ISLAMABAD/QUETTA - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said the government is responsible for protecting the integrity and respect of the armed forces and welcomed the apology tendered by MQM chief Altaf Hussain, calling it a ‘good step’.
The prime minister, in a statement, however, added that the matter pertaining to the country's security and national interests was extremely sensitive and one should be careful while saying something on these subjects.
Such irresponsible statements, he said, not only hurt the integrity of the national institutions but also the public sentiment. The PM also urged the media to fully adhere to the code of conduct in accordance with the law, and ensure that no irresponsible statement gets through and refrain from promoting anyone speaking against the national interest.
Meanwhile, reports suggested the federal government has started consultation process with legal experts for initiation of proceedings against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain under Article 6 of the Constitution for making derogatory statements against the state institutions.
Sources told Online news agency that political parties are mounting pressure on the government for registration of a high treason case against Altaf and initiation of stern action against him. Provincial assemblies have started adopting resolutions on this count. A condemnation resolution has already been unanimously passed by the Balochistan Assembly and such resolutions are likely to be moved in other provincial assemblies as well.
Balochistan Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti put forth the resolution on Saturday and the members passed it unanimously. The lawmakers demanded stern action against MQM for giving damaging, offensive and intolerable remarks against the national security institutions. The MPAs demanded imposition of ban on the party.
A spokesperson for the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid informed The Nation that a resolution in support of armed forces and condemning the derogatory remarks by Altaf Hussain would be tabled in the Upper House of the Parliament by party senator Kamil Ali Aga on Monday.
The federal government, on its part, is envisaging how to initiate proceedings against MQM chief after registering high treason case under Article 6 against him, news agency Online claimed. It also quoted sources as saying the government would seek legal and constitutional opinion from the law ministry on this matter, besides launching consultation process with the Pakistan Bar Council and provincial bar councils to solicit their opinion.
A lawyers’ wing is all set to work out recommendations in this regard and present them to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Following the completion of this process, it would be put before the federal cabinet for launching proceedings against Altaf under Article 6.
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said law enforcement agencies are playing a pivotal role in eradication of organised crime in Karachi and turning it again into city of lights. In a statement, he commended efforts of the security agencies in counter-terrorism. He said the law-enforcement agencies are taking indiscriminate action against criminals.
The minister said all the democratic forces, civil society and the media support law enforcement agencies in their bid to root out crimes from the society. He said unjustified criticism on law enforcement agencies is condemnable. Pervaiz Rashid said it is prerogative of the independent judiciary to take action against criminals.
Earlier, Premier Sharif’s silence over the issue of Altaf’s remarks was noted by almost all the major political parties and those in the opposition grilled him for keeping mum over the situation despite the fact that many federal cabinet members including Information and Defence ministers came out in support of the armed forces, terming the utterances of Altaf Hussain derogatory.
Monitoring adds: The government has expressed concern over the live telecast of hate speech by political leaders and urged the regulatory body (Pemra) to invoke section 27 of the Pemra Amendment Act 2007. Acting on the government’s advice, Pemra issued show cause notices to 14 television channels the other day.
Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid said that the government was waiting for media houses to reply to the show-cause notices served by Pemra.
“No one will be allowed to compromise national security,” the minister said.
Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major-General Asim Bajwa on Friday condemned the statements made by MQM chief Altaf Hussain in relation to the army, saying the matter would be pursued legally.
It is pertinent to mention that hours after a strong reaction from the army, the MQM chief apologised to “national security institutions” and “all patriots” for his remarks about the 1971 war and the call to India’s intelligence agency for help. He said he wanted to clarify that remarks seeking assistance from India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) had been made just “satirically”.
Altaf was also all praise for the armed forces and said he always had respect for the Pakistan Army.
The latest chain of statements began on Thursday when SSP Malir Rao Anwar made startling claims that two suspects that he had arrested – Tahir alias Lamba and Mama Junaid – belonged to the MQM and had been sent to India for anti-state training in the past.