Pak SC moved to ban MQM

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has been moved seeking ban on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) as the party split further and completely disassociated it with London-based Altaf Hussain.

MQM’s leader Mustafa Kamal had earlier this year formed Pak Sarzameen Party from within the parent party. And some years back, a splinter group MQM (Haqiqi) had split from the main party. The Haqiqi faction could not however, muster any public support.

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, seeking ban on the MQM after Altaf Hussain’s anti-Pakistan speech from London.

The petition was filed by Watan Party, appealing the court to cancel registration of MQM as a political party for its activities against the state. The petitioner said MQM was working against the integrity of the country, and its workers were involved in recent attacks on the media, therefore its registration should be cancelled and activities banned.

The petitioner also appealed the court to try Altaf Hussain for treason over his recent speech in which the MQM chief raised slogans against Pakistan. “The MQM chief should be arrested through Interpol,” said he petitioner. Earlier, MQM leader Farooq Sattar called an end to what he called “an undeclared ban on his party”.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Farooq Sattar said that MQM took an unprecedented step of the party’s history following August 22 events when Altaf Hussain chanted anti-Pakistan slogans.

“We felt our responsibility without any consultation and came to conclusion that time had come to draw a line,” he said.

The senior politician said that MQM Pakistan had no connection with Altaf Hussain and London chapter of the party now. “We have parted ways with Altaf Hussain and London Secretariat,” he added.

Mr Sattar lamented that his party was being victimised and even women workers were being rounded up. The senior politician said that MQM’s mandate must be fully respected in true letter and spirit. “We have fully disowned and denounced the August 22 speech,” he said, adding that no MQM representative would attend any talk show if the process of victimisation did not stop.

“Nine Zero, which is headquarters of MQM Pakistan, remains sealed illegally and unconstitutionally,” he said. Later, Pak Sarzamin Party chief Mustafa Kamal said Altaf Hussain and Farooq Sattar were two sides of the same coin. “Earlier Altaf Hussain befooled the Mohajir (settlers) community and now Farooq Sattar is doing the same thing,” he said.