Demanding an apology: PTI Karachi gives 48-hour ultimatum to MQM chief

Local leader warns of filing defamation suit against Altaf Hussain in London unless he says sorry.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has given a 48-hour ultimatum to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain to apologise for his statements on the party's female workers.

"Altaf Hussain sahab, we are giving you 48 hours to take back your words and seek apology from our women workers, especially Shireen Mazari," said PTI Karachi president Ali Zaidi at a press conference at the party's media cell in DHA on Monday. "Otherwise, we will file a defamation suit against you." He warned that they will include details of Hussain's properties in London, claiming that they were procured with 'extortion' money.

PTI's reaction and criticism of the MQM comes after Hussain used inappropriate language for the former's female workers during a telephone address in Hyderabad on Saturday night.

Zaidi, the newly-appointed president for PTI Karachi, said that if terrorism and criminal cases are proven against the MQM, then it should be banned in the country. "If the MQM claims to be a peaceful party, then why does it give threats?" he asked. He also demanded that suspects involved in the murder of MQM's Dr Imran Farooq be handed over to the Scotland Yard.

Referring to the recent report on the Baldia factory fire, the PTI leader pointed out that the suspect, Rizwan Qureshi, was called "Altaf Hussain's cousin" in an MQM press release issued in 1999. "If the MQM is not accepting the JIT report, then why did it demand the culprit be hanged?"

Reacting to PTI's allegations, MQM leader Farooq Sattar said that by giving out such statements, Imran Khan wanted to destabilise the country, weaken democracy and defend terrorism. "Imran Khan crossed all lines of civility by his character assassination of Altaf Hussain," he said.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sattar said that such statements create a political vacuum and the ones benefiting are the terrorists and the Taliban whom, he claimed, Khan is protecting.

The rifts within the local leadership of the PTI became apparent on Monday when another group, led by PTI Sindh Core Committee's Subhan Ali Sahil, held a press conference at Karachi Press Club. Sahil also demanded Hussain apologise to their female workers.

Sahil warned the MQM chief not to take their silence as a sign of weakness. "In the past, we have forgiven such acts of the MQM just for the sake of peace in the city," he said. "Our workers are also charged up but we are trying to cool them down."

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2015.