Military courts only a temporary solution: Farooq Sattar

MQM to send two documents on counter-terrorism to Islamabad, one of which was already presented in APC, says Sattar

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar on Saturday said that the establishment of military courts is only a "temporary solution" to eliminating terrorism from the country.

The party leader said that the move would not be successful without a neighbourhood watch in various union councils, tehsils, and streets of the country.

He said MQM has said for 10 years that this was Pakistan's war -- a statement the government has finally accepted.

"The MQM was the first party to give suggestions for the anti-terrorism policy," Sattar said while addressing a press conference.

"Altaf bhai has been speaking out against militancy and has warned of the the threat of militancy for a long time."

As recent as two days ago, MQM chief Altaf Hussain opposed the establishment of military courts, and said imposing martial law was a much better option. He also called for the army chief to take the reins of the country for two years.

The establishment of military courts was decided following a devastating attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in which 150 people died.

Sattar, in reference to the tragic incident, said, "December 16 was 9/11 for Pakistan. In fact, in my opinion, the intensity of the incident was higher than that of 9/11."

Sattar went on to criticise the government in regard to addressing the issue of militancy in the country, saying, "They [the government] has finally accepted that this is our war. If only they had accepted this earlier."

He also criticised the media for its "glorification of miliants".

The MQM leader also spoke of a document being provided by the his party in regard to a counter-terrorism policy.

"We are making a document for the national counter-terrorism policy which we will be sending to Islamabad," he said.

"We are going to send two documents; one that was published in 2013, which we also presented in the APC, and the other one which is still being printed and has eight points on counter-terrorism."