Karachi: Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) central leader Farooq Sattar has said his party has “no problem” in supporting former president General Pervez Musharraf by not running a candidate against him in Karachi for the 2013 elections for the National Assembly.
Talking to Express 24/7, Pakistan’s only English news channel, he indicated that the MQM’s support for Musharraf stemmed from his close relations with MQM chief Altaf Hussain and the party. He added that Musharraf’s “nurturing” of democracy and support for the local government system would factor into the MQM’s decision.
Despite an indication of political support, Sattar said that Musharraf should think “100 times” before taking a decision to return to Pakistan, given the significant threat to his life.
He mentioned the party’s arrangement with the president that would include expanding the Governor’s role in controlling the province.
Sattar warned that a civil war-like situation was being conspired in Karachi to benefit a criminal nexus including an ‘underworld syndicate’ that had links with extremists such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban, Malakand and South Waziristan.
He added that land and weapon mafias along with the religious right were also involved in the violence. Sattar also said that there were some criminal elements in political parties who were creating problems in Karachi in certain MQM constituencies.
Without taking any names, he said that certain elements in the Awami National Party were creating a sense of insecurity among the pashtuns in Karachi. He also blamed the People’s Aman Committee, now banned, for creating similar tensions.
Sattar admitted that there were criminal elements in MQM, but added that there was a system in the party for purge.
He said the Supreme Court had identified the root causes of the violence in Karachi. “The verdict only mentioned parties mentioned in petitions filed by other political parties,” Sattar said.
Answering a question, the MQM leader said that Zulfiqar Mirza’s statements aggravated the situation in Karachi.
Sattar said that the Rangers’ operations were effective and that along with powers of making arrests and investigation, they should also be given the power of prosecution.
Answering a question about Afaq Ahmad’s Mohajir Qaumi Movement, Sattar said that 80 per cent of Haqiqi members, including senior leader Amir Khan, had reverted back to the MQM, leaving only 20 percent, who were criminals, behind. He added that the MQM was closely observing how Afaq Ahmed’s release was being managed and how serious allegations against him were being brushed under the carpet. Sattar conceded that his party was exerting pressure on the government and facilitating Afaq Ahmed’s prosecution.
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