KARACHI, Dec 5: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Tuesday brought its differences with the Pakistan Muslim League on the street and its founder severely criticised the president of the main party in the ruling coalition and accused him of ‘betraying his benefactor’ and undermining the democratic process.
Mr Altaf Hussain, in a telephonic address to a rally, vowed never to compromise on principles.
The MQM supporters had converged opposite the Quaid-i-Azam Mausoleum on the M. A. Jinnah Road from all parts of the city to condemn PML leaders’ consultations with a group of Ulema on matters pertaining to the protection of women law even after it had been signed by the president. Similar protest rallies were held in other cities and towns in the country and in Azad Kashmir.
In a hard-hitting attack on the PML leadership, Mr Hussain mainly targeted Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and alleged that he was not sincere with President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. He also accused him of being a close ally of ‘fake’ religious leaders.
In the address, which gave the impression of the MQM launching its election campaign, especially in Punjab, the MQM leader called upon the PML leadership to ‘decide once and for all’ whether it would treat the MQM as a coalition partner or a rival.
He warned the PML leadership that if the Punjab government did not stop arresting and harassing workers of his party in the province no plane carrying PML leaders would be able to land here.
Our Islamabad Correspondent adds: The MQM held separate protest rallies in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and criticised the ruling PML for not consulting the party before holding talks with a delegation of ulema.
According to our Peshawar Bureau, the NWFP chapter of the MQM held a rally outside the Peshawar Press Club in protest against its main ally’s ‘expediency’ on the women’s protection law.
The MQM also held rallies in various cities and towns of Punjab and Sindh.
