- Interior minister seeks UK’s help in gathering details of disclosures made in BBC report against MQM
- Says allegations should not be used to malign MQM as a political party as ‘several of its leaders have done a lot for Pakistan’
As Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered a thorough probe into the allegations made against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday said the sensitive disclosures made in the report have confirmed Pakistan’s suspicions about India’s involvement in the country.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the minister said intelligence agencies had in the past reported India’s interference inside Pakistan, adding that recent statements from the Indian leadership were a clear indication of foreign involvement.
Moreover, in a meeting with British High Commissioner Philip Barton at the Interior Ministry in Islamabad on Thursday, the interior minister formally asked the British government for help in gathering more details of the disclosures made in the BBC report.
According to the Interior Ministry spokesman, Nisar told Barton that the BBC report had made sensitive disclosures, which was why Pakistan wanted the British government’s assistance in investigating the claims.
“The high commissioner has recommended that I write an official letter from the government of Pakistan to the British government, requesting access to details relating to the disclosures made in the BBC report,” said Nisar, adding that he will formally write to the UK government on Friday requesting Pakistani authorities’ access to key information in relation to the serious allegations leveled by the BBC against MQM.
However, Nisar went on to say that these allegations should not be used to malign MQM as a political party. “There are plenty of respectable senior politicians and patriotic individuals in MQM who have done a lot for Pakistan. I request all of you not to link these allegations to MQM’s voters or supporters,” said the interior minister.
PM NEEDS DETAILS:
Earlier, in a meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi at the Prime Minister’s House on Thursday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the Interior Ministry to thoroughly investigate the claims made in the BBC report pertaining to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) receiving funding from India, and sought an early report in this regard.
During the meeting, the premier was apprised about the details of the BBC report. The interior minister shared initial details of the report with the premier and said the concerned departments of the Interior Ministry have been directed to investigate the matter.
On Wednesday, BBC released a documentary, alleging that the MQM has received funding from Indian authorities. The report also states that UK authorities investigating MQM for alleged money laundering also found a list of weapons in an MQM property.
However, MQM leader Wasay Jalil rejected the allegations and termed the story baseless.