Former minister and TV personality claims he is receiving death threats from the party
““I am being told I am a bigger traitor than even Mustafa Kamal, and that I will be killed in a more painful manner than Kamal,”
Former MQM member Dr Amir Liaquat revealed on Thursday that he has been receiving death threats via SMS and phone calls from unknown numbers after leaving the party earlier this week.
While talking to different private television channels, Amir Liaquat stated, “my life is in danger. If I am killed and found in a bori (sack), hold the leader of MQM, Altaf Hussain responsible”.
Amir Liaquat said he was being called a “bigger traitor that Mustafa Kamal”. Mustafa Kamal is also an ex MQM member who also parted ways with the party after difference with Altaf Hussain. He returned from self-exile this year and formed a new party, Pak Sarzameen Party. The party consists mostly of ex-MQM members and is constantly inviting existing members to join them.
Amir Liaquat explained that he had attempted to make amends after leaving the party but to no avail. He went on to say that when MQM leaders disassociated themselves from the anti-Pakistan and anti-army statements that Altaf Hussain made they should have disassociated themselves from the individual who made them as well.
Amir Liaquat went on to say that “there is no MQM Pakistan, FarooqSattar has to completely disassociate himself from Altaf Hussain as well”. Meanwhile, Farooq Sattar who is the default leader of the party in Pakistan refused to completely disassociate himself from Altaf Hussain.
While speaking on a private TV channel, he rubbished Dr AmirLiaquat’s claims saying that this is just a conspiracy theory and that he has yet been unable to talk to him. “If I am able to talk to him I will advise him to be calm and think the situation out rather than speak on just emotion” said Farooq.
Soon after, Amir Liaquat appeared on another talk show, where he made some more revelations. He said that he clearly recognised the voices behind the calls he has been receiving. He said that the threat that I received was “if you love the Pakistani flag so much, you should wrap your dead body in the flag before burial. We can make that happen for you”.
To this he aggressively said, “Don’t give me an empty threat. Come and shoot me in the chest. I am here”. He said, “During the day I have received supportive messages from both IG Sindh and Rangers forces who have offered me security detail for protection”
Speaking about MQM’s militant wing he said that when I rejoined the party this year I saw the militant elements in the party and the same elements are giving me threats. He explained that he attempted to rid the party of such elements but was told to stop.
Amir Liaquat has also been nominated in three different cases as ‘facilitator’. The cases are registers in Malir police station against AltafHussain’s speech, which Amir Liaquat defended on live television. SSP Malir, Rao Anwar said Amir Liaquat will be arrested soon on the basis of these charges.
SSP Rao appeared was taken on air with a where he stated that I have made no such statement. He went on to say that although police officials are not allowed to appear on television without the permission of the IG Sindh, I decided to appear without any such approval because I had to defend myself.
With reference to the allegations of RAW funding, Amir Liaquat said “Yes! I am fully convinced MQM takes funding from RAW.”
Dr. Liaquat himself was the first person to defend Altaf Hussain’s anti-state, anti- army speech on Monday. He was subsequently arrested by Rangers and kept overnight. He was released the following day after which he attended the press conference, where senior MQM leaders disassociated themselves from the speech made by Altaf Hussain and took complete decision-making powers.
Amir Liaquat then proceeded to appear on multiple television shows, looking particularly distraught and mentally absent saying he was “unable to understand the situation” and that he has not only left the party but politics as a whole.