"I beg military leadership for security": Altaf Hussain

KARACHI (Dunya News): Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain, in his telephonic address, pleaded to the Army Chief General Raheel Sharif for justice for MQM and ‘migrant populace’ saying that the Army is responsible not only for defending land but also its inhabitants. He alleged that the former president Asif Ali Zardari didn’t respond upon contacting repeatedly. State institutions are subjecting MQM workers to the ‘third degree’ torture, he said while pleading the chief justice to take notice of extrajudicial killings of party workers.
Addressing a press conference, MQM Chief claimed that police, rangers and other law enforcing institutions are involved in killing party workers. Police cannot torture party workers without consent of Sindh government, he added.
“Our ancestors sacrificed their lives for Pakistan; people who migrated to Pakistan are patriots and not traitors,” he said.
Altaf Hussain said that they supported former president Asif Ali Zardari at the time when no one was willing; adding that the police under patronizing of Sindh government is targeting MQM workers today. “Why didn’t Asif Zardari take notice”, he complained.
MQM chief said that the military operation in 1992 was also against MQM and that General Asif Nawaz’s statements in this regard are on record. What an army does to another army was done to MQM; he alleged adding that the army is again being turned against MQM as part of a conspiracy.
Altaf Hussain again urged Army Chief and Director General (DG) Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) to provide justice. He went on to say that operation against party workers didn’t stop despite assurances from Prime Minister and Interior Minister.
MQM Chief said that MQM doesn’t want to fight the army, nor is it an agent of India or America; adding that they cannot even think about weakening the country. MQM was subject of accusations like ‘Jinnahpur’, an army commission should be formed to probe into these matters, he demanded.