PHOTO: MQM
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution on Monday, calling upon the federal authorities to initiate treason proceedings against MQM chief Altaf Hussain over his controversial statements against the army.
A similar petition was also tabled in the Punjab Assembly by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Both the resolutions drew a scathing response from the MQM, which condemned the parliamentarians for forgetting Imran Khan and Munawar Hasan’s degrading statements against the army in the recent past.
In the K-P Assembly, LG Minister Inayatullah Khan tabled the resolution against the MQM chief’s remarks, asking the federal government to take notice of the self-exiled leader’s outbursts against national institutions.
The resolution stated that Altaf’s statement was an insult to this nation, as he tried to incite his followers against the state. “This assembly asks the federal government to review [Altaf’s] statement and start treason proceedings against him,” it read.
JUI-F lawmaker Munawar Khan asked Speaker Asad Qaiser to allow the party to present a separate resolution on this topic as the tabled resolution belonged to the PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami. However, the speaker asked the government benches to negotiate with the opposition to get their signatures on the same document.
Representatives of the JUI-F and Awami National Party acceded to the government’s request. Qaumi Watan Party’s Anisa Zeb Tahrikheli also reluctantly put her signature on the document.
Resolution tabled
In the Punjab Assembly, the PTI submitted a resolution condemning the MQM chief’s comments. Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Mehmoodur Rasheed along with deputy parliamentary leader Sabtain Khan submitted the resolution.
The resolution, identifying Altaf as a British citizen, calls upon the House to condemn the remarks “aimed at creating prejudice against the armed forces”. It also asked the federal government to take up the issue with the British government.
Speaking to the media later, Rasheed termed the MQM chief’s remarks “insulting”. “It has become a routine practice for Altaf Hussain to insult state institutions and later apologise in the wake of public pressure,” he said. “But this time he has crossed all limits.”
The PTI is hopeful the resolution will be passed unanimously in the next session.
MQM reacts
Condemning the resolution passed by the K-P Assembly, the MQM Rabita Committee lambasted the parliamentarians for their inaction in the past against similar remarks of PTI chief Imran Khan, who once called army generals “cowards”, and former JI chief Munawar Hasan, who had termed slain Taliban fighters “martyrs” but refused to acknowledge martyred soldiers.
Meanwhile, the Sindh Assembly witnessed a walkout from the smaller opposition parties after they were not allowed to table a resolution against the MQM chief ‘s remarks.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2015.
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