Propaganda against Altaf Hussain is propaganda against Pakistan: Farooq Sattar

KARACHI: “Any propaganda against [Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief] Altaf Hussain is propaganda against Pakistan,” senior leader of MQM, Farooq Sattar said on Sunday afternoon, addressing a huge protest rally on M A Jinnah Road in Karachi. The protest was held to express solidarity with Altaf Hussain after a BBC documentary that said UK prosecutors asked Pakistan to trace two suspects believed to have been involved in the murder of senior MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq. “The BBC documentaries are propaganda aimed at Altaf Hussain’s character assassination, and a conspiracy against Pakistan’s survival and stability,” Sattar alleged. He reiterated that MQM and Altaf Hussain respect freedom of expression and freedom of press, but they reject ‘media trials’. He indicated that the party may use its legal right if needed. He further said that BBC’s “biased” reporting is influencing the ongoing case in the court, adding that the news organisation was trying to be the investigator, the prosecutor and the judiciary. The deputy convener of MQM Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui also addressed the rally, claiming the media trial against Altaf Hussain had now gone global, and those behind it would have to apologize for their behaviour. He further said that all this propaganda was costing BBC its credibility.