June 24, 2015
News
MQM rejects allegations levelled in BBC report
LONDON: The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has rejected all the allegations leveled against it in a report broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
“MQM is a peace-loving political party that believes in the unity and integrity of Pakistan,” it said in a statement by the party's Rabita (Co-ordination) Committee.
The statement said that the allegations leveled against the MQM were not new.
“MQM was accused of the Jinnahpur Conspiracy in the past and a host of other allegations to blemish its image. All these allegations proved to be false in the fullness of time.”
The Co-ordination Committee said that the reporter had broadcast several reports against the MQM in the past. Opponents of MQM used these reports as a tool for scoring political gains and media trial of the MQM.
The new report by the same reporter is a part of the media trial that is going against the MQM for many years.
The Co-ordination Committee said, “We categorically reject all the allegations levelled in this report. We believe that this report is aimed at tarnishing the image of the MQM in Pakistan and throughout the world.”
BBC Report
A report by BBC quoting an ‘authoritative Pakistani source’ claims senior officials in MQM in formal recorded interviews told authorities in the UK they had ‘received funds from the Indian government’.
The report by Owen Benett-Jones states the BBC was informed by a Pakistani official that over the last 10 years hundreds of MQM militants had been trained by India in 'explosives, weapons and sabotage'. The training was taking place in camps in north and north-east India.
According to the report, prior to 2005-06 training was provided to mid-ranking MQM members, while in recent years it was also provided to junior party members.
A list of weapons was also found at a MQM owned property by UK authorities.
When the BBC asked the Indian government about MQM members being trained in India it termed this ‘completely baseless’ while an MQM official said the party would not comment on "rumours".
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan is interviewed in the report and says the MQM has evolved into a mafia. “There is a political side to the MQM which is now shrinking and there is a militant side to the MQM. That militant wing is controlled by Altaf Hussain sitting in London,” says the PTI chief.
Khan said most Pakistanis would be shocked about allegations of Indian funding, “however on occasion you get the impression that he is being controlled from the outside.”
The BBC report also mentions senior Karachi police officer Rao Anwar’s claim that two arrested members of the MQM had confessed to being trained in India.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk