ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah Thursday opposed banning the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) saying the new leadership should be allowed to handle the new political situation.
Talking to media at Parliament House in Islamabad on Thursday, Khursheed Shah said anyone showing any support to Altaf Hussain would be considered as anti- Pakistan as his diatribe against the country was unjustified and unacceptable.
Khursheed Shah said that he was not in favor of banning the MQM and so let the new political leadership handle the situation as it had distanced from Altaf Hussain.
The opposition leader said that MQM should be allowed to operate and hoped that the situation would be clear within six months.
Khursheed Shah said that British High Commissioner Thomas Drew who called on him on Wednesday, had informed him that the British government had received a reference from Pakistan about Altaf Hussain that would be examined.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is a democratic party and it supported democracy during sit-ins of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), he said.
If National Assembly rejects bill regarding Panama Leaks, the united opposition may launch movement against the government, he warned.
To a question, Khursheed Shah said that a two-member delegation from PPP would participate in the PTI’s rally on September 3.
The government has charged additional tax worth Rs 100 billion on petroleum products during last one year, he alleged.
Being opposition, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) termed the petroleum levy as `Jagga Tax’ but now they are surprisingly charging the same at a ratio of even 35 per cent, he recalled.