KARACHI The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the biggest beneficiary of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), clarified on Saturday that the cases against its top leadership and workers that had been quashed under the controversial law were criminal in nature.
'There is a big difference between criminal and corruption cases. No leader or worker of the MQM ever faced any corruption case while all criminal cases against us were politically motivated,' MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said.
Speaking at a press conference here on Saturday night, Dr Sattar, a federal minister, said that the MQM was ready to face all cases in courts as its leaders and workers always got relief from the judiciary.
Under the NRO, cases against over 7,700 individuals had been quashed in Sindh alone and most of the beneficiaries belonged to MQM. The party's chief, Altaf Hussain, took benefit of the NRO in 72 criminal cases while the list of beneficiaries contained names of almost the entire leadership, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad among them.
Dr Sattar, who is also a beneficiary, said the NRO was against the wishes of the people and in contrast with the manifesto of the MQM.
He said that the then military ruler promulgated the NRO after striking a deal, but the MQM was not part of that deal because it never bargained on principles.
He said that over 10,000 criminal cases were registered against the MQM leadership and its workers during the military operation. 'The cases against Altaf Hussain were registered in his absence as part of political victimisation.'
Dr Sattar, who is also his party's parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, said that the MQM would never support any law which allows or protect corruption.
