Final warning?: Stop crimes or leave MQM, Altaf tells workers

Asks PM Nawaz to convene APC on support for Saudi intervention in Yemen

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has warned his party workers to mend their ways or they will be expelled from the party. “Either leave the world of crimes or leave the party. The party will not tolerate you if you are caught committing crimes,” he appealed while addressing his party workers at the Lal Qila ground on Sunday.

With the by-election on NA-246 scheduled for next month, the MQM has started electioneering in the constituency considered its stronghold for the past two decades. “I apologise to the residents of Federal B area and Liaquatabad, if any MQM worker has manhandled them in the past,” he said, while asking the party leaders to finalise a strategy to gain more support from the voters this time around.



Altaf also blamed the paramilitary Rangers for ‘murdering’ Waqas Ali Shah, a vocal MQM activist who was shot dead during the raid at Nine-Zero on March 11.

Talking about the Yemen turmoil, the MQM chief requested the prime minister to immediately convene an all-party conference (APC) to discuss the issue of sending troops on Saudi Arabia’s request. He believed the Yemen crisis had the potential to trigger the third world war.

Calling all senior political and religious leaders, he said: “We should learn from our past mistakes as the nation is still paying the price in the form of Zarb-e-Azb due to the past decisions of the country’s leadership and Ulema.” He said the current situation was sensitive and it was unfortunate that some liberal forces were supporting the Saudi aggression.

During the speech, Altaf also appointed Waseem Akhtar as the chairman of the MQM central executive committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2015.