News
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Altaf leaves Qadri in the lurch
* MQM says it can’t take part in long march practically due to threatened situation inside the country and at India border, but will continue supporting it morally
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Friday announced that it would not participate in Dr Tahirul Qadri’s long march due to threatened situation inside the country and at border with India.
Addressing a press conference at Governor’s House, the deputy convenor of the MQM said that the party could not participate in the long march practically but would continue supporting it morally.
Citing reasons for withdrawing the party’s practical support to the long march, the MQM leader referred to Thursday’s terrorist attacks in Quetta and Swat and tense situation along the Indo-Pak border.
Farooq also said that prevailing threats of terrorism during the long march is also one of the reasons behind the MQM’s decision. He said that the MQM Coordination Committee took the decision during its “late night emergency meeting in the larger interest of the country”.
He said the party chief, Altaf Hussain, has also endorsed the Coordination Committee’s decision. He said that the party has also formally informed Dr Tahirul Qadri about the decision.
“We desire that there should be continuity of democracy and that a better democracy prevails,” he said, adding that reforms for the promotion of democracy should be implemented.
He said that Altaf Hussain has the “same vision and programme” as that of Dr Tahirul Qadri regarding reforms in the country.
He said that there were constant reports and threats that the long march could be attacked with bombs and, therefore, it was necessary to take such a decision to save innocent lives.
Altaf Hussain had reiterated his stance during his Thursday’s “political drone attack” address that his party workers would attend the long march. MQM leaders had also attended the coalition partners’ meeting convened by President Asif Ali Zardari at Bilawal House after Altaf Hussain’s address.
Senator Babar Ghauri, Hyder Abbas Rizvi, Raza Haroon, Dr Saghir Ahmad, Mustafa Kamal and Wasey Jaleel were also present at the press conference of Farooq.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rehman Malik welcomed the decision of MQM for staying away from Dr Tahirul Qadri’s long march on January 14.
In a statement, he said the MQM chief took the decision to disassociate his party from long march in the larger interest of the country.
He asked Dr Tahirul Qadri to withdraw his decision of holding the long march which, he added, would be largely appreciated.
He said human lives are more precious than the long march and expressed the hope that Dr Tahirul Qadri would positively respond to his request. staff report/app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk