KARACHI: MQM chief Altaf Hussain expressed on Friday his anger over `non-compliance’ of his directives by the party leaders and then disconnected the phone saying goodbye to supporters listening to his speech at Karachi’s Jinnah Ground.

The strong reaction from the self-exiled leader left the MQM workers and leaders shocked and they begged forgiveness and urged him to reconnect the line.

“I give directives but my fellows hardly obey them. From now onwards your and party’s affairs will be looked after by the coordination committee,” he said before disconnecting the telephone line.

The party workers raised slogans in their leader’s favour. Mr Hussain returned online and resumed the address.

He criticised the ongoing operation in Karachi and alleged that law-enforcement agencies were only targeting the MQM.

He questioned the authenticity of the operation and said he was the only leader whose house had been raided by law-enforcement personnel.

Referring to the Supreme Court ruling that there were militant wings in some political parties in Karachi, he asked why no other leader’s house was raided.

“Was any MQM worker ever found involved in attacking a sensitive installation? I am not afraid of telling the truth. Even in England, I don’t care for my life for the sake of truth,” Mr Hussain said.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2015

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