A constitutional petition seeking summoning of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and former Sindh home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza in connection with Karachi situation was filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday.
The petition was filed by Advocate Tariq Asad under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, naming the federation of Pakistan through federal interior secretary, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Mirza and Hussain as respondents.
The petitioner prayed to the court that in lieu of the allegations levelled by Zulfiqar Mirza against Hussain, both should be summoned before the court and all the record be taken into custody from Mirza and the intelligence agencies. He stated that in light of the documents, a probe be conducted and if the allegations levelled against MQM are proved then MQM and other political parties involved be banned in accordance with law and the federation be directed to call the armed forces to conduct a clean up operation.
The petitioner prayed that Malik be dealt with in accordance with law in view of the fresh allegations brought against him by Mirza. He recalled that Zulfiqar Mirza in his press conference on August 28 had strongly criticised MQM and Malik and had accused Hussain of treason and Malik of committing murders, protecting killers and of being a shameless liar. “If Pakistan bears any loss Rehman Malik would be responsible for it,” the petitioner quoted Zulfiqar Mirza as saying in his press conference in Karachi.
He also referred to a long list on the charge sheet framed by Mirza against MQM accusing its chief Hussain of being part of the American conspiracy to break Pakistan, besides alleging that Hussain was a killer, the MQM was a terrorist organisation and the killings in Karachi were being orchestrated from London. The petitioner further recalled that Mirza had read out names of over 25 target killers belonging to the MQM that had been released on parole and let loose on the innocent citizens. The petitioner stated that Mirza had also vehemently alleged that the MQM was involved in the killing of Geo reporter, Wali Khan Babar, adding that alleged killers had been detained while one, Liaqat, was still missing.
He said the killings in Karachi were causing serious bodily and mental harm to the inhabitants and failure to protect their lives and the denial of their right to life and liberty is tantamount to violation of their rights guaranteed to them by Articles 9 and 14 of the constitution.
