KARACHI, Pakistan — Pakistani police charged the exiled leader of an influential political party with treason and inciting terrorism on Tuesday, accusing him of provoking violence at a protest a day earlier in Karachi.
Altaf Hussain, leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) which rules Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city, was accused with a dozen other party leaders of raising anti-Pakistan slogans at the demonstration on Monday.
MQM activists clashed with police and ransacked a private television station in the southern port city leaving at least one man dead and seven others injured.
The violence erupted soon after Hussain gave a telephone address to supporters from London in which he castigated the media for not giving due coverage of his workers.
According to a police report, seen by AFP, he chanted “down with Pakistan” and called the country a “bastion of terrorism.”
Meanwhile, MQM deputy convener Farooq Sattar and other party leaders have denounced anti-Pakistan slogans and attack on media houses.
Addressing a press conference along with other senior leader, Sattar vowed such action would not be repeated in future.
MQM leaders distanced themselves from party chief and London leadership.
Sattar said if such statements are a result of mental stress, then that mental stress needs to be resolved first.
“Torture is not MQM’s policy. Our policy is to strengthen and make Pakistan prosperous. We were not expecting situation emerged Monday,” he said.
It was our desire to hold press conference and present our stance over the situation shortly after the tense situation but some of our friends took us with them.
Sattar went on to say all decisions would be taken by MQM Rabitta Committee Pakistan in future. “MQM is registered in Pakistan, therefore, it is better party should be operated from here.” He said it would be better for MQM to operate from Pakistan until Altaf Hussain’s health issues are not resolved.
Sattar also announced that he will be assuming control of the party leadership.
MQM leaders Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Nasreen Jalil, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, Dr Amir Liaquat and many members parliament were present on the occasion.
The MQM, run by Hussain from London — and accused of using extortion and murder to cement its grip on power — has long been blamed for ethnic violence in Karachi.
It has clashed repeatedly with authorities who, according to rights groups, have resorted to hundreds of extra-judicial killings during a “clean-up” operation that began in 2013 in a city already plagued by violence.
Last year Pakistani police registered a case under terrorism laws against Hussain over a speech criticizing the country’s powerful military establishment.
Previous charges have not resulted in action or extradition requests against Hussain, who has lived in London since fleeing a military operation against his party in 1992 and is a British citizen.
