Altaf calls for open trial of party activist
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KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain said on Saturday that he did not know Umair Siddiqui and demanded his ‘open-court trial’ so that the truth came out and any doubt that he had confessed under torture was cleared.
Reacting to Rangers’ allegation that Umair Siddiqui was an MQM activist, who was involved in killing 120 people, Mr Hussain said: “If he is guilty, hang him publicly.”
Read: MQM worker says Sector In-charge set Baldia Factory on fire
In an interview with Geo News, he said the MQM had experienced similar tactics in 1992. “In fact the Rangers authorities always adopt such tactics to hide their flaws and shortcomings, but these could not deprive the MQM of its support among the masses.”
When his attention was drawn to his own demand for an army operation in Karachi, the London-based MQM chief said it was his mistake to give such a call because his party wanted action against the growing influence of Al Qaeda and Taliban in the city, but the guns were turned on his party.
Also read: 90 raid aftermath: MQM at crossroads
Also on Sunday, Mr Husain urged human rights organisations, civil society and the legal fraternity to raise voice against ‘torture of detained MQM workers’.
“It was MQM which demanded operation in Karachi but now we are being victimised in the name of anti-crime action,” he said while addressing members of the party’s legal aid committee at Nine Zero.
“The Rangers spokesperson did not provide facts regarding arrest of all the suspects from Nine Zero. More than 140 people have been picked up during the raid. Even my cousin and nephew who are government employees were arrested,” the MQM chief said.
Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2015
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Comments (62) Closed
Mar 15, 2015 09:06am
He doesn't know him now when he has been captured.
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Mar 15, 2015 09:16am
We should demand your open court trial Mr. Hussain.
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Mar 15, 2015 09:39am
Rangers will be doing a great job so long they don't touch MQM. And when they do they are off of pedestal. What kind of logic is this? Law should be same for everyone. And how would Altaf or for that matter his Rabita committee would explain criminal who were recovered from 90? Were they all planted by Rangers?
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Mar 15, 2015 09:48am
If Rangers don't agree to open trials, this will mean they are afraid people of Pakistan will find out truth if they fabricated evidences against MQM leaders and workers. Rangers should accept this challenge to clear their image of being prejudice again majiirs.
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Mar 15, 2015 10:08am
Altaf Hussein is absolutely right. An open court trial is a must considering the amount of conspiracies hatched against MQM in the past
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Mar 15, 2015 10:09am
A brave move by Altaf bhai. Now please come back home.
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Mar 15, 2015 10:27am
I support him. All those "confessions" are not reliable as they were extracted by torturing him. We should have a fair trial. We are setting up dangerous precedence for dictatorship in this country.
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Mar 15, 2015 10:27am
All democratic political parties should launch joint campaign against crimes and criminal. It would be appreciated if all parties will expel criminal mind and especially LAND MAFIA. No party should be allowed to keep land mafia or to help land mafia. Since 1947 masses are praying for justice in Pakistan. No justice, nothing.
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Mar 15, 2015 11:00am
It's a fair demand. Let the truth come out
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Mar 15, 2015 11:11am
@khob What about open trial fo
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Mar 15, 2015 11:23am
Does Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and other leaders knows each and every worker of their party? Asking for an open trial is against law specially in Pakistan where torture and extra judicial killing is common?
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Mar 15, 2015 12:09pm
Seems another operation in the offing against the Muhajirs for asking their rights .
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Mar 15, 2015 12:19pm
If Rangers are not targeting MQM, then why they released statement of Umair. They could have presented in court and waited for trial to complete and if convicted put him behind bars. Releasing statements on plain papers without Rangers logo? Is it a conspiracy?
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Mar 15, 2015 01:14pm
In any civilised country a self confession derived as a result of torture is thrown out by the judges. In militarised society such as ours chitrols are norm and a lazy way of prosecution. To stop receiving painful violence from the brave armed soldiers I would even confess to poisoning Jinnah though I was not born then.
Let us all see the evidence in open court, our judges should demand better evidence before accepting the Rangers' version of events.
If proven then punish the guilty by all means.
