Balochistan Assembly demands action against Altaf, his party
MQM chief says his relationship with masses cannot be severed even if his party is banned
MQM chief says his relationship with masses cannot be severed even if his party is banned. PHOTO: TWITTER
QUETTA:
The Balochistan Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution condemning a televised speech of Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain in which he used unsavoury and disparaging remarks against the military and its top brass.
Altaf’s controversial speech has already drawn condemnation from across the political fraternity of the country. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said it would table a similar resolution in the Sindh Assembly, while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf plans to introduce resolutions in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa assemblies.
On Friday, the chief military spokesperson Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa called Altaf’s remarks ‘disgusting’ and said legal action would be “pursued against him for inciting the people of Pakistan to rise against the state”. The MQM chief apologised for the remarks which, he said, were meant to be ‘sarcasm’.
The resolution in the Balochistan legislature was tabled jointly by Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, Health Minister Rehmat Baloch, Excise and Taxation Minister Jaffar Mandokhel, Sports Minister Mujeebur Rehman Muhammad Hassni, deputy opposition leader Zamaruk Khan Achakzai and MPAs Muhammad Khan Lehri, Nasrullah Zerry, Liaqut Agha, Haji Abdul Salam, Rahila Durrani, Prince Musa Ali, Sardar Abdul Rehman Kehtran and Shahida Rauf.
The resolution states that the august house condemns the MQM chief’s speech and considers it a ‘brazen revolt against the state’. It demands the federal government slap a ban on the MQM and take action against the party. It further says that the MQM has been taking Karachi hostage for the last couple of years and it should be discouraged.
Speaking on the floor of the house, Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said Altaf’s criticism of the army was unjustified as it is clearly mentioned in the Constitution that the military could not be subjected to criticism. “Altaf Hussain violated Article 6 of the Constitution and tried to undermine the morale of the Pakistan Army,” Bugti said and went on to add that the army was rendering sacrifices in counterterrorism operations everywhere in the country.
PkMAP legislator Liaquat Agha demanded Altaf Hussain and his party be named in the resolution.
Sardar Kehtran of the JUI-F said that Karachi was peaceful until the emergence of the MQM in the 1980s. Since then, the metropolitan city has become volatile and crimes like extortion, targeted killings and street crimes have spiked, he alleged. “The extortion money is sent to London to support the luxurious lifestyle of Altaf Hussain.”
Kehtran demanded the British government deport Altaf to Pakistan he should be tried in an open court.
Jaffar Mandokhel of the PML-Q said MQM had been created to undermine the Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Peoples Party in Karachi in 1985. “Now the law and order situation in Karachi is very bad as people are being killed on a daily basis,” he said, adding that Altaf should shun politics of harassment and intimidation.
Nasrullah Zehri of the PkMAP claimed that over 100,000 people, including 90,000 Pashtuns, have been killed in Karachi since the emergence of the MQM.
Setting aside their political differences, legislators from both sides of the aisle unanimously passed the resolution. After which, the session was adjourned till Tuesday.
MQM’s reaction
Reacting to the resolution, Altaf Hussain said his relationship with the masses could not be broken even if he was made to stand trial for treason or his party was outlawed, adding that he had already apologised to the armed forces and people.
“I neither ever sought help from [Indian intelligence agency] RAW nor insulted the army. But still if a case under Article 6 is established against me and I’m barred from giving speeches and my party is declared a banned outfit, my relationship with the people will continue,” Altaf said, while addressing his workers in the US.
The MQM chief said he would not step down from the party’s leadership and would keep struggling for the movement. “No matter how difficult the situation becomes, and if my workers become irresponsible and careless, I will not talk about leaving the party and will keep on leading it till my last breath,” he added.
Altaf said other political leaders, including former Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Munawar Hassan, had called the Taliban ‘martyrs’ and refused to acknowledge the dead army officers as ‘shaheeds’. “But no action was taken against him,” he said.
An MQM spokesperson said if lawmakers were so sincere, then they should also present resolutions against Imran Khan who has openly criticised the army and ISI in television talk shows and meetings abroad. “Similarly, PML-N’s Khawaja Asif also spoke against the army on floor of the house,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2015.
