GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF HIMSELF AND OTHER ARMY GENERALS ARE THE BIGGEST TRAITORS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ABROGATING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COUNTRY -- DR IMRAN FAROOQ

London- 17 May 2001

Lamenting the Chief Executive of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf, on his shameful and irresponsible remarks as well as unfounded allegations made against Mr Altaf Hussain, founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) in an interview to the British newspaper The Guardian, Dr Imran Farooq, Convenor of the MQM said that if national interest is genuinely dear to General Musharraf, he should then try and punish the Army Generals who have plundered and dismembered the country.

In a statement issued from London, Dr Imran Farooq condemning the outrages allegations made by the Chief Executive said that Mr Altaf Hussain is the undisputed leader of over thirty million Mohajirs and the ninety-eight per cent of the Middle Class and down trodden people of Pakistan. He has never worked against the national interest in the past nor is he working against the national interest now. His only crime is that he has never compromised on his principles or traded his conscience to the Army Generals. He has always worked for the abolishment of the antiquated feudal political system of Pakistan and raised his voice for the rights of the ordinary people.

Dr Imran Farooq said that the abolishment of the archaic feudal political system is against the vested interests of the Army Generals.  Whenever, their interests are hurt, the Army Generals term those actions against the national interests. He said that in accordance with the policies of the Army Establishment, General Parvez Musharraf is also denouncing the peaceful political struggle of Mr Altaf Hussain, against the national interests, which manifests that the national interests are not dear to General Parvez Musharraf but the interests of the Army Establishment are.

Dr Imran Farooq stated that if national interests are genuinely dear to General Pervez Musharraf and he has the moral courage then he should bring those Generals to book and hang them who were responsible for the dismemberment of Pakistan in the aftermath of the publication of the Humood-ur-Rahman Commission Report. He demanded exemplary punishment to those Generals who committed blood bath of their fellow brethren in the former East Pakistan, were involved in smuggling, trafficking and led a licentious lifestyle damaging the interests of the country instead of protecting the geographical boundaries of Pakistan. He said that those responsible for the surrender of the ninety-three thousand soldiers in the former East Pakistan and belittling Pakistan should be severely punished.

Dr Imran Farooq lashing out against General Pervez Musharraf said that on the one hand, General Musharraf has levelled shameful and baseless allegations against Mr Altaf Hussain under the rubric of national interest while on the other hand, advised people to forget the tragic dismemberment of Pakistan instead of adhering to the public demand of trying and punishing the Army Generals responsible for the fragmentation of our beloved country.

Dr Imran Farooq addressing General Parvez Musharraf said that he and other Army Generals instead of dropping a few tears on the tragic break-up of Pakistan in the aftermath of the publication of the Humood-ur-Rahman Commission Report are levelling baseless and unfounded allegations against patriotic people of working against the national interests.

Dr Imran Farooq declared that General Pervez Musharraf himself and other Army Generals are the biggest traitors who are responsible for repeatedly abrogating the Constitution of the country but they, however, fail to see their own images even after the publication of the Hamood-ur-Rahman Commission Report. He asked, why General Pervez Musharraf does not arrest and punish himself and other Army Generals who repeatedly impose Martial Laws in the country trampled the Constitution under their boots and dismantled democracy causing irreparable losses to the country. He asked, why does General Pervez Musharraf not arrest and punishes those Generals who took billions of dollars in kickbacks and commissions in the arms deals and filled their own coffers damaging the national interests.

Dr Imran Farooq said that talk of national interests is not befitting to those who impose Military Rule in the country, trample the Constitution under their boots, loot and plunder the country and honourably set free into exile those sentenced by the Courts for heinous crimes. He said that Mr Altaf Hussain is a public leader and he does not need a certificate of working in the national interest from General Parvez Musharraf. He said that Mr Altaf Hussain is a leader of millions of people and went abroad on their insistence. Mr Altaf Hussain is staying in London on the insistence of the party leaders and workers and guiding them from London in accordance with their desire. Dr Imran Farooq condemning the remarks of General Pervez Musharraf that Mr Altaf Hussain has no place in the politics of Pakistan said that Mr Altaf Hussain does not need permission to return to Pakistan from General Pervez Musharraf or any other Army General. He said that the public has accepted Mr Altaf Hussain as their leader and have reposed their confidence in him and his leadership repeatedly then who is General Musharraf to declare that Mr Altaf Hussain has no place in Pakistani politics?

Dr Imran Farooq demanded a public apology from General Pervez Musharraf for hurting the sentiments of millions of people by making shameless and irresponsible remarks as well as levelling unfounded allegations against Mr Altaf Hussain.  He demanded for the withdrawal of his allegations and remarks. Meanwhile, the Co-ordination Committee of the MQM has called for an urgent meeting to discuss the matter.