MQM's Leaders and Deputy Leaders in the National Assembly, Senate and Provincial Assembly holding Press Conference at the Head Office of Muttahida Quami Movement on 20 June 2004

 

The News
21 June 2004

Muttahida gives govt. three months to rein in terrorists

KARACHI: While giving a three-month ultimatum to the authorities concerned and the Establishment, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has demanded of the government to rein in the terrorists, Jihadi elements and their patrons, Muttahida-Majlis-e-Amal otherwise it would be left with no option but to consider the attitude of establishment hypocritical.

"After long consultations at every level, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has decided to give a three-month ultimatum to the authorities concerned to rein in the terrorists, Jihadi elements and their patrons, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and if that does not happen then we will be forced to believe that the attitude of establishment is hypocritical," said Dr Farooq Sattar while addressing a hurriedly called press conference at the party’s headquarters Nine Zero here on Sunday night.

However, he was reluctant to pinpoint the actual course of action at the end of the ultimatum period.

The Muttahida parliamentary leader in the national assembly said that the incidents of terrorism, which occurred on May 12 and later, particularly in Karachi, showed that the Jihadi elements and their patrons, the MMA had been given a free hand.

He said that the party believed that that these acts of terrorism could not have occurred without any high-level patronage and that there was no one to rein in these terrorists and their patrons, the MMA.

Dr Sattar also condemned the decision of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) regarding re-polling in at least three constituencies of the city. "We believe that the decision of re-polling is also a part of the conspiracy and it is mockery of the law and miscarriage of justice," he added.

The Muttahida’s parliamentary leader in the Lower House told reporters that after reviewing the situation, the co-ordination committee also gave
three months time period to the Muttahida’s ministers and
advisors to discharge their
duties effectively and try to solve the problems of people immediately.

He said that the co-ordination committee also demanded of the authorities concerned, Muttahida’s allied parties at national and provincial level and federal and provincial governments
to work for the implementation on an agreed formula within three months’ time so that the hurdles in the way of Muttahida’s ministers and advisors for solving people’s problem could be removed.

Muttahida’s parliamentary leader in the Senate, Babar Ghauri said: "We have also demanded of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister to give complete powers to ministers and advisers and do not interfere in their matters so that they can work hard for the solution of peoples’ problems."

 

Daily Dawn
21 June 2004

Muttahida gives 3-month ultimatum

KARACHI, June 20: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which is a major stake-holder in the ruling coalition at the centre and in Sindh, on Sunday gave a three-month ultimatum to the government to rope in "jihadi terrorists" who, it said, were backed by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, or else it would be free to "decide about the future."

The decision of the MQM coordination committee was announced by its parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Dr Farooq Sattar at a late-night press conference at Nine Zero.

When asked if the MQM would quit the government if its demands were not met within the stipulated time-frame, Dr Farooq Sattar was evasive and said that options would be deliberated at an appropriate time.

"What I have stated here today is a well thought out decision of the coordination committee," he said. He made it clear that if the MQM's demands were not met, the party would consider it "treachery" and "double standards" of the establishment and the ruling elite.

According to sources, MQM founder Altaf Hussain while addressing the party cadres late on Saturday night, had criticised the role of the security agencies, particularly of the para-military Rangers during election-related violence in Karachi and demanded that Gen Musharraf and others in the establishment should check such elements.

He had again stressed that some elements were contemplating an operation against the party. Dr Farooq Sattar, who was accompanied by parliamentary leaders of the party and their deputies in the Senate, and national and Sindh assemblies, slammed jihadi elements and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for the terrorist incidents in the city since May 12 and even earlier.

He said he was surprised that the MMA was not touched. He argued that the MMA could not have acted in the manner as it did without the support of some powerful lobby.

Dr Farooq Sattar also demanded the reversal of the chief election commissioner's decision of annulling by-elections for two national and one provincial assemblies seats and termed it miscarriage of justice and a mockery of democracy and part of the conspiracy against the MQM and the government.

The MQM also demanded that agreement with regard to the ministries allocated to the party should be implemented in letter and spirit, which indicated differences between the MQM and the new chief minister over portfolios, especially of the home department.

Dr Farooq Sattar said that MQM ministers should be allowed to act freely. On persistent questioning with regard to the return of the Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Federal Communications Minister Babar Ghori said that he would return in a day or two and there should not be speculations in that regard.