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Altaf refutes BBC's 'Raw agent' allegations against MQM

Says they will announce a legal plan of action against BBC soon; wants judicial commission into worker Waqas' killing

Web Desk June 25, 2015

Chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: APP

KARACHI: A day after a damning BBC report alleged that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had received funding from India, party chief Altaf Hussain rejected the assertions, terming them as false and criticised Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for failing to tackle corruption of those within the federal cabinet.

Citing an ‘authoritative’ Pakistani source, the report by Owen Bennett-Jones claimed that senior MQM officials, in formally recorded interviews, admitted before British authorities that the party has been receiving funds from the Indian government.

Quoting a Pakistani official, it claimed that India had trained hundreds of MQM militants in explosives, weapons and sabotage over the last 10 years in camps in north and north-east India.

Read: Karachi unrest: MQM received funds, training from India, BBC

Addressing party workers via telephone from London on Thursday evening, the MQM chief said he respected the British media organisation, but rejected the allegations levelled against his party members that they were members of Raw.

"Who were the "Authoritative Sources" that BBC quoted in their documentary?" Altaf asked.

The MQM chief added that western news channels like the BBC and CNN had also claimed that there are weapons of Mass destruction in Iraq, and that these allegations were later found to be false.

"My Legal team is looking into the BBC documentary against MQM and we will announce our legal plan soon."

Altaf added that media channels are more than welcome to criticise MQM but they should avoid being biased against it.

"If we were really trained by the Indian establishment then it wouldn't have been so easy for Rangers to kill us like this."

The MQM chief also criticised Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, saying that the minister should also expose Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s money laundering.

“Ishaq Dar himself accepted of being involved in money laundering,” he said.

About the visit that the British High Commissioner paid Nisar, Altaf said that the Commissioner should be recalled and briefed about Dar's corruption.

He added that if the interior minister wants to probe the BBC documentary against the MQM, he should also probe the 2008 documentary by the same media organisation against the ISI.

Altaf said many ‘big fishes’ were given ‘clean-chits’, adding that Nawaz Sharif, rather than being sent to jail, was made the country’s prime minister.

Read: Establishment to seek treason trial against MQM chief Altaf Hussain

The MQM chief told his workers that in case he is murdered or killed, their struggle should carry on.

“To finish this 37 year movement, 37,000 conspiracies have taken against us. But none of them have been successful.”

He said numerous conspiracies had been hatched against the party since its inception, but they could not break the party nor reduce the love of his followers.

“More than 41 of our workers have been killed during the Karachi operation,” he said.

Rangers lying about Waqas Shah

Commenting about the arrest MQM worker Waqas Shah's killers, Altaf said that Rangers had once again lied about the killers of Shah.

"I demand Judicial Commission on Waqas Shah's murder case, I am ready to prove Rangers involvement in this case."

Refering to DG Rangers, the MQM chief challenged him to go on to the streets of Kashmir and fight for independence.

COMMENTS (21)

Asok | 9 years ago | Reply @Mamon, UK police have confirmed that the alleged confessional statement is a fabrication. Read the latest news. Proves once again that the whole story was cooked up by the establishment.

Mamon | 9 years ago | Reply @Asok: @Karachi Wala: @Raghu: This report has nothing to do with Pakistani Establishment. This report is a statement of one of the MQM Elite, recorded by British Law Enforcement Agencies during the investigation of money laundering case against Altaf Hussain. He gave this statement to justify millions of pounds in possession of Altaf Hussain. MQM is a serpent who is fed by Indians to create chaos in Pakistan. This is an open secret that RAW supports MQM, BLA and many other terrorist organizations and then stages dramas like Mumbai Taj hotel incident to blame Pakistan.

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Mamon | 9 years ago | Reply @Asok: Source of this report is not Pakistani establishment but Law enforcement agencies of Britain. A while ago Altaf Hussain was accused of money laundering by Scotland Yard and couldn't produce any reason to have millions of pounds in his residence. During that investigation, one of the MQM elite, who was also responsible for looking after finances of MQM, gave this statement. According to this report, RAW funded MQM's activities and even trained MQM members for the acts of terrorism. Of course Altaf Hussain will deny these facts but facts are facts. Indians always cry that Pakistan promotes terrorism but India is the real culprit.

