Receiving threats from MQM workers, Arif Alvi tells NA

PTI leader says he has spoken to MQM leader Farooq Sattar regarding the issue

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Dr Arif Alvi informed the National Assembly on Thursday that he is receiving threats from people who claim to be workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

“I have spoken to MQM leader Farooq Sattar about this issue,” the PTI leader informed lawmakers in the National Assembly.

Read: Nabil Gabol seeks Rangers security after ‘threats from Altaf Hussain’

“For many days I have been facing life threats by people who claim that they are working for the MQM,” he added.

The PTI and the MQM have been at loggerheads for some time with PTI chief Imran Khan criticising the MQM chief Altaf Hussain for his alleged support of target killers in Karachi.

In his recent reaction on the MQM’s resignations, the PTI supremo tweeted, “A tale of 2 resignations: One to investigate an election where all parties claimed election was rigged; and the other to save target killers.”

Read: Rally attack case: Non-bailable warrants issued for Hammad Siddiqui, others

Further, the PTI has at times submitted condemnation resolutions against the MQM chief over his anti-state comments. In the last couple of months, PTI has tabled several such resolutions against Altaf in the provincial assemblies of Sindh and Punjab while the party also submitted a resolution against Altaf in the National Assembly’s secretariat in May.

Do not accept MQM resignations in haste, Khursheed advises NA speaker

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah urged NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq not to accept the resignations of the MQM lawmakers in haste.

Read: Govt tasks aides to bring MQM back into parliament

“This issue should be resolved after discussion,” he suggested. “We should convince the MQM to stick with parliamentary politics and not leave the House.”

The leader of the opposition also advised the MQM not to politicise the Karachi operation.

On Wednseday, with the complaint that no one was listening to their genuine grievances, the MQM lawmakers submitted resignations in Senate, Parliament and Sindh Assembly. Speaking on the floor of the House, MQM’s Farooq Sattar had said his party’s decision to resign from all legislative bodies was taken after long deliberations.

Read: MQM resigns from Parliament, Sindh Assembly

Sattar said the MQM chief was being singled out as in the past, PTI chairman Imran Khan, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, JI leader Munawar Hassan and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif have all criticised the military and have expressed insulting remarks against them.