ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Wednesday asked the British government to stop MQM chief Altaf Hussain from demeaning state institutions and inciting violence in the country through his speeches, besides seeking legal action against the self-exiled leader.
In the aftermath of registration of FIR against Altaf Hussain for threatening Rangers, the Pakistan government urged the UK government to stop the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief, who is a British citizen, from giving threatening and objectionable remarks against security forces of the country that can incite violence.
In a specially scheduled meeting, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Wednesday met British High Commissioner to Pakistan Philip Barton at the Punjab House and conveyed his government’s concerns to him in this connection. Though no official word came from the Interior Ministry about the meeting, an official of the ministry confirmed that a meeting was held between the two.
According to official sources, Nisar conveyed to the British diplomat that Altaf Hussain through his speeches was inciting violence in the country and his remarks could harm the ongoing operation against militants and criminals in Karachi. In the meeting, the minister urged the British government to stop the MQM chief from giving such statements and asked for initiation of a legal action against him.
The minister also informed the British High Commissioner that an FIR had been registered against Altaf Hussain in Karachi for giving life threats to Rangers officials in a TV show. He also shared a copy of the FIR with the envoy.
This was the second meeting between the interior minister and the British envoy in the last couple of days in which they also discussed the investigations conducted so far in Dr Imran Farooq murder case. In the earlier meeting, Chaudhry Nisar had discussed with Philip Barton the lifting of moratorium on all cases of capital punishment.
Rangers raided Nine Zero, the MQM headquarters in Karachi, on March 11 and claimed arresting many criminals including some target killers from there besides recovery of arms and ammunition in large quantity. MQM’s Raabta Committee, in a statement issued after the raid, had said Rangers personnel had ransacked the MQM’s head office and allegedly killed a worker.
Later, MQM chief Altaf Hussain in a TV show while talking live to an anchorperson had made a statement the Rangers interpreted as a life threat to all those officials who took part in the raid. The Rangers on the basis of these remarks got registered an FIR in Civil Lines Police Station of Karachi, the other day. Earlier, the interior minister had defended Rangers raid at MQM headquarters and termed it a positive step as part of the government’s efforts to bring peace in the port city.