- Farooq Sattar says ‘every party has a Saulat Mirza’, urges anti-criminal cleansing drive in all political parties
- Accuses govt of ‘pushing MQM against the wall’, calls for judicial probe into recording of ‘confessional video’
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) hit out at the government in the National Assembly on Friday with MNA Farooq Sattar saying his party is being unfairly cornered.
Sattar took the floor to voice his concerns about what he termed the government’s “inappropriate attitude” towards the MQM, referring to the Rangers’ raid at MQM headquarters in Nine Zero as well as the startling revelations of death row convict Saulat Mirza who claimed that MQM high-ups are involved in murder.
“Everyone has a Mirza,” Sattar said. “If we have a Saulat Mirza, you have a Zulfiqar Mirza,” he added, referring to the PPP stalwart and former Sindh home minister.
The enraged MQM MNA said that all political parties should be cleansed, and that an impartial monitoring committee should be set up for Karachi. “Intelligence should be shared with us,” he said. “We will assist the law enforcement agencies.”
However, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq quickly warned him that a political speech cannot be given on a point of order, which led other MQM members in the assembly to stand in their seats and chant slogans.
The sloganeering continued for 10 minutes after which Sadiq dismissed the session’s routine activity and gave Sattar a chance to voice his objections.
“Since March 11, the government has adopted an extremely inappropriate attitude towards the MQM,” said Sattar. “The government wants to push MQM against the wall,” he added.
Sattar further said that under the pretence of eliminating crime, attempts are being made to eliminate MQM. He said that Saulat Mirza’s “five-hour video” was made with the permission of the Interior Ministry.
“If going to a death cell to get a statement from a death-row convict has ever happened in the history of this world, I’d like to know about it,” said Sattar.
Citing Mirza’s unprecedented statement, Sattar said a judicial commission should investigate who recorded the video of a condemned prisoner after the latter had exhausted all available legal courses. The BBC had reported on Thursday that a secret government agency had reportedly recorded the statement. Mirza had alleged many senior leaders of the MQM to be involved in murders and target killings.
“…there is need to get ‘confessional statements’ through a truth and reconciliation commission from those responsible for the 1986 massacre; military operation against the party in 1992 and the target killing of over 1,200 party workers,” said the MQM leader. “Who forced hundreds of MQM workers to go underground…also needs to be investigated.”
Sattar remarked that Mirza’s present statement was contrary to his confession, which he recorded before the trial court. “It is just mockery of the law and there needs to be a probe who actually shot the video confession and handed it to the national media.”
The MQM leader also criticised television anchors for what he claimed was an unfair analysis of the situation and negative propaganda against the party.
He said the House needs to answer all these questions, otherwise it will be construed as a move orchestrated by the federal government.
Balking at the unprecedented nature of the ‘confessional video’ of Mirza, the MQM demanded that similar ‘confessional statements’ should be recorded for all condemned prisoners, particularly those involved in the General Headquarters (GHQ) attack in Rawalpindi.
Citing Articles 4, 10A and 25 of the Constitution, MQM MNAs asked why the right to record a video statement was not given to condemned prisoner Dr Usman, one of the six convicts in the GHQ attack case.
DEMANDS BY MQM:
The MQM leader also presented a set of demands, calling for the formation of a judicial commission, a truth and reconciliation commission and a body to monitor transparency of the ongoing operation led by the Rangers in Karachi.
Sattar reiterated his party’s stance that they were not against the security operation in the city but asked why a middle class party was being targetted.
“This operation should identify criminals and apprehend the miscreants instead of a targeting a political party,” he said, appealing to authorities concerned to review and revise the policy for the operation.
Sattar said that except party headquarters at Nine-Zero, all offices of the party in Karachi were closed, and that the party was not being allowed to establish contact with the people. He warned that if MQM’s offices are not allowed to operate, then no other party would able to run its offices in the city either.
“Mr Speaker, I’m not threatening but telling you facts,” Sattar quickly clarified.
The senior leader warned that terrorists, extremists and banned outfits would fill the vacuum if MQM is eliminated.
MQM CRITICISED:
Chief of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Mahmood Khan Achakzai criticised the National Assembly speaker for allowing the MQM to violate parliamentary rules and norms in the name of urgent political matter.
Addressing Sattar, he said, “…I would only refer your telephonic conversation with an American diplomat after May 12 carnage,” he said. “Read that conversation and decide the truth in your claims of being loyal to Pakistan.”
