KARACHI: Former city nazim and MQM leader Mustafa Kamal has said Dr Zulfikar Mirza’s allegations against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and its chief are not PPP’s policy, adding that his party will continue the dialogue with the ruling party on rejoining the government.
Talking to a private TV channel on Tuesday night after holding a lengthy press conference, Mr Kamal said President Asif Ali Zardari had advised MQM chief Altaf Hussain not to watch Mr Mirza on television channels. He quoted the president as saying that he himself had been disappointed.
He said there was an inbuilt mechanism in the MQM which barred criminals from entering the party which stood for politics of peace and democracy in the country.
At the press conference, Mr Kamal severely criticised the media and human rights organisations while responding to former Sindh home minister Dr Mirza’s outburst. He said his party could not be stopped from mainstream national politics merely on the basis of allegations, tricks and biased statements.
He did not invite the PPP-led coalition government to intervene, but appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan and state institutions and agencies to fairly examine Dr Mirza’s allegations and recent spell of killings in the city and give their opinion.
Mr Kamal said the elements hatching conspiracies to end the Muttahida and push Muhajirs to the wall should know that the MQM enjoyed the full mandate of people belonging to different ethnic groups and was needed for survival, integrity and independence of the country.
“The negative and biased thinking and acts of accusing the MQM and Quaid-i-Tehreek Altaf Hussain of indulging in anti-Pakistan activities should be stopped forthwith in the interest of the country and its people.”
Mr Kamal advised workers of his party not to be provoked, but stay united and steadfast as time would once again prove that all allegations against the MQM and its leadership were false and baseless.
It was the second press conference by the MQM after Dr Mirza had levelled serious allegations against the United State, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Mr Hussain on August 28.
Mr Kamal said the Muttahida had not been prompt or harsh in countering Dr Mirza only in the interest of the province and the country. “We think that a mild and civilised reaction by Faisal Sabzwari on behalf of the MQM was enough to Dr Mirza’s baseless and nonsensical allegations, but unfortunately different quarters, including the media and TV anchorpersons, have been trying to get something out of these,” he added.
Accompanied by other members of the coordination committee, including Nasreen Jalil and Dr Sagheer Ahmad, the former city nazim criticised a statement by Dr Mirza that the MQM chief had written a letter to then British prime minister Tony Blair in 2001, saying that his party was ready to bring thousands of people to the streets in his support.
Mr Kamal said this was a heinous allegation. The letter was fake and baseless because the address of MQM secretariat in it was Colindale which was incorrect.
He also denied allegations mentioned in the alleged letter that the party had sought dismantling of the ISI. “The letter’s genuineness is yet to be proved; it aims at creating misunderstandings about the MQM among sections of Pakistan army.”
Mr Kamal said MQM was a patriotic party which believed in security and stability of Pakistan, but it was shameful that uncalled for statements and allegations were being levelled against the party and its chief.
If Dr Mirza is so firm in his statements and got firm grounds to prove his allegations he should go to courts instead of resorting to ‘Muhajir bashing’ and telling lies.
He asked why was Dr Mirza silent when he being the home minister had reports that MQM’s port and shipping minister was behind the theft of Nato containers. Dr Mirza should have lodged FIRs, instead of making false claims now, he added.
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