Activists and leaders of MQM listening to the telephonic address of party chief Altaf Hussain at Lal Qila ground in Karachi on Thursday. – Photo by Online

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Thursday reaffirmed his party’s participation in Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) long march on Jan 14, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to party workers and members of MQM’s Rabita (coordination) Committee via telephone from London, he said that claims and rumours from several quarters had been proven false and, “We are still part of the government. We are still supporting the long march and we will participate in it at all costs.”

Earlier on Sunday, the MQM chief had asked the nation to be ready for the announcement of a “political drone attack" from him.

“No one in the country will be able to respond to my drone attack,” he had claimed.

In today’s much anticipated speech, Hussain, by defending criticism for holding dual nationality, said that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah also had a British passport.

He also read out an oath taken by the Quaid-i-Azam after assuming charge as governor general of Pakistan, saying that Jinnah also took the oath of loyalty to British King George VI.

Altaf Hussain also read out a provision of the Indian Independence Act 1947 which stated the office of governor general, in both India and Pakistan, as representative of the British crown.

Moreover, the MQM chief assailed critics of the local government system saying if the government does not listen to Urdu speaking Sindhis on the issue, then they would be forced to call for division of the province.

Opinion

Editorial

Economic plan?
Updated 15 Dec, 2024

Economic plan?

So long as the government does not realise that it needs to put its own house in order, growth will remain anaemic and the world will be reluctant to help.
Registration tussle
15 Dec, 2024

Registration tussle

MAULANA Fazlur Rehman appears to be having trouble digesting the fact that he was taken for a ride. The government,...
Dangerous overreach
15 Dec, 2024

Dangerous overreach

THE latest wave of arrests and cases filed against journalists and social media users under Peca marks an alarming...
Half measures
Updated 14 Dec, 2024

Half measures

The question remains: Were suspects' prolonged detention, subsequent trial, and punishments ever legal in eyes of the law?
Engaging with Kabul
14 Dec, 2024

Engaging with Kabul

WHILE relations with the Afghan Taliban have been testy of late, mainly because of the feeling in Islamabad that the...
Truant ministers
Updated 14 Dec, 2024

Truant ministers

LAWMAKERS from both the opposition and treasury benches have been up in arms about what they see as cabinet...