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Mar 15, 2015 01:41pm
@Brightidea and @ Khan Haqiqi
Excellent analysis.
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Mar 15, 2015 01:50pm
Why don't Mr AH get out of his comfort zone and come back to his dearest people to face the trials pending against him and let the rule of law prosper and JUSTICE BE DONE .
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Mar 15, 2015 02:04pm
@Saleem Yes, you are right in saying law should be same for all. What about people like Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza, Mr. Shahi Syed, Qadir Magsi etc.. Unfortunately our own agencies grow and protect these unlawful activists for the sake of their own interests. MQM workers are also no exception. Kindly do not buy blindly all that is coming out from Rangers or LEAs.
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Mar 15, 2015 02:10pm
@khob On what basis are there any proofs. Your wish cannot justify as evidence in courts.
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Mar 15, 2015 02:14pm
@Khan-Haqiqi That's right as soon as the attack took place at the P TV HI by PTI hooligans PTI tried to distance itself.
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Mar 15, 2015 02:15pm
@KARACHI WALA I like your second comment "Now please come back home".
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Mar 15, 2015 02:16pm
Media Trial of MQM at its peak .Even a kid would understand who are running these, like they did in the 90s.
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Mar 15, 2015 02:27pm
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan : Yes he is right; now he should come back to Pakistan
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Mar 15, 2015 04:00pm
which political leader lives in Pakistan, Zardari spend most of the time in Dubai, Zulfiqar Mirza in London, NS will leave for KSA after finishing his tenure and Imran Khan will do the same thing as soon he earns some dirty dollars.
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Mar 15, 2015 04:28pm
Altaf bhai doesn't know Umair although he was captured from around 90. Altaf bhai also said Rangers smuggled weapons in 90 even though Haider Rizvi said all weapons were licensed.
Fact is Altaf bhai doesn't know anything except to do telephonic rants to a rent a mob.
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Mar 15, 2015 04:32pm
@Rafiq and yet everyone tells us of the same plot? He has already admitted to his hand in the crime, now Umair has nothing to lose.
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Mar 15, 2015 04:33pm
@abbas manji what rights would those be under the constitution?
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Mar 15, 2015 04:34pm
@J Emanuel you have to start somewhere.
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Mar 15, 2015 05:00pm
I could not agree more.
Govt and all their appointed officers are corrupt. This is a plot against MQM and Urdu Speaking.
In the custody people will admit every thing which they did not commit.
CA, USA
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Mar 15, 2015 05:00pm
@abbas manji I agree.
Equal rights for each and every citizen of Pakistan. Mohajirs are not third class people of Pakistan.
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Mar 15, 2015 05:02pm
@Maqsood Bhai Well said brother.
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Mar 15, 2015 05:11pm
sharp and clear discrimination with MQM, like they did at the time of election in May 2013 when entire Karachi was circled in such a way that MQM voters should reach far distances to cast their vote. Again a foolishness by government like they thought Bengalis are weak and cannot make separate homeland
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Mar 15, 2015 05:33pm
He popped up.
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Mar 15, 2015 06:23pm
Its OK sitting in London shouting your mouth off why not get of your behind and go to Pakistan and stand by your people, oh no he cannot do that as he is a coward.
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Mar 15, 2015 06:24pm
@lafanga well said.
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Mar 15, 2015 07:09pm
Yes, there should be open trial and Altaf should also be publically tried for criminal activities. Let's call spade a spade.
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Mar 15, 2015 07:11pm
@JUSTICE, in open trial MQM will lose not rangers.
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Mar 15, 2015 07:12pm
@JUSTICE it is really shamefull that we have people like you who advocate for criminals...have some shame and think of country for a change
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Mar 15, 2015 07:14pm
@abbas manji get over with your identity crisis....wat hijrat u did for yourself to be called MOHAJIR?
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Mar 15, 2015 07:15pm
@Einstein Babar never seen or read in a human history about a leader who is so in love of his life and so indifferent of other lifes......welcome to pakistan
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Mar 15, 2015 07:50pm
@abbas manji what are Mohajir rights and and how are they different from the other Pakistanis.
