Share this story!            

MQM releases video on Karachi killings

By Naveed Siddiqui

ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday released video footage that appeared to show guards of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Information Secretary Sherry Rehman firing at MQM workers, as it sought to fight off charges that it was largely to blame for the violence in Karachi on May 12.

Dr Farooq Sattar, deputy convener of the MQM Coordination Committee, released the video, titled ‘Bitter Truth’, at a press conference. He said the video was prepared by MQM workers, but some of the clips came from independent media sources.

Sattar said the inadequate deployment of Rangers in Karachi was to blame for the violence on May 12, and the party had conveyed its reservations on this subject to President General Pervez Musharraf.

“We are awaiting a response from President Musharraf to our question as to why enough Rangers were not deployed in Karachi on May 12,” he said. He added that an MQM delegation would meet Gen Musharraf in Karachi today (Friday) and repeat the question.

He said the purpose of the Karachi violence was to dent the popularity of the MQM. “The influence and popularity of MQM was spreading across the country that was not acceptable to the anti-MQM elements within the government,” Sattar said. Asked if the MQM would invite Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to visit Karachi, Sattar said the CJP could come to Karachi whenever he wished but only to address the bar.

Sattar also called for an independent judicial inquiry into the Karachi riots. Answering a question about Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan’s announcement that he would file a case against MQM chief Altaf Hussain in London for his role in the Karachi killings, MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi said that his party would welcome him in London. “We’re ready to bear the expenses of his journey to London,” he added.

Home | National

Share this story!