Call for Altaf’s return home angers MQM

The News 20 September 2013 ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) exchanged hot words in the National Assembly (NA) over remarks about Altaf Hussain’s return to Pakistan on Thursday. PPP MNA Sardar Kamal Khan Chang, during the debate on the presidential address, suggested that the MQM should advise Altaf Hussain to return to the country. At this, MQM MPs stood on their benches and started an outcry. They exchanged hot words with Chang. MQM legislator Rashid Ahmed Godel, on a point of order, stated that under the rules, no comment could be made on any person who was not present in the House, so these remarks should be expunged. The MQM also staged a walkout from the National Assembly in protest over power outages in Hyderabad.Raising the issue on a point of order, MQM legislator Wasim Hussain said there had been a power breakdown in Hyderabad since Wednesday evening and protested against the provincial government. Earlier, PTI legislator Shireen Mazari pointed out the quorum but when after the assembly bells rang for five minutes, the quorum was found complete.Taking part in the discussion on the presidential address to the joint sitting of parliament, PPP’s Abdul Sattar Bachani said that all the institutions of the country would have to collectively think about the country. “We must not sacrifice the national interests for the sake of our personal interests.” Dr Arif Alvi of the PTI said there was a need for new legislation over awarding the right of vote to overseas Pakistanis as the ordinance signed by former president Asif Ali Zardari would not serve the purpose. He said there were flaws in the ordinance as the law in countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and many others would not allow the overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes. Talking about the operation in Karachi, the PTI leader said no target killer in the city had yet been convicted, which was alarming. “There is a need to improve the judicial system in the country, as most of the terrorists nabbed are later acquitted by the courts,” he stressed. The MNA said the All Parties Conference (APC) resolution should immediately be taken to the United Nation’s General Assembly as it would help in building international pressure on the US over the drone attacks issue. He demanded to expunge the remarks of Mahmood Khan Achakzai whereas he had declared Karachi as a city of terrorists.He said Quetta and Karachi both were affected by terrorism but these were not cities of terrorists. APP adds: Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Jam Kamal Khan told the NA that the country was facing two billion cubic feet gas shortage, hence there was no plan to cut the import of crude oil. During the Question-Hour in the Lower House, he said due to many problems inherited by the PML-N government, a comprehensive methodology would be worked out to overcome the gas shortage. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said a proposal was under consideration of the government to launch a transit project for the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor. Replying to questions during the Question-Hour, he said a tentative alignment has been cleared subject to feasibility studies containing commercial, technical and hydraulic aspects of the project. Also, Act 1973 (the legal practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill 2013 was introduced in the National Assembly here on Thursday. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad introduced the bill.

Imran Farooq was killed for trying to launch his own party: Scotland Yard Murtaza Ali Shah

Tuesday, September 17, 2013 From Print Edition News LONDON: Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Counter Terrorism Command detectives investigating the murder of Dr Imran Farooq have made it clear that the former MQM leader was stabbed to death because of his resolve to start his own independent political career. Three years after the killing of Dr Imran Farooq outside his home on Green Lane in Edgware, London, the police repeated its belief that Dr Farooq was killed because “he was building his independent political profile in the months before he was killed” and “this remains a key line of inquiry in this investigation”. Detectives have said that Dr Farooq may have been poised to renew his political career and they want to speak to anyone who was in contact with Dr Farooq over his political ambitions. “Police know that in July 2010, Dr Farooq set up a Facebook profile and amassed a large number of contacts through this social network,” said the police, referring to the fact that Dr Farooq was no more active in the MQM and had developed differences with the party. Several people have spoken to the police in London and some from Pakistan confirmed that Dr Imran Farooq had parted his ways with the MQM and had plans to start his own career but the police have its own conviction based on the evidence in its possession which has helped the police focus its attention on the political motivation behind Imran Farooq’s murder. A new party launched in London by former senior MQM leader Naeem Ahmed called “MQM Imran Farooq Shaheed” has also confirmed that Dr Farooq was in contact with several MQM activists to recruit them for his cause. It was soon after Dr Farooq came in the open about his ambitions that he was killed. At the time of his killing, Dr Farooq had been sidelined effectively from the MQM for over nearly three years, since early 2008. The police believes that the party leaders and activists in London and Pakistan had been told not to get in touch with Dr Farooq in any shape or form. “Detectives from the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) who are investigating his murder are committed to finding those responsible. To date they have spoken to 4,076 people, reviewed 6,350 documents and followed up 2,114 lines of inquiry in order to bring his killers to justice,” said the third anniversary appeal. Dr Farooq was only a few yards away from his wife Shumaila Imran Farooq and sons Alishan and Wejdaan when the killers struck with knives and bricks. The cause of death was registered as multiple stab wounds and blunt trauma to the head. A five and a half inch-bladed kitchen knife and a house brick used in the attack were recovered at the scene. The police appeal stressed that Dr Farooq’s killing “would have required careful planning and would have required help from other people, some of whom may have provided assistance or information unwittingly”. The police have appealed to anyone “who was asked for information about Dr Farooq and his routine, or who was asked to help buy items such as knives similar to those used in the murder, or mobile phones around the time of the attack”. Prior to his killing, believes the police, Dr Farooq was also in touch with two other London-based senior leaders of the MQM — Haji Jalal and Liaquat Qureshi – who were both killed during their private visits to Karachi. Haji Jalal, 60, was killed a year earlier on July 09, 2009 while Liaquat Qureshi was gunned down on April 29, 2011. Officers believe that two men took part in the killing. Both have been described to be in their late 20s or early 30s, stocky build, Asian looking, one of them sporting a goatee-style beard and wearing a dark coloured baseball-style cap. Detectives recently arrested a 52-year-old man, who landed at Heathrow on a flight from Canada on June 24, on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. He was interviewed before being released on bail and is due to return to a west London police station later this month. The police appeal added: “Anyone who can assist should call the police incident room on +44 (0)20 7230 2717 or contact the police by email at SO15Mailbox-.DrFarooqMurder@met.police.uk (This is the correct email address). Any information provided will be dealt with sensitively by officers. Alternatively anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can call Crimestoppers, a charity independent of the police, on 0800 555111 within the UK or use the Crimestoppers untraceable online form to pass on information at http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org We understand that people may have concerns in speaking to the police and would like to offer reassurance that information will be dealt with sensitively.”

