PESHAWAR, Sept 10: The Awami National Party has said it will approach the government of the United Kingdom to stop its citizen, Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain, from issuing provocative statements and to prevent bloodshed of innocent people in Pakistan.

Speaking at a press conference here on Saturday, ANP provincial president Senator Afrasiab Khattak rejected all allegations levelled against it by the MQM chief in his televised address on Friday night. “Altaf Hussain couldn’t satisfy the masses and failed to clarify his position with regard to the allegations levelled by former Sindh home minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza.”

He said Dr Mirza’s allegations were based on information gathered by the country’s intelligence agencies. Mr Khattak urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the allegations and summon Dr Mirza.

He said the Supreme Court should also take notice of the May 12, 2007, bloodbath in Karachi and declare the MQM a terrorist organisation and ban it forever. “Peace in Karachi cannot be restored without awarding exemplary punishment to killers.”

Mr Khattak alleged that prominent MQM leaders, Azeem Tariq and Dr Imran Farooq, had been killed on the orders of Altaf Hussain.

He said the Muttahida chief had levelled “baseless allegations” against the leaders of mainstream political parties, except PPP, because it wanted to rejoin the coalition government.

He said Altaf Hussain had himself acknowledged in his press conference that he had no documented proof of the allegation against ANP chief Asfandyar Wali that he had had been given millions of dollars by the United States to win the 2008 election.

“The ANP has fought war against imperialists and rendered sacrifices for restoration of democracy. It never pinned hopes on funds from foreign countries. America and MQM opposed the promulgation of Nizam-i-Adl Regulations in Malakand while the ANP defied all international pressure in this regard.”

Mr Khattack said the MQM chief faced many cases of murders and other heinous crimes and also attempted to withdraw these through the National Reconciliation Ordinance. “If Altaf Hussain is patriotic Pakistani he should return to the country and do away with his UK citizenship.”

He said Altaf Hussain was involved in the conspiracy to create anarchy in Karachi and received huge money for the purpose to enjoy a luxurious life in London.

When asked about the allegation that ANP had hoodwinked the Pakhtuns, Mr Khattak said the MQM was enemy of the Pakhtuns and involved in killing them in Karachi.

The press conference was attended by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Sardar Hussain Babak and MPAs and office-bearers of the ANP.