from Canada. He was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder but was released on bail.
Meanwhile, the Scotland Yard is said to be working with Pakistanis to bring back two suspects, Mohsin Ali Syed and Mohammad Kashif Khan Kamran, who have reportedly been held by intelligence agencies.
Apart from Hussain, the Scotland Yard in August had arrested a member of MQM's UK unit, who is currently on bail.