Nisar slams Altaf for 'intolerable' remarks against security forces

Published July 13, 2015
Nisar said British authorities' investigation into "Altaf's illegal activities" had made him resort to "baseless allegations whereby he was spitting venom against the security agencies of the country."  — File
Nisar said British authorities' investigation into "Altaf's illegal activities" had made him resort to "baseless allegations whereby he was spitting venom against the security agencies of the country." — File

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan on Monday lashed out at Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain for his "derogatory speech from a day ago," saying that no country will allow an expatriate to pass provocative remarks against its security forces and integrity.

Nisar said the government of Pakistan will contact British authorities in this regard.

According to a statement issued by the federal interior ministry on Monday, Nisar said Altaf's speeches "incite hate and and provoke violence," and labeled his remarks "unacceptable" and "intolerable."

“No country can tolerate a person, especially if he is based outside the country, passing derogatory remarks against the state and its security forces,” maintained Nisar.

Nisar said British authorities' investigation into "Altaf's illegal activities" had made him resort to "baseless allegations whereby he was spitting venom against the security agencies of the country."

“Altaf is himself responsible for all that is happening to him, not the army or Rangers,” said the federal minister.

“The language used by Altaf in relation to the 1971 war is identical to India's rhetoric.”

The interior minister said the Urdu-speaking community was educated and well behaved, and Altaf's language was not a true representation of the community; "it is in fact causing them disrespect," said Nisar.

Meanwhile, Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday said he respected MQM's vote bank but "statements given by its chief, Altaf Hussain, against state institutions were not permissible."

"Altaf Hussain is issuing irresponsible statements from London; he should come back to Pakistan to partake in politics," said the defence minister.

Asif added that the Pakistan Army and other security institutions of the country were fighting terrorism with fortitude and had achieved remarkable success.

Altaf Hussain had yesterday called upon the army chief to take notice of the alleged violation of army’s code of conduct by the director general of Sindh Rangers and other officials and urged him to do justice in the matter.

Read: Altaf accuses Rangers chief of violating army code of conduct

“We are not against the army; we are against the rotten eggs in the institution... Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif should save Pakistan and throw out the rotten eggs who have embezzled billions of rupees like civilians,” he had said.

The speech was apparently in response to media reports that quoted Rangers sources as saying the paramilitary force was going to release a factsheet in a couple of days about the March 11 raid on MQM’s Nine Zero headquarters in Azizabad.

Case against MQM chief

Workers of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat and Pakistan Sunni Tehrik Jacobabad, under the leadership of local leader Syed Aijaz Ali Shah and others, arrived at city and airport police stations in Jacobabad on Monday where they submitted applications for the registration of a case against MQM chief Altaf Hussain for his statements against security institutions and the army.

According to reports, it was stated in the applications that Altaf Hussain was an agent of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) which was why he was giving statements against sensitive institutions. Therefore, the petitioners prayed, a treason case be registered against him.

Leaders and workers of religious organisations returned after submitting their applications at city and airport police stations.

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