Altaf defaming Pakistan and its institutions: Nisar

Interior minister says MQM chief's speech is equivalent to waging war in the country

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said on Sunday the purpose of MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s speech on Saturday night was to defame Pakistan as well as its institutions.

“Altaf Hussain’s speech from London last night was a humiliation for the country,” the interior minister said, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

Nisar said Altaf blamed the military for creating rifts in the party, and invited India to intervene in Karachi’s affairs.

The MQM chief on Saturday night strongly criticised law enforcement agencies while addressing his party workers.

Regarding the ongoing Karachi operation, Nisar said, “The operation is being conducted without any discrimination. All apprehensions of the MQM are being addressed without any request by the party leadership.”

Read: ATC declares MQM chief Altaf Hussain an absconder

He added target killings in Karachi decreased drastically, and that all parties except the MQM were satisfied with the performance of LEAs.

“All intelligence institutions, political parties, LEAs, provincial and federal government are on the same page,” said Nisar.

Further, defending the operation, Nisar said, “In August 2013, MQM’s Farooq Sattar requested the government to handover Karachi’s administrative control to the military and in the same month he announced the operation would be conducted under civil law enforcement agencies and Sindh Rangers would supervise it.”

About the cases against Altaf and the MQM leadership in London, the interior minister said Pakistan would continue to cooperate with the UK.

Read: Threatening remarks: ATC issues Altaf’s non-bailable arrest warrants

“We will abide by the international laws. Money laundering is a serious crime. Imran Farooq was a Pakistan and he was brutally killed.”

He said all cases against the MQM chief were filed by Pakistani citizens and not Sindh Rangers.

“We [the government] are being blamed even if we bring peace [in Karachi] on demand of the MQM, or cooperate with the UK police in Imran Farooq’s murder probe,” said Nisar.

‘Reference to be filed against MQM leadership in London’

Meanwhile, the interior minister disclosed Pakistan would file a legal reference against MQM’s top leadership in London.

“A legal reference would be served to the UK government and Metropolitan Police soon,” he said. “We are examining the Altaf Hussain's as an attempt to wage war against Pakistan. The speech from MQM’s London office is an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty.”

He added that “no patriotic Pakistani, including MQM workers could think of waging war against the state. It is Altaf Hussain who’s calling NATO, India for involvement in Karachi.”

According to officials at the interior ministry, Nisar is likely to meet British High Commissioner Philip Barton to take up the issue of hate speech.

“The pros and cons of legal reference would also be discussed,” a senior official told The Express Tribune. “A legal draft is being prepared with cooperation of ministries of law and justice and foreign affairs.”