Sindh Commerce and Industries Minister Rauf Siddiqui has written a letter to British authorities warning that a massive ethnic bloodbath might occur if former home minister Sindh Dr Zulfiqar Mirza’s “provocative” activities are not banned in London. Mirza is in London to provide documentary evidence against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain to the Scotland Yard. The letter also requests the UK government to take action against Mirza under the British law for an attempt to “plan a human tragedy” in Sindh and in Karachi in particular. Siddiqui said that Mirza was “controversial” during his three years of service as the home minister and “caused panic and polarisation among the public with the potential of massive bloodshed and ethnic killings”.
The MQM leader said that Zulfiqar Mirza told TV channels he had issued more than 300,000 arm licenses without proper verification, giving the impression of owning a personal armed force to promote a gangster culture and terrorise people. Accusing Mirza of involvement in kidnap for ransom cases of industrialists in the metropolis and Hindus in the interior Sindh, Siddiqui wrote, “He [Mirza] was also patronising land grabbers and the bhatta mafia. In a press conference, he went to the extent [of saying] that if given free hand to kill 10,000 to 15,000 workers of [the] MQM he can establish peace in Karachi. Such inflammatory confessional statements are proof unto themselves. In a speech before the House of Lords Dr Mirza threatened that if USA, UK and Europe don’t help him to curb MQM he will seek help from Taliban.”
Naming Lord Nazir Ahmed from the House of Lords as Mirza’s accomplice during his UK visit, Siddiqui’s letter highlighted the growing discomfort among MQM’s activists over Mirza’s reiteration during a media conference in London to kill at least 10,000 MQM activists in Karachi to maintain peace.
“Facilitation and use of British media to support international terrorism against a sovereign country and peace loving people has come as rude shock to our people. Patronisation of Dr Mirza in London has created an impression that a London conspiracy is being hatched to start ethnic rights in Karachi in particular and Sindh in general. God forbid, if such mishap happens, the fingers may be pointed to you government and party.” Demanding a ban on Mirza’s activities and any support to his campaign, the provincial minister said, “It appears that his strategy is to influence the impartial investigations and proceedings in case of assassination of Dr Imran Farooq and this should not be allowed in the fairness of justice.”
The letter urged the UK authorities to take action against Mirza as per the British law as he may not face the music in Pakistan for his influential connections and being the spouse of the National Assembly speaker. “Otherwise in case of start of rights or civil war, the future of history will be justified in laying blame of patronage on your government and party for the human blood that may flow on the streets as result of sinister activities of Dr Mirza”, the letter concluded.