Pakistan

Throwing down the gauntlet: Altaf challenges PML-N to public debate

Altaf Hussain says he is ready to respond to Nawaz Sharif's charges in a public debate.

Express December 29, 2010

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has challenged Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif for a public debate.

He condemned Sharif for criticising his party in a public meeting in Muzaffarabad. Referring to Sharif’s allegations that the MQM was somehow involved in the May 12, 2007 violence in Karachi, Hussain said he was ready to respond to the charges in a public debate with the PML-N chief.

As the MQM supremo threw down the gauntlet, the Nawaz League quickly accepted the challenge, with its senior leader Khawaja Asif saying that his party was ready for public debate with the MQM in Lahore, Karachi or anywhere.

Addressing a large gathering of MQM workers at Nine-Zero by telephone from London on Monday night, Hussain also spoke about his party’s straining relations with the PPP. He said the future of the ruling coalition in the centre and in Sindh rests on the government’s attitude.

“If the government does not improve its attitude, we will sit on the opposition benches,” Hussain told a large gathering of MQM workers at Nine-Zero, the party’s headquarters, and Hyderabad Zonal Office by telephone from London.

He challenged PPP leaders who insisted that they did not need the MQM, saying: “Adopt a resolution in this regard and we will quit the Sindh government immediately. We still want the PPP government to complete its five-year tenure and the continuation of the democratic process. If the government changes its approach … the MQM will continue to support it. The MQM cannot be intimidated into accepting the government’s actions.”

In his address, lasting over an hour-and-a-half hours, Hussain cited the reasons for quitting the government, particularly the PPP’s attitude, breach of promises and inappropriate behaviour of certain PPP leaders.

“Over the past three years, the MQM supported the government through thick and thin and co-operated with President Zardari in every way possible.”

He said the president had assured him several times about addressing MQM’s complaints, but “nothing happened”.

“Despite repeated breach of promises by government we have only decided to leave the federal government (posts) but we have not yet decided about sitting on opposition benches. Our future course of action will depend on the government’s attitude.”

Addressing Zardari, he said: “We … have taken this decision with a heavy heart … I passionately appeal to change your attitude and ways. You will have MQM’s support if you start serving the country and its people. The (wrong kind of) attitude of highhandedness will not work with the MQM. The ball is now in PPP’s court. Everything now depends upon them.”

Zardari and Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad met late at night to try and resolve differences and save the coalition.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (15)

Syed | 13 years ago | Reply Sorry I forgot to add, Refer to the recent report of Human Rights Comission of Pakistan "Biggest Victim of Target Killing in Karachi is MQM" PS: For those of you who think MQM controls each and every organisation in Karachi through fear; HRCP is based in Lahore not Karachi.

Syed | 13 years ago | Reply @ Naeem Siddique Australia, My dear brother, the spat of killing that erupted that day was a systematic and planned, its logical that planning was done by the same team that knew or planned the murder of MPA. Simple. On the other note, MQM is not the party of knuckle heads, the whole world knows that you cannot scare away Pukhtuns by power, the more power you apply the more resistant they will become! So why would MQM want to lock horns with Pukhtons, the only party that would benefit from it is ANP, because the more Pukhtuns are killed the more anti MQM wave will be generated in the community and more will come towards ANP. Allow me to qoute a statement of Asfand Yar Wali Chairman of ANP. " There are more Pukhtuns in MQM in Sindh then ANP (in sindh)" Capital Talk. , you can verify this on Youtube. So why would MQM start the genocide of Pukhtuns?? Think Logical! Dont be victim of Deception !

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Asfandyar Khan | 13 years ago | Reply personal fights will not do ne1 ne good both siddes will leak information that might dsisgrace them and for what....they shall not gain nething....everybody has a dark closet of personal wrongdiongs...findin out that some were killers or others were money launderers wont make ne differnce....we know that already !!

Naeem Siddiqui,Australia | 13 years ago | Reply Could you please tell why 100 people were killed after the assassination of MQM MPA!?? did those 100 innocent and poor people killed that MPA!!??

Syed | 13 years ago | Reply Mister Nisar and Mr Shareef have opened the Pandoras Box, leveling baseless accusations. They will bear the brunt ! Giving a clear way for PTI to come through ! Next Elections I see and I wish to see PTI majority in Punjab and MQM majority in Sindh! who ever among these party rules it will be better !

MQM | 13 years ago | Reply Ali Nawaz The person who is not in Pakistan how he can challenge for a public debate and the debate for Pakistani people?? A person who is even not a Pakistani how he is involving in Pakistani politics? Nadeem Ahmed One leader is British national and other has moved all his assets to Britain. Therefore both of them should spare this poor nation and debate somewhere in Britain.

The Only Normal Person Here. | 13 years ago | Reply Altaf Hussain proved again that he is one educated leader and he believes in real politics and not of coffins and tears.

Ch Allah Daad | 13 years ago | Reply Why are we waisting our time, such debates never happen.

Patriot | 13 years ago | Reply The answer lies in the history. Both the parties given birth by Military and both now are so called independent from any pressure. However one strong vote to MQM by changing the feudal politics as all other parties except Imran Khan TI are using leaders who have wealth worth billions. I mean our wealth. Lets be fair we just have 2 parties who are doing politics on Middle class support. MQM and TI.

Liaquat Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Some people are asking about the rhyme or reason of PML-N's uncalled for accusations against the MQM at this very moment. The reason is that regardless of how many differences the PPP and the PML-N have, they both know that the MQM is after the breakfast, lunch and dinner of them both. The call for revolution by the MQM is not against the PPP feudals only. It is against the PML-N feudals as well. The PML-N just came to relieve some pressure off of the PPP, and to put both the MQM as well as the PML-Q on notice that if push comes to shove the PPP and the PML-N could join forces to protect each other's feudals.

Liaquat Ali | 13 years ago | Reply If the debate is held in Karachi then the MQM supporters will frequently and unnecessarily chant "GA Altaf" and the PML-N would use that as an excuse after losing the debate. Iqbal Park Lahore would be the ideal location to provide PML-N the home ground advantage. The MQM debtor must not be allowed to recite any poetry that no one in the country understands. :)

Nadeem Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply One leader is British national and other has moved all his assets to Britain. Therefore both of them should spare this poor nation and debate somewhere in Britain.

Ali Nawaz | 13 years ago | Reply The person who is not in Pakistan how he can challenge for a public debate and the debate for Pakistani people?? A person who is even not a Pakistani how he is involving in Pakistani politics?? Please think Pakistanis and save Pakistan!!

Abbas Khan | 13 years ago | Reply At crucial moments, for example support of NRO and RGST, MQM backed off. How can Altaf Hussain say that they have supported PPP through thick and thin. The problem is, during telephone address nobody can intrupt and ask questions, nor anyone can say that Altaf Bhai you are lying.

NaK | 13 years ago | Reply Its good,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,now face to face,,,,,,,,,,,,Public will see who is right for them ? who, which always blaming,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,or who,,,,,,,,,,,,who has been really serving the people and the nation.

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