PRESS CONFERENCE

KARACHI: 22^ND SEPTEMBER 2011

Respected Journalists

This press conference has been called to inform you and through you to the people of Pakistan about the facts behind the alleged recent revelations by the Wiki Leaks.

Respected Journalists

First of all, I want to make it clear that the MQM is a peace-loving democratic political party that firmly believes in independence of the judiciary.  

After this I categorically reject that the revelations concerning the cable sent by the then charge de affairs of the US Consulate Peter Bodde suggesting the involvement of the MQM in the tragedy of the 12^th May.

I also repudiate the news published regarding the alleged revelations of the Wiki Leaks concerning the incident of the 12^th May. I want to state in unequivocal terms that the MQM was not responsible for the tragic incidents of the 12^th May, and it was the workers of the MQM and the common people that were made the target of terrorism. The revelations of the Wiki Leaks regarding the tragedy of the 12^th May are misleading, and I strongly condemn them.  

Respected Journalists

The MQM has maintained a strong and based on solid evidence position on 12^th of May, 2007, whether it was before the media or in any private discussion with the foreign envoys. I had put this before the media as a spokesman of the MQM in the past as well, and now I am reiterating the same stance.

Incidents of the 12^th May were tragic. I believe that this tragedy was an evil conspiracy against the MQM rather than anyone else. Fourteen workers of the MQM were martyred along with other citizens of Karachi. It must also be borne in mind that more than fifty workers of the MQM were injured on that day. The MQM was the real victim of the tragedy of the 12^th May.

Once again, attempts are being made to malign the MQM by spreading misleading information about the tragedy of the 12^th May, but we are confident that this conspiracy will also come to nothing like other conspiracies against the MQM in the past.

It must also be borne in mind that I had adopted the same stance in a press conference with the MQM parliamentarians in Islamabad on 14^th May 2007. The MQM had released a video titled “The Bitter Truth” on 19^th May 2007 in support of its stance. This video is being released once again in order to separate the chalk from the cheese.

Respected Journalists

Thank you once again for coming to attend this press conference.

Dr Farooq Sattar

Deputy Convener

Muttahida Quami Movement (Pakistan)