In a prolonged video conference from London, viewed by a large number of people simultaneously in various cities, he also claimed that his party had not put containers on various roads the CJP was scheduled to pass on that day.
This was his first address after his recovery from a week-long ailment. The video conference was held on a day President Zardari was in the British capital for a ‘medical checkup’.
He bitterly criticized the Awami National Party and the Jamaat-i-Islami, alleging that the former wanted to dismember Pakistan and the latter provided arms to the MQM (H) for use against the MQM (A). He also alleged that the US had given the ANP millions of dollars to win the 2008 elections. “I don’t have the proof (in support of the allegation). But my information is authentic. Maybe the agencies have proof (of the allegation I have levelled)”.
Mr Hussain devoted a good deal of time in clarifying that the MQM was not opposed to the CJP. He said had the MQM planned a rally against the CJP to block his entry into the cosmopolitan city, infants would not have been there among the participants.
He claimed that on May 12, 2007 a meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s House in Karachi, where Sindh ANP President Shahi Syed and the late president Ghulam Ishaq Khan’s son-in-law Irfanullah Marwat were also present.
Mr Marwat, according to the MQM chief, held Mr Shahi Syed responsible for firing at the innocent people. In response, the ANP leader said that he had reluctantly done this under orders from Asfandyar Wali Khan.
The same day, he said, a meeting was held at the residence of the Karachi ameer of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Muhammad Husain Mehanti. There, he said, the MQM (H) activists were given money and weapons from the party’s “Thunder Squad” for use against the MQM(A).
Mr Hussain said if the issue of May 12, 2007 events was taken to some international court, where the Supreme Court appeared as a party, he would offer proof in respect of his claims.
He said that day (May 12) he had called the Rangers DG to tell him that he should send the force to the airport to have the firing stopped. But, he regretted, that no action was taken on his request. He said the head of an intelligence agency called him to say that the MQM should give a safe passage to the ANP.
He said although Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan had opposed the creation of Pakistan, he was not a traitor. He and Khan Wali Khan had spent their lives in struggle against the British. However, he said, Asfandyar Wali was treading a different course. He wanted to break Pakistan, and the MQM was the major obstacle in the design. He alleged that the present leadership of the ANP wanted to make Pakistan a slave of the United States.
He said Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted a secular Pakistan and he had never raised the slogan of “Pakistan Ka Matlab Kia, La Ilaha Illallah”. The Quaid, he said, was a liberal, secular and progressive leader, who was for full religious independence to people.
Deplored that Mohajirs and Urdu-speaking people were being targeted in Karachi, Mr Altaf warned government of giving free hand to MQM workers if killings continued.
He said the president, the prime minister, the COAS and the ISI chief must see the video of killings in Lyari. He said the prime minister should play his role in bringing an end to the killings even at the cost of his government.
Without naming Asma Jehangir but leaving no doubt that he was referring to the former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the MQM chief said the champion of human rights had worked against the humanity.
Mr Altaf Hussain alleged that both the PPP and the PML-N had failed to adhere to the Charter of Democracy. He cited examples of violations. He said there was a threat to his life because of his mission. However, he made it clear that he would not compromise on his mission, come what may.
He said he was going to hand over his will to a couple of people he had called to London from Pakistan. According to the MQM chief, an international conspiracy was being hatched to break Pakistan. He also showed the map of the new state, in which Punjab was shown as part of Afghanistan.
About those who were saying that they would not let the MQM stay as the largest party of Karachi, he said this was dictatorship, highhandedness. He said since the MQM had been mandated by the people, nobody could question its status.
He parried a question about the allegations levelled by Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, saying he had never responded to his accusation in the past and would not do now or even in future.
