Major General Asim Bajwa. PHOTO: REUTERS
In a rare and unprecedented reaction, the Pakistan Army on Friday censured Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain for castigating the military leadership and called his remarks ‘uncalled for and disgusting’.
The chief military spokesperson, Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, used his Twitter account not only to rebut the allegations but also announced legal action against Altaf, who in a late Thursday night address to his supporters had made references to the surrender of Pakistani troops after the fall of Dhaka in 1971.
Altaf had called on the security establishment to end what he termed “injustice to Mohajirs and poor people”. He had also claimed that the army, the ISI and bureaucrats were enjoying a ‘luxurious lifestyle’ only due to the sacrifices rendered by ‘Mohajirs’.
Responding to these remarks in a series of tweets, Maj Gen Bajwa made it clear that such reference to the army or its leadership in reaction to the arrest of criminals, who may have links with any political party, would not be tolerated.
“Altaf Hussain’s speech on TV tonight [Thursday night] containing remarks about the army and its leadership was uncalled for and disgusting,” he said. The irresponsible remarks and using the media to incite the people of Pakistan to rise against the state will be pursued legally, he added.
Maj Gen Bajwa also said that the army would not be deterred from the ongoing operation in Karachi against criminals and mafias. “The Pakistan Army and LEAs [law enforcement agencies] will continue to execute the operation as assigned to them.”
The reaction from the military suggests the growing tension between the MQM and the security establishment, which is aggressively pursuing the targeted operation in the port city.
This week army chief General Raheel Sharif visited Karachi and vowed to finish ‘all mafias’ as the ongoing operation was bringing relief to the people. He added that the across the board and indiscriminate operation would continue till its logical conclusion.
The MQM chief’s controversial remarks also elicited a strong response from political leaders, including senior members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said Altaf Hussain has hurt the sentiments of millions of Pakistanis by requesting Indian intelligence agency RAW for help. “He should immediately apologise to the nation,” he said in Lahore on Friday.
“At a time when the government is fighting against internal and external enemies involved in terrorism and the brave armed forces are rendering supreme sacrifices, this statement is tantamount to treason against national objectives,” he said.
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said irrational and unjustified criticism on national security institutions was tantamount to patronising criminal elements.
“Patronising or sheltering criminals and mafias by political elements is like supporting them, which is not only condemnable but aimed at impeding the ongoing operation to eliminate them,” he said in a statement.’
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also expressed his displeasure at the remark and urged the MQM leadership to abstain from issuing such statements. He lamented that the tone of Altaf did not represent a Pakistani in him. “The MQM is a political party and its leaders should not speak a language similar to that of our enemies,” he said.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi also expressed reservations over Altaf’s statement and said allegations levelled by the arrested criminals should be probed properly. “The MQM chief has hurt the sentiments of the entire nation,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2015.
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