Pakistan

Criticising military: Nisar, MQM trade barbs

MQM chastises Ch Nisar for remaining silent when Khawaja Asif used harsh words for army in National Assembly

Our Correspondents March 14, 2015

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. PHOTO: INP

ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday reacted to statements by members of Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s leadership against Rangers and Pakistan Army.

“Does any other country allow such language to be used against its army,” the interior minister questioned through a statement to media.

Nisar said that the MQM had been praising the army for its sacrifices in war on terror only a few days back and the party had itself requested the government to hand over Karachi’s security to the army, but in the aftermath of the raid on Nine-Zero the language being used had changed.

He said that if there is any thing against the raid on the party’s headquarters, the leadership of the party can approach the courts. “MQM could easily move the courts if it feels that its stance was right”, he added.

The interior minister said that the ongoing Karachi operation would continue without any discrimination till peace is achieved in the city.

Earlier, MQM chief Altaf Hussain had condemned the raid conducted by Rangers on party headquarters Nine-Zero and its surrounding areas in Karachi. In a statement the MQM chief criticized the arrests of “innocents”.

MQM responds

Reacting to Chaudhry Nisar’s statement, the party’s Rabita Committee has said that the interior minister should recall the times when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders have criticised the armed forces.

“Chauhdry Nisar and his party leaders have strongly crictised the army and other forces. Why was Chaudhry Nisar quiet when Khawaja Asif used harsh words against the army in the national assembly?”

They said that the MQM has also supported the army in the operation against Taliban and militants, and have taken out rallies in their support.

Party chief Altaf Hussain in an interview said that the MQM had supported the Karachi operation against Taliban and other militants, against sectarian outfits, extortionists, target killers, street criminals but the party was itself being targeted.

He added that party workers who were arrested were being presented as war criminals.

COMMENTS (6)

Aysha M | 9 years ago | Reply Not the operation,but the way it was conducted. Was it imperative to the outcome of the operation to crash into an elderly sickly woman's house and use obscene language when MQM had extended full cooperation then why the alleged criminals not called out to surrender before Rangers went in and ransacked the place as if they faced resistence and to top it all they left a young man bleeding, how can this be explained, justified or defended @Keep Calm: because MQM comprise second grade citizens. SIMPLE

Obi G | 9 years ago | Reply "Party chief Altaf Hussain...said that the MQM had supported the Karachi operation against...sectarian outfits, extortionists, target killers, street criminals but the party was itself being targeted." Mr Altaf, you got what you wanted! You asked for the above to be targeted and, well, that's exactly what's happening!