Protest to continue until Altaf's safety assured: Sattar

Published June 4, 2014
Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Farooq Sattar. — File photo
Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Farooq Sattar. — File photo

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar said Wednesday that the party would continue its protests until the government did not obtain a guarantee from its British counterpart that their chief who had been arrested by authorities would be protected, DawnNews reported.

The MQM leader said Hussain’s health was his biggest concern at the moment.

He also said that no charges had been pressed against the MQM chief, adding that detention without charges contradicted the tenets of justice.

Sattar said nobody could be arrested for questioning in Britain.

He also refuted the news that Hussain’s bail application had been rejected, saying that it was simply a baseless rumour. He said lawyers representing Hussain would submit a bail application today.

Sattar said several of the country’s top political leaders had expressed solidarity with MQM, adding that everyone had declared the matter as that of a sensitive nature.

The MQM leader said Karachi’s traders and transporters had also promised them full support.

Later, speaking to DawnNews, Sattar warned that if their chief was harmed while being held in custody by British authorities, then the matter would slip out of control.

He demanded of the government to obtain Altaf’s life assurance from its British counterpart while underscoring that if anything were to happen to the party chief, then it would be difficult to handle matters.

Sattar said the British authorities should either register a case against Hussain or terminate the case based on evidences provided by the MQM.

He said the party had donors in Karachi who would go to court and record their statements.

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...