KARACHI, Dec 27: The London-based leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, claimed on Monday that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his sister Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah were tortured to death by those who claimed to be their true followers and that he could produce eyewitnesses to this effect if the government ensured their security.

In a statement issued from London, Mr Hussain said his statements about Mr Jinnah and Allama Iqbal had been twisted and distorted by those who were acting against the message and philosophy of both of them, to mislead the people of Pakistan.

Mr Hussain demanded live airtime on the PTV to expose that establishment and those working on its payroll. Those pretending to be the followers of the Quaid's ideals, in fact, had tortured the Quaid to death and Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah was poisoned in a wedding party the same night when she was tortured to death and the Mohatta Palace (Qasr-i-Fatima) was sealed off after it, he added.

Mr Hussain claimed that some of the eyewitnesses to his claim were alive and if the government assured of their protection, he would produce them. The MQM chief alleged that Shirin Jinnah also died because of these elements' attitude, and said the people should also know who denied her rights and who pushed Maulana Shabbir Ahmad Usmani out of his home.

Mr Hussain said Allama Iqbal was an enlightened, universal poet who advocated the problems of humanity but short-sighted elements confined him to Punjab. He claimed that it was a demand of the people that Iqbal should be emancipated from the clutches of Punjab.

He also asked why the pictures of Liaquat Ali Khan, displayed with the Quaid-i-Azam earlier, were removed and why his death anniversary was not observed as a national holiday.