Attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty: Govt to file legal reference against Altaf in London

Nisar says Pakistan will continue helping UK police in cases against MQM chief

ISLAMABAD:

The government has decided to file a legal reference with London police against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, who appealed to India and Nato forces for help and criticised the security establishment in a provocative speech late Saturday.

“A legal reference will be filed with the UK government and Metropolitan Police in the coming days,” Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters on Sunday.

He said the government was examining Altaf Hussain’s speech in which, according to Nisar, Altaf attempted to insight a war against Pakistan. “The speech from the MQM’s London office is an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty,” he said.

“No patriotic Pakistani, including MQM workers, could even think of waging war against the state. It is only Altaf Hussain who is calling Nato [forces] and India, which is a hostile neighbour to get involved in matters of Karachi,” he said.

According to the interior minister, the government preferred a legal battle rather than any other kind of action, particularly political confrontation with the MQM leadership. “The purpose of MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s speech was nothing but to defame Pakistan, as well as its institutions,” he said.

Officials at the interior ministry said Nisar is likely to meet British High Commissioner Philip Barton to take up the issue of hate speech in a day or two.



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

Cooperation with London police

Speaking about the cases against Altaf and the MQM leadership in London, the interior minister said Pakistan would continue cooperating with the UK, despite the MQM chief’s ‘threatening calls’.

“We will abide by the international laws. Money laundering is a serious crime. Dr Imran Farooq was a Pakistani and he was brutally killed,” he said, adding that all cases against the MQM chief were filed by London police in the United Kingdom and Pakistani citizens in Pakistan and not by the Sindh Rangers.

He said he did not know why the previous Pakistan Peoples Party-led government did not cooperate with the UK. “But it is our international obligation, we will cooperate with the British police, come what may,” the interior minister added.

Nisar said the Metropolitan Police team, which visited Islamabad last month, was completely satisfied with its interrogation with two accused in Dr Imran Farooq’s murder case and the team was very thankful to the government of Pakistan. “Fair investigation into the case is under way,” he added.

Karachi operation to continue

Defending the targeted operation in Karachi, Nisar said in August 2013, MQM’s Farooq Sattar requested the government to hand over Karachi’s administrative control to the military. “The same month, I announced that the operation would be conducted in Karachi under civil law enforcement agencies and Sindh Rangers would supervise it,” he added.

He said the operation was carried out without any discrimination and apprehensions of the MQM were being addressed without any request by the party leadership.

The interior minister said due to the operation targeted killings in Karachi had drastically decreased, and that all parties, except the MQM, were satisfied with the performance of LEAs.

About the National Action Plan against terrorism, the interior minister said he would be briefing the media after 10 to 12 days. The country witnessed a positive recovery in law and order situation, he said.

Shahbaz slams Altaf’s statement

Strongly reacting to Altaf’s speech, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the comments of the MQM chief have proved that he was working for the enemy. “The remarks of Altaf Husain against the brave forces of the country have exposed his real face,” he said in a statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2015.