If Mohjirs think they have rights that are different from rest of Pakistanis, please tell us what makes them special to have such rights.
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Mar 15, 2015 08:10pm
Contradictory remarks by MQM
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Mar 15, 2015 08:14pm
About time when MQM workers can freely work without th fear of these thugs. But there are more who are operating from other places. I know MQM was a great party but was blackmailed by these thugs and gangs who provided them with 'security' in the name of safe havens. Just like what Pak army did to the Talibans.
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Mar 15, 2015 08:31pm
The Anti state elements with crimes and murders should be terminated at any cost
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Mar 15, 2015 08:35pm
Bahi, com'on. Its up now.
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Mar 15, 2015 08:36pm
@Dr Rehman (Dow) Any example of confession in freedom?
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Mar 15, 2015 08:52pm
I will really appreciate if Altaf Bhai will come to Pakistan and face the same court of Law.
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Mar 15, 2015 09:16pm
Rangers are biased with MQM and spending most of their energy in helping other political parties. If they would have been doing their real job then the event like the one happened in Lahore today would have been avoided. Their priority is to protect the interest of selected people of Pakistan, not the every citizen of Pakistan.
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Mar 15, 2015 09:46pm
MQM. Form a legal committee of good lawyers and fight each and every case whether they are MQM members or not. Rangers and army walas are famous for concocting these type of lies.
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Mar 15, 2015 10:33pm
@M. Siddique even if MQM loses I will stand by MQM as the have fought for the right of everyone in Karachi as all jobs and benefits go to people who snatch from Karachiites. MQM has fought for Christians, Hindus, Parsis and Urdu speaking.
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Mar 15, 2015 10:59pm
Karachi Operation - against MQM or against Mohajirs ???
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Mar 15, 2015 11:06pm
Let the state security forces takes on the job. You might not like Mr Don, but someday, someone have to save civilians. Dont you see it like the rest???
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Mar 15, 2015 11:08pm
@Saleem Is MQM the only party responsible for terrorism? What about PPP, ANP, Jamate Islami, Provincial and the Federal Governments? @cielid
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Mar 15, 2015 11:26pm
Army/Rangers must get rid of Criminal not matter which party they belongs to. This is the only hope we have seen in last 30 years against helplessness of citizen of Karachi.Arrest the Masters of these killers and criminals.
No doubt it will lead you to London in the end in order to catch the head of these Mafia. No mercy on killers of thousands of innocent peoples
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Mar 16, 2015 12:04am
Is MQM the only party responsible for terrorism? What about PPP, ANP, Jamate Islami, Provincial and the Federal Governments?
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Mar 16, 2015 12:08am
So he means the Pakistan Rangers can turn anything on any one. Does it mean that the same could have been going against Balochis and Talibans. What else could be inferred.
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Mar 16, 2015 12:29am
@John Agreed 100%
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Mar 16, 2015 01:12am
@Ale Eba
against both. I hope this answers your question
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Mar 16, 2015 01:15am
Bravo for cleaning the house!
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Mar 16, 2015 03:17am
@Farhan FYI entire political systems is built to protect elites of Pakistan, law only apply against power less, good example is model town massacres and people like you properly don't care, PML-N government defying court order. As for as MQM, their case will be decided by court. I believe a person is innocent until it's proven guilty by the court and jury, unfortunately in Pakistan corrupt judicial system does not believe in jury system. No one should be above the law.
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Mar 16, 2015 04:01am
MQM supporters will not believe anything even if they see it with their own eyes...This is the dilemma of our blind and biased society.
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Mar 16, 2015 04:58am
If this operation will solve Karachi problem this will be the best thing for the people of Karachi. There needs to be a crack-down on Lyari and Sohrab-Goth like Nine-Zero. After the judicial inquiry the convicts should be tried in military-courts.
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Mar 16, 2015 04:20pm
Whoever gets killed in Karachi, they claim the dead as their member. AND whoever is caught red handed, they disown.
People now know it very well. Many important members were openly supported by this ethnic party (blogs available on MQMs own website) - including Siddiqui and baldia factory torcher Qureshi.
Its a joke their chief and the party now claims they don't even know them?
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