KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar while speaking at Karachi Press Club on Tuesday denounced anti-Pakistan slogans chanted during an attack on ARY News’ Karachi office.
The MQM should operate from Pakistan alone, Sattar said.
“If such statements [by Altaf] are a result of mental stress, then that mental stress needs to be resolved first. It would be better for the MQM to operate from Pakistan until Altaf Hussain’s health issues are not resolved, as such statements push the MQM into isolation. Altaf and the entire party are being ridiculed due to these statements.”
“We own that there is a problem, and Altaf Hussain keeps asking for forgiveness. Until this issue is addressed, we’ve decided that sanity should prevail,” he said. “Every MQM worker, leader, voter and well-wisher denounces these anti-Pakistan slogans,” Sattar said. “We will not allow this to happen again.” “We totally disassociate ourselves from the violence that took place in Karachi yesterday. It is totally against our policy to use violence to achieve our ends.”
“We were not expecting that the situation [attack on ARY News] would unfold in such a manner. Certain things were said that shouldn’t have been said,” he said. “Anti-Pakistan slogans should not have been chanted.” “I would like to categorically state that MQM is Pakistan. The MQM is registered in Pakistan and recognises the laws and Constitution of Pakistan.” “We were with our friends, the Rangers, for eight hours… It should be clear that we are not speaking under the influence of anyone else… Everything I say is in line with MQM’s policy.”
“Our offices should be allowed to reopen,” he said. The press conference is being held at e Karachi Press Club instead of MQM headquarters Nine Zero, which were sealed by the Rangers on Monday night. Speaking to local TV channels before the press conference, Sattar said, “We will take the MQM’s mission forward and continue to empower citizens… I will hold the press conference I was unable to hold yesterday today.”
MQM leaders Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Shaikh Salahuddin, Nighat Shakeel, Waqar Hussain, Muhammad Hussain, Asif Hussain, Saman Jafri and Dr Fouzia were also present at e Karachi Press Club. According to local media reports, Sattar stopped off at a local hotel prior to the press conference to meet MQM lawmakers including Arshad Vohra and Nasreen Jalil.
Sattar and Opposition Leader in the Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hasan were released from Rangers custody after overnight detention following violent protests in the metropolis. Farooq Sattar and Khawaja Izhar were taken into custody by the Rangers on Monday night at Karachi Press Club after suspected MQM workers attacked an ARY News office in the Saddar area of the metropolis.
One person was killed and several others injured as police clashed with the angry mob. Sattar initially attempted to resist being taken into custody but was eventually convinced to follow orders. Khawaja also accompanied him to the Rangers headquarters. Private TV channel reported that Rangers officials informed the MQM leaders that DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar wanted to see them.
MQM leader Dr Amir Liaquat was also taken into custody from his office on I.I. Chundrigar Road and later released by the Rangers after overnight detention, according to local media reports.
“Altaf should have retracted his statement,” Amir Liaquat said speaking to a local TV channel. “I was awake all night. The Rangers kept me really well and I met the DG Rangers,” he said. “I am under a lot of pressure and am not going anywhere or talking to anyone.” The Rangers also raided MQM headquarters Nine Zero on Monday night, taking nine other party leaders into custody and sealing MQM offices. The paramilitary force also recovered weapons from Nine Zero, which will be sent for forensic tests.
The MQM workers were sent on three-day remand in police custody on Tuesday, private TV channel reported. Sections of the media alleged that MQM workers had carried out the attack after receiving directives in a speech by MQM Chief Altaf Hussain. The MQM supremo today apologised to the military for his earlier ‘anti-Pakistan’ remarks.
