MQM, PTI’s love-hate relation takes empathic turn

• After an uninterrupted tirade of abusive words against PTI, MQM chief apologises
• MQM, PTI call of protests against each other following Altaf Hussain’s apology
• PTI approaches UK, MQM invokes US against each other’s ‘misdeeds’, ‘crimes’

Following a day-long tirade of accusations hurled in various public gatherings across the country, the war of words between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ended late Tuesday after MQM chief Altaf Hussain apologised for the remarks he had made against PTI’s women, including Shireen Mazari.

“I apologise to all the ‘shareef’ (of good character) women who were offended by my remarks. I even apologise to Shireen Mazari. I am sorry,” the MQM chief stated, adding that Khan was a Pakistani citizen and can visit Karachi whenever he wants.

Following chief’s apology, MQM also called off countrywide protests against Imran Khan.

The apology was also acknowledged by PTI Information Secretary Shireen Mazari who termed it “a good thing” while the party also called off today’s protest against the MQM boss.

Over the weekend, Altaf had lashed out at the PTI while addressing his supporters via telephone. The MQM chief had reportedly used derogatory terms while describing Mazari a “mistress”, and alleged that the PTI’s container protest in Islamabad had been the site of nefarious activities.

Earlier yesterday, during a press conference in Islamabad, PTI Chairman Imran Khan had said that he would not tolerate derogatory words and remarks used by MQM chief Altaf Hussain against PTI women.

“It is upsetting that the Pakistan Media Electronic Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) only wakes up when something is said about the government,” said Khan, adding that Hussain, who has been living in London for 23 years, has a long-distance love affair with Karachi where he threatens business owners.

“People are afraid that he will get them killed, that he has hit-squads. I was silent in the past, because the lives of PTI workers in Karachi were at risk,” Khan alleged, demanding of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take action against Altaf Hussain.

“Mian Sahib, when you met David Cameron did you not have the courage to tell him that a terrorist killing Pakistanis was living in London?”

COMPLAINTS TO THE FIRST WORLD, SA:

Earlier, PTI wrote an official letter to the British high commissioner against the MQM leader. The letter addressed to Phillip Barton levels accusations against Altaf Hussain and calls upon the British government to take action against him.

According to PTI leader Mazari, the letter stated, “I wish to bring to your notice the incitement to violence, use of abuse and antics spreading hate, of Altaf Hussain leader of the MQM. He is not only a British citizen but is using British territory to incite people to violence in Pakistan. His party is known to have an armed mafia wing which indulges in extortion, blackmail and murder. The MQM has terrorized the citizens of Karachi for decades as well as indulging in murders of journalists and political rivals.”

“Our woman leader Zahra Shahid was murdered by MQM in her driveway in Karachi in 2013. Journalist Wali Babar also fell prey to MQM in Karachi when he was exposing them,” the letter stated, also citing the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report which had found MQM’s involvement in Baldia factory fire.

PTI also lamented that Hussain had been consistently threatening Imran Khan ever since the latter approached Scotland Yard for MQM’s enquiry.

At the same time, the MQM have also registered a complaint against Imran Khan in a letter to the US Ambassador Richard Olson.

The letter, written by MQM leader Babar Ghauri, calls upon the US government for implementation of Los Angeles court decision on Sita White.

Moreover, following the completion of the Sindh Assembly session on Tuesday, MQM representative Izharul Hassan and others submitted a motion to the assembly’s secretary which condemned Khan’s statements against their party chief.

The motion stated that Khan made unethical statements about Hussain which the party strongly condemned. It also requested that in the next session of the Sindh Assembly, the issue must be added to the agenda and discussed further.

MQM representatives also said that Imran Khan’s remarks against their leader had hurt their sentiments.

The party also held holding rallies in parts of Karachi Tuesday to show their support for the MQM chief.

“Those who bomb the mosques are Khan’s brothers. He is a ‘wrong number’. The people will not let the PTI hold even a corner-meeting in Karachi. And we will compel Khan to own his daughter from his erstwhile girlfriend Sita White,” the MQM leaders boomed at the rally which culminated at the Quaid’s Mausoleum.

Doing his bit of bashing, Faisal Sabzwari said, “It will be a waste of a comment to say anything about the mental state of a man who has lost his mind.”

Babar Ghouri in his counterblast dared the former cricket star to hold a public meeting in Karachi.

Swearing to follow Hussain’s lead until his last breath, Dr Farooq Sattar brought up the issue of Khan’s alleged lovechild Tyrian Jade Khan.

In his turn, a fire-breathing Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui alleged that Khan was the political apologist of terrorists as anyone who called the slaughterers of innocent people ‘brothers’ was one of them.

“Pakistanis, bear in your minds that Imran Khan is a wrong number,” Siddiqui said taking a leaf out of the book of Indian movie PK.