Altaf Hussain’s extradition

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MQM is in hot waters

 

That Ch Nisar is examining the legal possibilities of Altaf Hussain’s extradition leaves no doubt about the government’s seriousness to bring back the MQM leader to Pakistan to try him in the case lodged by the Ranges. Judging from the Prime Minister’s remarks a day before his Karachi visit, Nawaz Sharif seemed to be fully supportive of the raid on Nine Zero where wanted target killers were arrested beside the recovery of a cache of lethal weapons. It remains to be seen, however, if the British government would be willing to hand over the MQM leader keeping in view the negative response from Islamabad and London vis a via earlier extradition requests. Once Hussain is in Pakistan the likelihood of other cases being registered against him cannot be ruled out.

Bringing back Altaf Hussain for trial could have repercussions in Karachi. The MQM is the most influential party in urban Sindh and its leader enjoys blind following. But MQM is also prone to bluff, which it has avoided this time. There was no violent reaction, typical of MQM, to the Nine Zero raid. Much will depend on the party leadership though. Will it act with discretion thus saving itself and the party or act irrationally? In case Hussain is brought back for trial, which remains uncertain, what one expects from an important parliamentary party is to pursue his case with the help of capable lawyers at its disposal. What it needs to do simultaneously is to purge the party of criminal elements.

Governments in the past have hesitated to take action against the MQM when needed on account of political exigencies or because they feared the party’s ability to shut down Karachi through violence. Barring two operations against the MQM, the general tendency was to avoid confronting it. How much of MQM’s electoral support is engineered through threats of violence and gerrymandering remains a matter of opinion. Much will become clear after the demographic survey promised for the next year and the subsequent redrawing of constituencies by the Election Commission.

2 COMMENTS

  1. It is good to hear Ch.Nisar after all the hype and hoe created by IK & Co coming back into news by targeting MQM HQ & its Chief.

    But our nation is more interested to know what Ch.Nisar has done sofar about militancy and talibans – He never explain the reason why he cried in the national assembly when Masod was killed in a drone attack. He should rather giving exact time frame for bringing all the killers into Govt.custody – and those who have killed our soldiers and fellow citizens in the name of religion.

    Mr.Bean kuch to acha kaam kar jao iss mulk kay liye.

  2. Pakistani politicians from all angles have found to be unfair,corrupt, anti Islamic,anti people . They have bombed their own people using US weapons. They have encouraged drone attacks that have killed some 4000 people in the regions of Waziristan. Isn't this anti nationalistic? Altaf hussain is a supporter of the ordinary people of Pakistan ans so a supporter of justice. Without justice there is no peace. All corrupt politicians must be taken to task.

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