The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has strongly protested over Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon’s visit to London with former Sindh home minister Zulfiqar Mirza.
Mirza had left for London “to provide evidence against the MQM and its chief Altaf Hussain about their involvement in terrorism”. Besides Memon, the PPP’s Imdad Pitafi also left in the same Dubai-bound flight.
A delegation of the MQM leaders, led by Faisal Sabzwari, called on Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Wednesday evening to record their protest on the issue. They sought the PPP’s official version on it and demanded action against Memon.
“Some people present in the ranks of the PPP were engaged in sabotaging the democratic system. The MQM has lodged its protest on the issue. Now it is the PPP leadership’s job to take action against such people. The MQM will take a decision regarding future course of action in view of the action taken by the PPP leadership,” Sabzwari told reporters.
Meanwhile, sources said Memon will return today (Thursday) and will clarify his position at a press conference.
According to an official handout issued by the Chief Minister’s House, Shah assured the MQM leaders that he would issue a show cause notice to Memon. The MQM leaders said it was a conspiracy against the reconciliation policy of President Asif Ali Zardari and the MQM chief. Meanwhile, President Zardari talked to Altaf over the telephone and discussed the overall political situation in the country. According to President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar, the two leaders discussed various affairs relating the ruling coalition. A delegation of the MQM also called on the prime minister and recorded their protest over Mirza’s statements and display of arms in Karachi. Later, MQM leader Babar Ghauri addressed a press conference. “We have demanded in the meeting with the Prime Minister that PPP should make clear in which capacity are Zulfiqar Mirza and Sharjeel Memon defaming the MQM,” he told reporters. Ghauri said Mirza was involved in Karachi targeted killings. He said prior to their departure to London, Memon and Mirza along with 250 armed men reached the Karachi airport under government protocol.
According to Ghauri, Zardari and Gilani were well wishers of the MQM and they were probing as to who was pulling Mirza’s strings. Talking to Pakistan Today, a source in the MQM said how was it possible that Memon, who is the Sindh information minister, initiated activities against a coalition partner of the government without the knowledge of PPP leadership.
A source in the PPP told Pakistan Today that after his meeting with the MQM delegation, the prime minister directed Interior Minister Rehman Malik to address the grievances of the MQM.
Late in the evening, the Sindh chief minister called on Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan to discuss the Memon issue.
