KARACHI, Pakistan: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday tendered an unconditional apology for what happened yesterday and announced to distance itself from London-based Party Chief Altaf Hussain.
“Since MQM registered in Pakistan, its needed to operate in Pakistan freely,” the MQM senior leader Dr Farooq Sattar said while addressing an important press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday afternoon.
Farooq Sattar said that we have decided to take decision making into our own hands.
“Whatever reason given for these statements, it keeps happening and it is important to address this issue as well,” Farooq Sattar said in reference to a statement issued earlier in the day by the MQM Chief Altaf Hussain in which he apologized to Pakistan military establishment for anti-Pakistan remarks and Karachi violence, saying that he was under severe mental stress over what was happening to his party.
“Whatever the reason, health, mental state or any other reason, that problem should be addressed,” Farooq Sattar.
Dr Farooq Sattar said that it will be better for MQM to operate from Pakistan until Altaf Hussain’s health issues are resolved as such statements are becoming ridiculous and earning bad name for only Altaf Hussain but also for the party.
On Monday while addressing the MQM’s hunger strike camp outside the Karachi Press Club, Altaf Hussain made provocative statements and raised slogans against Pakistan. He also incited the MQM workers to storm media houses and other important buildings in Karachi.
“Every MQM worker, leader, voter and well-wisher denounces these anti-Pakistan slogans,” Farooq Sattar said. “We will not allow this to happen again.”
Farooq Sattar said that “We totally disassociate ourselves from the violence that took place in Karachi yesterday. It is totally against our policy to use violence to achieve our ends.”
The MQM senior leader also categorically said that he was not holding the press conference under the directives of someone or having been influenced. He said that they intended to hold a press conference last night but it could not happen.
Earlier, the Sindh Rangers released Farooq Sattar, Opposition Leader in the provincial assembly Khawaja Izharul Haq and MQM leader Dr Amir Liaquat, hours after keeping them under custody following the break out of violence in Karachi’s Saddar area.
