MQM can file petition for Sharifs, says Altaf

KARACHI - MQM chief Altaf Hussain has said that the services of constitutional experts of MQM are ready for PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to file the review petition against the disqualification, if he desires. He said that Benazir Bhutto had sacrificed her life for the sake of democracy and solidarity of the country and desecration of the memorial monument of BB was very regretful act. He was addressing an MQM mammoth rally at Tibet Centre against the desecration of the memorial monument of the PPP late chairperson Benazir Bhutto on Sunday. Participants of the rally vehemently condemned the incident. MQM had taken out a massive protest rally from Numaish Chowrangi to Tibet Centre in which thousands of participants including women carrying the flags of MQM and PPP chanted slogans against the culprits involved in the desecration of the memorial of Benazir Bhutto. CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, MQM Deputy Convenor Dr Farooq Sattar, Senior Minister Sindh Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro were addressed the protest rally, while, the PPP's ministers, advisors, office bearers including Mukesh Chawla, Rashid Rabbani, Muzzafar Shujrah, Rafique Engineer, Waqar Mehdi and others were also present on the occasion. Altaf requested President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and federal government to find out a via media to resolve the issue of the ineligibility of Sharif brothers. He appealed to the PML-N chief to adopt the peaceful manner to stage protest against the SC verdict. "Nawaz Sharif should also remember the time when he imposed Governor Rule in Sindh in 1998 and blamed the MQM without any evidence, which lasted for 11 months. At that time, the MQM was a coalition partner and in 1992 as well when the operation was launched," he added. Referring to the Operation 1992 against the MQM in the name of 72 big fish, Altaf said Nawaz had breached the agreement with their coalition party MQM through launching the army operation. Altaf appealed to Nawaz and his party to act democratically and register their protest peacefully as the country was passing through a very critical phase. Commenting over the news about the differences between the President Zardari and Prime Minister Gillani, he assured that there are no differences between both leaders adding that this was a conspiracy to promote the differences between them. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah accused Sharif brothers of conspiring against the present democratic system and said that they wanted to come into power through backdoor not with the support of masses. Addressing the protest rally, he charged that Nawaz wanted a judiciary of his choice led by Iftikhar Chaudhry which could disqualify all politicians and hand over powers to him. He claimed that PML-N did not enjoy majority in Punjab as after the imposition of governor rule, only 132 members had reached assembly building which was less than one third needed for maintaining quorum. He expressed gratitude to MQM chief Altaf Hussain for organising such a huge protest rally against the desecration of the memorial plaque of Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi. He said that Nawaz Sharif had also called Benazir his sister because she had persuaded Nawaz to contest the elections. "After the martyrdom of Benazir, Nawaz Sharif had again announced not to contest the election but the PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari advised him (Nawaz) that his participation was necessary for the democratic system." Despite the fact that it was Nawaz Sharif in whose government President Zardari was unjustly incarcerated and tortured, the PPP in the greater national interest chose to forget differences and work in the spirit of national reconciliation and assigned important portfolios to PML-N, he said. Shah said: "Sharif brothers are demanding the immediate restoration of sacked Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, which could not be done without two-third majority in the parliament. How can we restore Chaudhry without parliamentary decision as it will be an unconstitutional act." "Neither we nor Altaf Hussain disqualified Sharif brothers but the previous government had awarded the sentence to them in plane hijacking case," he reminded. He said that people of Punjab not only given mandate to PML-N but they also given the same mandate to PPP. Addressing the rally, Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said that PPP never gave civil disobedience call in the country despite the fact that the party suffered and its founding chairman Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and her brave daughter Benazir Bhutto sacrificed their lives for the sake of masses. He said that people of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and NWFP don't forget their benefactor. "MQM chief Altaf Hussain has proved his affection and love for Sindh by organising this massive rally," he added. Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, senior minister Pir Mazharul Haq also addressed the rally and expressed their gratitude to Altaf.

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