KARACHI, May 26: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has announced that it will collect evidence about the “bad character” of Imran Khan and will submit it in the National Assembly for getting him unseated as MNA under Articles 62 & 63 of the Constitution.

“We will also take every possible legal action if needed to unseat Mr Khan from the National Assembly,” MQM MNA Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi told a crowded news conference at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday. He was accompanied by Dr Farooq Sattar, Anwar Alam, Faisal Sabzwari and other MNAs, MPAs, and members of the MQM coordination committee.

The press conference was part of a series of briefings being held by the MQM leadership to counter the allegations levelled by Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan and his threat to file a case against British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the United Kingdom for giving political asylum to MQM leader Altaf Husain who, according to Mr Khan, heads a fascist organisation. Mr Khan in his press briefings and statements has held President Pervez Musharraf and Altaf Hussain responsible for the May 12 bloodbath in Karachi.

Mr Rizvi said the MQM was collecting evidence against Imran Khan and it would take all possible legal and constitutional steps to have him unseated from the National Assembly. He said the MQM always welcomed criticism on party policies or difference of opinion on principles but the character assassination of his leader could not be tolerated.

Faisal Sabzwari disclosed that the MQM members in the Sindh Assembly would move a resolution condemning Imran Khan for character assassination of Altaf Hussain. “We will not only move a resolution in the provincial assembly but will expose Imran Khan at every forum. He had destroyed the career in cricket of many youths belonging to Karachi and people had not forgotten it,” he added.

Mr Haider Rizvi said Imran Khan was hatching a conspiracy at the behest of the ‘establishment’. He recalled that former chief of the army staff Asif Nawaz had also said that the MQM was acceptable without Altaf Hussain. It was an old conspiracy and Imran Khan was again pushing the same plot, but the MQM workers and leaders would foil all such attempts by their unity. “Mr Khan is levelling allegations against the leader of the party which rules the hearts of millions of people. Mr Khan had avoided a DNA test after he lost the case against Sita White who claimed that her daughter’s father was Imran Khan.”

Mr Rizvi said Imran Khan should do justice to his daughter by accepting her publicly instead of threatening to sue Altaf Hussain. He said Mr Khan was known to have introduced gambling to Pakistan cricket and Sarfaraz Nawaz had exposed him at numerous occasions. People did not forget the efforts of young player Qasim Omar, who exposed Imran Khan, and as a consequence Qasim was deprived of his career in cricket.The MQM did not earlier expose Imran Khan’s character as it believed in morality and ethics, he said, adding that Imran Khan was trying to raise his political stature by levelling baseless allegations against Altaf Hussain but he would fail in his attempts.

“Imran Khan has lost his sanity after frequent failures in his political life. He is suffering from Altaf-phobia as he has crossed all limits of ethics and decency while criticising Altaf Hussain, who has conquered the hearts of millions of people in the country while Imran Khan in his 12-year political career could win only one seat in the assembly,” he said.

He asked leaders of religious parties, including Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Mualana Fazlur Rehman, as to why they had invited Imran Khan to attend their meetings while he was known to have indulged in extra-marital affairs. “Mr Khan should be ashamed of himself because he abused a respectful leader like Mr Hussain.”

He said the MQM workers had tried to cool down the sentiments of people but if Imran Khan did not stop criticising Mr Hussain, “our efforts may not be fruitful if he visits the metropolis”.

Dr Farooq Sattar said that the ‘establishment’ was hatching a conspiracy once again against the MQM. However, he remained evasive when asked to explain the term ‘establishment’.

A rally was also held by MQM workers, who had gathered outside the Karachi Press Club, holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against Imran Khan. They also raised slogans against the chief of the PTI and demanded that he tender an apology to the millions of people for abusing their beloved leader.

Besides, a number of walls of buildings, houses, offices and factories were inscribed with slogans against Imran Khan. The wall-chalking has been quickly carried out across the city.