Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader in National Assembly (NA) Khurshid Shah said that the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has no option but to distance itself from the party’s de-facto chief, otherwise it will become clear that the entire party is against Pakistan.

Talking to reporters at the Parliament House on Wednesday, he said that the MQM was registered in the name of Dr Farooq Sattar, so it was his responsibility to respond to the “malicious and provocative statements being given by Altaf Hussain”.

Talking about offshore companies, he said that the government has endeavoured to divert attention of the people from Panama leaks, but it was impossible. He also accused the incumbent government of backing out on its words. “During Farooq Sattar’s meeting with the prime minister, a four-member committee was constituted. But the government did not keep its words,” the opposition leader said with reference to the body made to hear MQM’s reservations over the Karachi operation.

He stated that people from the Indian lobby were with Altaf Hussain. “They are working on Indian agenda and are being supported financially from India.”

Khurshid Shah said it seemed from Farooq Sattar’s press conference that pressure had come from the establishment. “But pressure from political parties was more than that from the establishment,” he said, urging people to “wait for eight days patiently” to see what comes out.

Commenting on the future of the MQM, he said that the party’s leadership in London would not sit mute, nor would it accept decisions made in Karachi.

To a question, he said that Article 6 should not be applied to Altaf Hussain. “The man who had enacted this article was hanged by Gen Ziaul Haq, and another general overthrew a democratic government. What happened [to the dictators]? Nothing happened!”

He said that the interior minister should talk to the British high commissioner and adopt a strong stance on Altaf Hussain’s issue.

He said that the PPP was going to hold countrywide public meetings from September. “The government will be given a tough time on Panama leaks. Punjab will be the epicentre of these public meetings,” he said, adding that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would participate in these public meetings.