KARACHI, March 18: Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain warned on Sunday that his party will review its relationship with the government if the use of ‘state violence’ was not stopped immediately.

“We did not support the government’s action of imposing restriction on the press or its acts of violence against peaceful lawyers. MQM is closely monitoring the current situation and demands that the president and the prime minister should stop the use of state power, otherwise the MQM will be absolutely free to exercise all its options in the near future,” Mr Hussain said. He did not elaborate.

He was addressing his party’s activists and supporters gathered here to celebrate the 23rd Foundation Day of the MQM.

He said that the MQM had always raised its voice against injustice and it would continue to do so without any fear of ‘consequences’.

He spoke at length about the current internal political situation, the threats being faced by the country, situation in tribal areas and in Balochistan and the current judicial crisis.

With regard to the presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, he clarified that neither the MQM had been taken into confidence nor was it consulted on the matter.

Criticising the government for not consulting the MQM before or after filing of the reference, he said that it was high time to decide whether it wanted to continue working with the MQM, which always supported the government even in difficult times, or it wanted pseudo-friends.

However, he maintained that it was a constitutional and legal matter and all Pakistanis should leave the matter to the Supreme Judicial Council to reach a decision in accordance with the Constitution and law. “This matter should not be used for scoring political points,” he added.

He appealed opposition leaders to lodge their protest in a peaceful manner keeping in view the critical situation the country was facing.

He said MQM believed in freedom of expression and it was concerned over various government restrictions on the media. He condemned the police action on the Islamabad office of Geo News and recent incidents of police violence against protesting lawyers. The MQM leader observed that the government had mishandled the situation in Balochistan and tribal areas and the recent protests of lawyers.

He said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf himself had admitted that some conspiracy was being hatched against him. He urged the president to unmask the conspirators and to take action against them in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

He said that Pakistan’s relations with its neighbouring countries, Iran, Afghanistan and India, were not normal.

He said that the MQM always urged the government to resolve the issue of Balochistan and tribal areas through dialogue, but unfortunately the rulers did not pay heed. He said that the situation in Balochistan was not satisfactory.

He called upon the president, the prime minister and the policy-makers to give complete provincial autonomy and stop interference by the federation into the affairs of the provinces for the sake of solidarity and integrity of Pakistan.

“People of former East Pakistan wanted their rights and they gave them the country. I request the authorities not to adopt similar practices, lest instead of giving provincial autonomy you give them countries,” he said.

He prayed to the Almighty to grant wisdom to the rulers to take decision in national interests.

He asked the government to immediately release all lawyers, political leaders and workers.

Mr Hussain congratulated MQM workers and supporters on the 23rd Foundation Day.

A large number of MQM workers and supporters attended the gathering. The address of Mr Hussain was relayed simultaneously in 20 cities of Pakistan, where the party’s foundation day was celebrated.