International powers want to undermine MQM: Altaf Hussain

The News 17 September 2013 KARACHI: The self-exiled supreme leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, Monday night alleged that British and American agents were propagandizing against him, Geo News reported. “The international powers have spun into action to undermine MQM, but to their disappointment, the party is getting stronger every day in the face of all odds”, Hussain said while tele-addressing his party workers here on the occasion of his 60th birthday. Hussain added that American and British media even went as far as publishing reports that said that party's days were numbered and it cease to exist before long, but they were disappointed. "Many world powers including these two superpowers tried their best but could not wipe out MQM no matter what slanderous maneuvers they subjected the party to", said he. The MQM leader also warned his followers to brace themselves as the enemies were closing in on them to deal a blow to the party. "I want you to prepare yourself mentally and physically as we have a lot of work to do down the line", Hussain said. He also demanded of the government to produce those MQM workers before court who were picked up by the law enforcement agencies lately. "They party should be informed about the fate of its detained workers. It even must be told whether they are killed", Hussain said.

Dr Imran was killed because of independent political ambitions: Scotland Yard

The News Update 16 sept 2013 LONDON: Scotland Yard has said that Dr Imran Farooq was killed only because he wanted to make an independent political party, Geo News reported. In a statement issued on the third death anniversary of Dr Imran Farooq, the Scotland Yard said Dr Imran had set up a Facebook page for the launch of his political party. Many people had contacted him via the social networking page. It added that he was about to launch a new independent political career before his death, this remains a key line of inquiry. Dr Farooq was on his way home from work when he was attacked outside his home on 16 September 2010. He died as a result of multiple stab wounds and blunt trauma to the head. A five and a half inch-bladed kitchen knife and a house brick used in the attack were recovered at the scene.

American and British media on MQM and Altaf Hussain

MQM says it has no control over emotions of activists following Altaf’s speeches

LONDON: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has said that it has no control over how the party activists react – violently or peacefully – after the speeches made by its London-based leader Altaf Hussain, who is being investigated by Scotland Yard after allegations were made that Hussain is responsible for inciting violence in Karachi. In a news article titled “Feared in Karachi, living in London: man who runs his party ‘like a cult’”, The Times said on Thursday that the MQM has been described as “a mafia and a cult” which has been accused of “maintaining control of the mega city through a lethal cocktail of extortion, killings and intimidation”. MQM leader Senator Nasreen Jalil was quoted as saying by the paper that how people react after Hussain’s speeches is not the party’s responsibility. “How people feel about it emotionally, we are not able to control that.” She told the newspaper: “He sings, he acts, he cries, he laughs, people move with him. The way he feels about things so passionately, that is his strength.” When asked about the widely-held allegation that the MQM runs an armed wing to intimidate its opponents, Nasreen Jalil didn’t deny the existence of the armed wing. However, she said that the party felt it needed to defend itself. “I don’t know about the armed wing, but definitely we need to protect ourselves.” But the paper said a youth worker of party said that “he was given a gun to intimidate opponents”.The paper said: “The confession is a rare admission of the existence of the armed wing of the MQM, which has helped to maintain the party’s grip.” The paper said that the MQM’s venerated leader Altaf Hussain was granted British citizenship in 2002 – “a year after writing to Tony Blair offering MQM’s help in the battle against Islamic militants in Karachi, where the party is accused of violent intimidation of opponents”. The MQM leader has denied that he ever incited violence but the Karachi based liberal party has for long been associated with using violent tactics against its opponents, which the party denies. The MQM told the paper that Altaf Hussain was cooperating with the Scotland Yard “as a witness only” in the murder investigation of Dr Imran Farooq, former senior MQM leader who was killed in Edgware outside his home three years ago. The paper said that in spite of the party’s reputation Mr Hussain’s supporters “adore him as an ideologue and spiritual leader, and say his movement is battling local Islamism”. The paper said that the MQM’s student wing - the All Pakistan Muttahida Students’ Organisation (APMSO) - demands three promises from new recruits: “blind faith in the party leader; to destroy one’s ego to become a better worker; and to strive for mutual co-operation within the party”. The paper said those who choose to leave the MQM are “forced into hiding”. It quoted an ex-party affiliate as saying that “loyalty is the biggest part” of the MQM politics and said that the ex party member had a “bruise under his eye” which was a reminder “that the party was still watching”.

Altaf terms targeted operation a replay of 1992

The News LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain termed the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi a replay of 1992, alleging that the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) government is once again doing the “ethnic cleansing of Muhajirs.” Talking to MQM’s Coordination Committee and other office bearers, Altaf Hussain said that the party would face the situation with courage. The MQM chief directed the coordination committee to apprise human rights organizations, NGOs and diplomats about ‘state oppression.’ He also directed the office bearers of the party to raise their voice at every forum under the constitution and law. Altaf asked the party workers to ‘physically’ get ready to face ‘state oppression.’