AJK LA passes 9 resolutions against Altaf Hussain

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved all nine resolutions moved by as many legislators from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Muslim Conference (MC) to censure the diatribe of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain against the army and other national institutions.

The MQM lawmakers – two in the currently 48-member house - however boycotted the proceedings after party’s parliamentary leader Mohammad Tahir Khokhar was not given the floor by Speaker Sardar Ghulam Sadiq.

The first resolution against Mr Hussain was read by Raja Farooq Haider, leader of the opposition and president of the AJK chapter of PML-N.

As he was about to start, Mr Khokhar also stood on his seat, demanding he should also be given the floor to respond to the “media trial” of MQM.

However, when the chair did not allow him he kept on uttering something that was inaudible in the press gallery, following which his microphone was switched off on the orders of speaker.

 On this, Mr Khokhar and his colleague Mohammad Saleem Butt walked out of the hall in protest.

Interestingly, the MQM legislators - who were members of the AJK cabinet until their dismissal by Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed on Tuesday, a day after he had given them an ultimatum of 72 hours to break away from Mr Hussain - were sitting on the opposition benches. However, after they walked out, neither the treasury nor the opposition members made any effort to bring them back to the house.

The duo then hit back at Mr Majeed and others in front of the media persons, covering assembly proceedings.

Back in the hall, while condemning the recent “provocative and contemptible” statements of Mr Hussain, PML-N president Haider insisted that the Britain should proceed against her citizen for “inciting hatred and violence in Pakistan.”

He asked what he called patriotic parliamentarians of the MQM to stop Mr Hussain, facing charges of money laundering and homicide in Britain, from using the name of MQM.

Mr Haider also called for legal proceedings to disqualify the MQM lawmakers in AJK under the relevant laws and Constitution “for their condemnable press conference in Islamabad.”

Other movers included ministers Chaudhry Latif Akbar and Chaudhry Akbar Ibrahim, deputy speaker Shaheen Kousar Dar, PML-N MLAs Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, Syed Shaukat Ali Shah, Farooq Ahmed Tahir and MC MLAs Sardar Mir Akbar Khan and Sardar Siab Khalid.

All of them condemned Mr Hussain for “impairing the identity and prestige of country and maligning the institution responsible for national safety,” and demanded exemplary punishment to him under charges of high treason.

They maintained that since Mr Hussain’s views had also hurt the sentiments of Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC), AJK government should clamp a ban on MQM unless all of its members dissociated themselves from the London based leader. 

They also urged the media to stop giving coverage to the elements “playing into the hands of anti-Pakistan forces.”

All movers paid rich tributes to the government of Pakistan, army and other law enforcement agencies for their commendable contribution to restoring peace in Karachi.

Winding up debate, Premier Majeed announced that a parliamentary committee, representing treasury and opposition benches, would summarise the resolutions and assembly’s debate thereon to be sent to the British government.

“He (Altaf Hussain) conspires and spews venom against Pakistan and its armed forces and we cannot accept and tolerate him or his likes,” he said.

The AJK premier maintained that the MQM chief had a proven nexus with India, “notwithstanding the fact it had unleashed a reign of terror in held Kashmir to perpetuate its occupation, apart from masterminding acts of terrorism in Pakistan.”

“The exasperating remarks of MQM chief have aroused deep resentment among the Kashmiris on both sides of the divide,” he added. 

Regarding disqualification of MQM legislators, the AJK premier said since they had taken oath of allegiance to Pakistan, he would look what action could be taken against them following their renewed support to Mr Hussain. 

Earlier, a rally was also held in Muzaffarabad to express solidarity with the armed forces and condemn tirade of abuse against the country and its institutions by MQM chief.

MQM lawmakers hit back

Speaking to media persons, Tahir Khokhar and Saleem Butt also gave an “ultimatum of 72 hours” to Premier Majeed to apologise to their party, or else they would make some startling disclosures about him.

Until yesterday, Mr Majeed would describe Altaf Hussain as his leader, but today he is using foul language against him, they said, while waving a CD which they claimed contained recordings of telephonic conversations between Mr Majeed and Mr Hussain.

Mr Majeed should himself tell that who he would call in MQM London secretariat and what kind of language he used against “institutions and individuals, they said.

They questioned that when Asif Ali Zardari spoke against the army, why similar resolutions were not moved by Mr Majeed and others against him?

They also condemned the ruling party for brazenly infringing democratic traditions by denying MQM right to speak in the face of nine resolutions against its leader.

Tariq Naqash