20 September 1998_________ Sunday _________28 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1419

Altaf disputes gun-running charge
By Our Staff Correspondent

LONDON, Sept 19: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain on Saturday said he and his party were ready to stand any punishment if the allegation of gun-running was proved against the MQM.

Talking to reporters after a meeting between Provincial Coordination Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali and members of the Rabita committee of his party on the issue of MQM's rejoining the Sindh government, Mr Altaf Hussain said the allegation against the MQM of gun-running was not only false, but also a cover-up for those involved in this business.

"If this allegation of the authorities that the MQM is involved in gun-running is proved, we are ready to face the consequences," he said. "Actually they (the authorities) are accusing MQM to divert the attention of the people from the actual hands involved in gun-running."

He said there was no arms factory in Karachi nor were arms manufactured in that city. "Neither do we (MQM) make arms nor are they manufactured in Karachi," he said. "The authorities should tell the nation where arms are manufactured and how far is that area from Karachi," he added.

Mr Altaf Hussain said there were hundreds of barriers and check-posts between the tribal areas and Karachi being manned by the police and customs officials to control the smuggling of arms and drugs.

Implicitly saying that arms were being pumped into Karachi from outside by forces which do not want to see stability in the city, the MQM chief said the authorities should ask the police and customs officials manning these check-posts and barriers as to how these illicit arms passed through those posts.

"The people manning those check-posts should be punished for allowing this arms smuggling," he said. He also raised a question about the identity of people involved in arms smuggling. "Who are involved in arms smuggling and why they are not being punished."

He said it was strange that instead of stopping illegal arms manufacturing or its smuggling or holding government officials responsible for allowing arms to pass through check-posts, the blame was being shifted on the people of Karachi.

"Karachi people manufacture, sell and buy pencils, pens, copies and books," he said. "No kind of arms is manufactured in Karachi." "What is this joke that those who are involved and committing this crime are not even asked and the blame is shifted on MQM," he observed.

Asked why he had not participated in the talks with the provincial coordination minister, the MQM chief said as the issue of rejoining the Sindh government or otherwise related to the entire party, he had left it to the party leadership to decide.

"Whatever they decide will be the collective decision in the larger interest of the party and the cause," he said, adding that MQM was not struggling for ministries or power "but to resolve the problems of the people."

The second round of talks between Chaudhry Nisar and the MQM delegation will be held at the MQM's international secretariat on Sunday at 1100 GMT (4pm PST).

The two sides had failed to arrive at any conclusion during the first round of talks on Friday night.