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