ISLAMABAD - Dr Farooq Sattar-led MQM got the blessing of the federal government yesterday when a key government functionary remarked that it should be given due space for standing against those who are not accepting the very existence of Pakistan.

“A defining situation has developed in Karachi and MQM led by Dr Farooq Sattar has taken a very bold step and we should give space to it, said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali while addressing a press conference at Nadra Headquarters.

Being dubbed as MQM Pakistan, a group of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders under the lead of Dr Farooq had disassociated themselves from party founder Altaf Hussain after the latter delivered an anti-Pakistan speech, and they also supported parliamentary resolutions condemning Altaf’s action.

The other day, MQM London office asked the MQM parliamentarians in Pakistan to resign contending that people had given them votes in the name of Altaf Hussain. But Dr Farooq, in whose name MQM is registered in Pakistan, rejected this call, saying people did give them mandate for Pakistan bashing.

"No one could think that Altaf Hussain’s own party would stand against him publicly and we should support everyone who is opposing those (Altaf and his associates) who are raising slogans against Pakistan," said the minister.

He said that the stance of MQM Pakistan has dispelled the impression that perhaps Dr Farooq was secretly in contact with Altaf Hussain. He also remarked that the issue was not just about MQM but it was about Urdu speaking people who were patriot to the country.

Nisar made it clear that Rangers following a decision of the provincial government were demolishing those offices of MQM in Karachi which were illegal.

To a question, the minister said that the nexus between Brahumdagh Bugti, the leader of Baloch Republican Party who is living in self-exile in Switzerland, and India has become visible following the decision of India to give him asylum. "In the next few weeks, we are sending a reference to Interpol through FIA for his (Bugti’s) repatriation to Pakistan," he said.

About the allegations of India on Pakistan following Uri attack, Nisar said that India had no proof of involvement of Pakistan in this attack and now it was withdrawing its allegations one after the other.

He said that India should be held accountable for hurling baseless accusations on Pakistan over its alleged involvement in this attack carried out on an army brigade headquarters in Indian occupied Kashmir.

"How will Pakistan help India in carrying out any investigation when it itself does not have any evidence regarding the Uri attack. He said that India had now imposed restrictions on media with regard to coverage of this attack.

About the decision of Punjab government to deploy Rangers in Punjab, he said that modalities were being finalised in this regard and army and Rangers both would be used in the province. "(As many as) 10,000 army troops were already deployed in Punjab out of the total 11,000 deployment with the civilian administration,” he said.

Commenting on the alleged thrashing of army personnel to an official of Motorways Police when two army officers were asked to stop their vehicle because of reckless driving, the minister said that 'the issue has become a serious case for the discipline and image of the armed forces'.

"I have personal experience that Motorways Police was courteous," he said and ruled out the possibility that any injustice was done from their side. "It is a test case for the General Headquarters (GHQ) and transparency should be visible in it as COAS General Raheel Sharif has set some traditions of transparency," he said.

He added that a joint investigation team has been formed to probe the incident. Not only transparent inquiry should be held in the case but action should be taken against the responsible persons, he said.

Chaudhry Nisar said that the bar of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on members of the parliament not to hold rallies in those areas where by-elections were being held should not be one-sided. He said that this should apply to both government and opposition parliamentarians.

"I could not visit my constituency for the last two months due to this restriction but the position parties including PTI Chairman Imran Khan is violating the ban by holding rallies," he said. He asked ECP to take action of such violations.