MQM chief apologises for ‘sarcastic’ remarks

If my words have hurt the national security institutions, then I apologise from the bottom of my heart, says Altaf

KARACHI: MQM chief Altaf Hussain has apologised for his controversial remarks against the armed forces, claiming his statement about seeking help from the Indian intelligence agency RAW was meant to be sarcasm.

“If my words have hurt the national security institutions, then I apologise from the bottom of my heart. I respected the Pakistan Army yesterday and I respect the army today,” he said in a statement issued on Friday – hours after the military spokesperson blasted the political leader for his ‘disgusting’ comments.

Altaf said he never meant to insult the government or any institution, and that his address was misunderstood and interpreted out of context.

The MQM chief in his Thursday night address to party workers at Nine-Zero had criticised those army officers who surrendered in Bangladesh during the 1971 war. He had also instructed his workers to seek commando training and learn to use weapons to “prepare for the battles ahead”.

Altaf’s speech was in reaction of a press conference by SSP Malir Rao Anwar, who had accused the MQM of getting support and ammunition from RAW. He also termed the political party more dangerous than the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, calling for a ban on the party.

After the press conference, Altaf called his workers to the party headquarters and addressed them. “I request RAW to openly support us, just for once, and give us arms. And then we will tell them, who are the agents of RAW; us or those who surrendered,” he said in a veiled reference to the 1971 war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.

The MQM Rabita Committee also said that Altaf had not criticised the army in his address, and had in fact praised the army chief. In a statement, the MQM leaders said the party chief had asked for justice from General Raheel Sharif. He did not criticise the army for the arrest of criminals, and even said that if his brother was involved in criminal activities he too should be punished, they added.


Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2015.