KARACHI, April 18: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain on Tuesday emphasized that twisting of facts about Nishtar Park tragedy was not in nation’s interest and asked the government to publish whatever initial facts were available “to silence those exploiting it for political motives”.

Addressing MQM Coordination Committee meeting in London, Mr Hussain said that the main victim of the tragic incident was Jamaat Ahle Sunnat. Of the 48 martyred, 38 belonged to the Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, and another eight had no political or religious affiliation.

It was a congregation of a number of religious organisations, and yet an impression was deliberately being created that the Eid Miladun Nabi meeting was organised by a particular party and that its leaders and functionaries were the principal target, he added.

Altaf Hussain said that while everyone in the country was saddened by the suicide attack on such a pious congregation on the birthday of Holy Prophet (PBUH), a particular group was trying to draw political mileage from it. Those martyred belonged to six different religious parties. Had been it a one-party show, the martyrs too would have been mainly from the same religious group.

He said that all evidence collected so far established the fact that it was a suicide attack. Statements from the IGP of Sindh and other government agencies support the contention, he said.

Yet some of the religious elements were trying to give it a malicious twist. He asked them to let people know what it was if it was not a suicide attack. If they have certain facts in support of their argument they should deposit it with the government, he said.

He recalled that he had already instructed responsible people in his party not only to avoid blaming anyone on the matter but brush aside criticism or accusation against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.