Pakistan

Political reaction: MQM must prove its innocence, says Khawaja Asif

Says MQM's statement that BBC report is a table story not sufficient

APP/our Correspondents June 25, 2015

The government will decide about the future course of action after thoroughly examining the BBC report. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD:

Reacting on the surprising revelation made by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Wednesday that Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) ‘received Indian funding’, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said it is not 1992 but rather 2015 and MQM has to prove its innocence.

“Just issuing a statement that the BBC report is a table story is not sufficient,” he said and demanded that the party has to clarify its position in London.

The minister said if allegations levelled by the BBC news story against the MQM proved right then the party will have to face consequences, adding that if it proves that MQM got funding from India then there will not be any difference between India and MQM.

Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervaiz Rashid said the government was examining the BBC report regarding the MQM.

Read: BBC special report to reveal 'Indian funding' of MQM

“The government will decide about the future course of action after thoroughly examining the BBC report,” he said while talking to a news channel.

The Foreign Office, he said, was also examining the report.

“Allegations by the BBC against the MQM should be investigated,” said Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s spokesperson Jan Achakzai.

He said India is involved in an organised proxy war in Pakistan from Balochistan to Karachi to Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and RAW, India’s spy agency, has cultivated proxies and was providing funding, logistics, travel documents and training.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Sirajul Haq said the BBC report is sufficient enough to open the eyes of rulers.

Read: PML-N, MQM deny poll rigging claims

He said in a statement that the rulers had been turning a blind eye towards the MQM during the last three decades due to political considerations. “The silence of rulers had entrapped our biggest city [Karachi].”

The JI chief said our government should have exposed Indian activities in Kararachi but the job is being done by UK agencies.

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) senator Kamal Ali Agha said the allegations levelled against the MQM were of grave nature.

PTI senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said: “They [MQM] should come out and clarify to the people that this report is not correct,” he said, adding, “If they think it unjust, they should take legal action.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (12)

Napier Mole | 8 years ago | Reply Can the media breathlessly exposing this present BBC story also be requested to show a re-run of the BBC Documentary 'From Parklane to Pakistan' and let government act upon the evidence given by the oh-so-reliable BBC.

Ashraf | 8 years ago | Reply @Ammar: Evidence is not word of mouth. Which account was the money transferred to? Through which bank? What is the amount? In whose name was the account in? Where are the answers to these questions? I could tell you that I paid $1 million in bribes to Obama. Is that evidence?

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AK | 8 years ago | Reply Dear Khawaja Asif, please first prove your innocence by removing the Sindh's Governor.

Dilip | 8 years ago | Reply How can one prove to be innocent when the facts of the offence have not been verified. Provide the people with the names of the people involved with the banking details and the transaction flows of the funds.

abcd | 8 years ago | Reply @Ammar: "what more evidence do you need? " WHAT evidence is there except he said she said???

excalibur | 8 years ago | Reply Khwaja Sara Asif should be tried for Treason first and Nawaz and Dar tried in a court after the BBC Docu From Parklane to Pakistan exposing their money laundering and Dar,s confession in a court of Law Why double standards ????? New CJs of Pakistan BBC and NYT ? why not oursource Pakistan to Owen Bennet Jones and Samuel Hersh

the Skunk | 8 years ago | Reply What are the political and religious parties INNOCENT of? The entire political structure needs TOTAL OVERHAULING.......ASAP. We need to get on with life and not live with too many politicians and too much politicking. Eeeeconomics is the catchword. Salams Quote: "It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first." Ronald Reagan (brainyquote.com/)

Daddy | 8 years ago | Reply There is plenty of evidence available to convict this man himself. It is an established case of TREASON and gross violation of Constitution of Pakistan. He should be behind bars so should be his employer. Suffice to say nothing will happen as long as PML N is in power. Same holds true of Ayyan case and AXACT case. Any bets?

Tupperware | 8 years ago | Reply The World's Best Intelligence Agency award goes to.... BBC !!

Trivial Justice | 8 years ago | Reply Guilty until proven innocent. This can only happen in Pakistan. Proof of a negative is well-nigh impossible. Can I prove that I didn't eat the cake?

Ammar | 8 years ago | Reply @ChAllahDita What more evidence u need , how many more innocence life's u need .

Ch. AllahDaad | 8 years ago | Reply Its not MQM's responsibility to prove their innocence. Its yours to prove them guilty. The brand new spoons of Establishment should know basic rule of justice.

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