Rejoinder: Altaf Hussain rejects Mirza’s allegations as ‘lies’

Blames agencies for release of video; says he doesn’t want confrontation with security forces

KARACHI: Reacting to the allegations made by convicted target killer Saulat Mirza in a video aired on a TV channel, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said the video was released by the intelligence agencies

“I never met Saulat Mirza and never spoke to him. All that he [Mirza] said are lies,” said Altaf in an interview to a private news channel. “It is the first time, I have seen a video tape of a convict being released [on TV],” he added.



Mirza, a former MQM activist convicted for killing KESC head Shahid Hamid – claimed in the video that he had received the order from Altaf Hussain through MQM leader Babar Ghauri. However, Ghauri also denied the accusations. “I never ordered Saulat to kill anyone on the instructions of Altaf Hussain,” he said.

Earlier, while addressing MQM workers at a function in connection with 31st foundation day of his party, Altaf also denied the allegation that he threatened the paramilitary Rangers. “However, if they [Rangers’] take what I said as threat, then they should also take action against PTI chief Imran Khan, who had issued threats to law-enforcing agencies and asked his followers to beat the police,” he said.

The MQM leader said he did not want to fight with the armed forces. “I don’t want to fight with the army or engage in a confrontation with them. They can do whatever they want to do. But don’t consider myself your enemy or a traitor,” he added.

The MQM chief also criticised politicians, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and said when other parties were allowed to keep weapons why his party could not do the same, adding that all weapons recovered during the Nine-Zero raid were licensed.

“The PML-N has been screaming that weapons were found from Nine-Zero. Wasn’t it their party which trained Gullu Butts,” he said. “Why the army didn’t take notice of firing by the PML-N when they won elections.”

The MQM chief said the JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s vehicle was laden with weapons. “Mehmood Khan Achakzai carries guns while a leader of the ANP carries rifles and Kalashnikovs,” he said.



He said he had no objection to any raid by the law enforcing agencies. “I just have issues with the way it was conducted. They should have brought a magistrate and a search warrant. For searching my sister’s house, they should have brought a lady searcher,” he said.

Addressing Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, he said, “Chaudhry Nisar, I used strong words. [But] why didn’t you say anything when [Federal Minister] Khawaja Asif threatened the army on the floor of the assembly?” Altaf asked his workers to carry on his movement after his death. “This is my will,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2015.