Karachi Wala | 9 years ago | Reply Looks like NA-246 results were a huge slap on the face of Pakistani establishment and media. So this whole conspiracy of RAW links has been cooked up to take revenge. Before that, MQM made a big mistake by not bowing to the demand of participating in Imran Khan's dharnaa and it looks like it now has to pay the price for it. Now I understand what happened in East Pakistan!!!

Raghu | 9 years ago | Reply He has many valid points. Any saner person would discuss them obectively . Its clear Punjabis want to impose their rule on rest of country. Why doesnt Nisar or Nawaz or Darr refute Alftaf's allegations? Why is that only Altaf is made to prove is innocence? Arent any other leaders mentioned not corrupt, less criminal ? Blind accusations, allegations will only create more animosity. Pak's establishment , I dont what its problem. its funny how politics work in Pak? There is no sincerity inPak politics, military. Sincerity exists only for anti India hatred.

Nauman | 9 years ago | Reply Is he really naive to judge plans and strategy of establishment of rooting out MQM or it's just another face saving statement?? I don't see him spared this time.

Asok | 9 years ago | Reply The report might be BBC, but the sourcing is entirely Pakistani establishment.

Amna Rizvi | 9 years ago | Reply I don't understand, why do channels even give this mad man their precious air time?

Kamal | 9 years ago | Reply BBC has been reporting against ISI and other agencies in the past and the government of Pakistan always denied to accept such reports, but for MQM it has acted promptly that shows it was pre-planned and made up. Please do not push MQM towards the point of no return in order to prevent from dire consequences. It seems our big brothers have learnt no lesson from the past.

Talking Point | 9 years ago | Reply 'Refering to DG Rangers, the MQM chief challenged him to go on to the streets of Kashmir and fight for independence.' - What a master plan Altafbhai.

Acorn Guts | 9 years ago | Reply First they complain of being a victim of media trial and then launch one of their own. Lets see you in courts instead MQM!

Noor Din | 9 years ago | Reply Face the music now and do it with prudence. Ab bajjay ga Baja. You are nothing but a mafia boss. Shame on you Mr Chicago Cabbie.

saf | 9 years ago | Reply Actually the BBC reported that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that the UK government sexed up a dossier to prove it's case. He is lying and relying on ignorance.

Latif | 9 years ago | Reply If people believe in this BBC doc then there should be an enquiry. Also BBC doc regarding ISI involvement in terrorism by bbc should be probed thoroughly and truth be made public.

polaroid_paranoid | 9 years ago | Reply “If we were really trained by the Indian establishment then it wouldn’t have been so easy for Rangers to kill us like this.” Bhai, clearly the Indians did not do a good job at their training. you should give them their money back and file a case against them in a consumer court. thank you Pak Rangers! you have once again proven you are better than anyone who wishes to destabilise our country!

Rahilla | 9 years ago | Reply BBC Report Reject is not the solution, you should defend yourself otherwise MQM in would be in problem.

BlackHat | 9 years ago | Reply @Afzal: All he said was media can be wrong sometimes. He has asked for judicial commission of inquiry. As far as money laundering is concerned, all most all subcontinental politicians are guilty of it, if you don't want to cast a wider net.

Kam | 9 years ago | Reply Yes army is wrong, intelligence is wrong,federal govt is wrong,sindh govt is wrong, scotland yard is wrong, uk govt is wrong, bbc is wrong the whole world is telling lies only Altaf bhai is true

Ahmad | 9 years ago | Reply Same old hue and cry by Altaf Bhai..

ashar | 9 years ago | Reply First CH Nisar told BBC reporter about MQM receiving money from India then the BBC reporter made a report and published, Now CH Nisar is again asking UK for the proofs. Eventually they will ask him, why not he disclose in the first instance. Otherwise who could be the Authoritative Sources not coming under the domain of CH Nisar. Or should we believe that the BBC reporter has recently seen the video of Rao Anwar.

Afzal | 9 years ago | Reply As usual his views make very little sense. His main argument against BBC report is that because various allegations against the party had proven false in the past and BBC -CNN have the history of doing false reporting on WMD etc - hence he thinks what ever they say about anything has to be false. If the report is false Altaf Hussain party must go to court and not only clear their name but also claim damages. I wish the sane elements in the party should take over and bring credibility to its name and work towards achieving peace cooperate with fight against corruption and voilance in Karachi and restore party's national stature. Good luck!

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