ISLAMABAD, Sept 17: People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) Secretary-General Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has denounced the birthday celebrations of MQM chief Altaf Hussain as ‘a callous demonstration of personal ego at public expense’. Full page and half page coloured ads adored newspapers on Saturday to celebrate MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s 52nd birthday.

Tens of millions of rupees spent on special ads and supplements were paid for by the provincial government of Sindh or those federal ministries headed by ministers belonging to the MQM.

In a statement on Saturday, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said poverty stricken and hungry people in the country were committing suicides and people in Karachi were dying due to contaminated water.

“For the MQM chief to celebrate his birthday with such extravagance at public expense ignoring the plight of the common man was most insensitive and inhuman.”

Mr Ashraf if Altaf Hussain was conscious of people’s miseries and felt for them he would have spent these millions on public welfare instead of on holding extravaganza for the satisfaction of personal ego.

PPP leader asked Altaf Hussain and the MQM to return public monies spent on ads to the exchequer for spending on the welfare of the people.

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also asked the MQM chief to apologize to the nation for this insensitivity and callous disregard to the masses groaning under poverty and misery.