The Balochistan Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution condemning a televised speech of Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain in which he used unsavoury and disparaging remarks against the military and its top brass.
Altaf’s controversial speech has already drawn condemnation from across the political fraternity of the country. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said it would table a similar resolution in the Sindh Assembly, while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf plans to introduce resolutions in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa assemblies.
On Friday, the chief military spokesperson Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa called Altaf’s remarks ‘disgusting’ and said legal action would be “pursued against him for inciting the people of Pakistan to rise against the state”. The MQM chief apologised for the remarks which, he said, were meant to be ‘sarcasm’.
The resolution in the Balochistan legislature was tabled jointly by Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, Health Minister Rehmat Baloch, Excise and Taxation Minister Jaffar Mandokhel, Sports Minister Mujeebur Rehman Muhammad Hassni, deputy opposition leader Zamaruk Khan Achakzai and MPAs Muhammad Khan Lehri, Nasrullah Zerry, Liaqut Agha, Haji Abdul Salam, Rahila Durrani, Prince Musa Ali, Sardar Abdul Rehman Kehtran and Shahida Rauf.
The resolution states that the august house condemns the MQM chief’s speech and considers it a ‘brazen revolt against the state’. It demands the federal government slap a ban on the MQM and take action against the party. It further says that the MQM has been taking Karachi hostage for the last couple of years and it should be discouraged.
Speaking on the floor of the house, Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said Altaf’s criticism of the army was unjustified as it is clearly mentioned in the Constitution that the military could not be subjected to criticism. “Altaf Hussain violated Article 6 of the Constitution and tried to undermine the morale of the Pakistan Army,” Bugti said and went on to add that the army was rendering sacrifices in counterterrorism operations everywhere in the country.
PkMAP legislator Liaquat Agha demanded Altaf Hussain and his party be named in the resolution.
Sardar Kehtran of the JUI-F said that Karachi was peaceful until the emergence of the MQM in the 1980s. Since then, the metropolitan city has become volatile and crimes like extortion, targeted killings and street crimes have spiked, he alleged. “The extortion money is sent to London to support the luxurious lifestyle of Altaf Hussain.”
Kehtran demanded the British government deport Altaf to Pakistan he should be tried in an open court.
Jaffar Mandokhel of the PML-Q said MQM had been created to undermine the Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Peoples Party in Karachi in 1985. “Now the law and order situation in Karachi is very bad as people are being killed on a daily basis,” he said, adding that Altaf should shun politics of harassment and intimidation.
Nasrullah Zehri of the PkMAP claimed that over 100,000 people, including 90,000 Pashtuns, have been killed in Karachi since the emergence of the MQM.
Setting aside their political differences, legislators from both sides of the aisle unanimously passed the resolution. After which, the session was adjourned till Tuesday.
MQM’s reaction
Reacting to the resolution, Altaf Hussain said his relationship with the masses could not be broken even if he was made to stand trial for treason or his party was outlawed, adding that he had already apologised to the armed forces and people.
“I neither ever sought help from [Indian intelligence agency] RAW nor insulted the army. But still if a case under Article 6 is established against me and I’m barred from giving speeches and my party is declared a banned outfit, my relationship with the people will continue,” Altaf said, while addressing his workers in the US.
The MQM chief said he would not step down from the party’s leadership and would keep struggling for the movement. “No matter how difficult the situation becomes, and if my workers become irresponsible and careless, I will not talk about leaving the party and will keep on leading it till my last breath,” he added.
Altaf said other political leaders, including former Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Munawar Hassan, had called the Taliban ‘martyrs’ and refused to acknowledge the dead army officers as ‘shaheeds’. “But no action was taken against him,” he said.
An MQM spokesperson said if lawmakers were so sincere, then they should also present resolutions against Imran Khan who has openly criticised the army and ISI in television talk shows and meetings abroad. “Similarly, PML-N’s Khawaja Asif also spoke against the army on floor of the house,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2015.