LONDON: Following his report of BBC over Altaf Hussain and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Owen Bennett-Jones has filed another report against Karachi based party in leading British Daily, The Guardian.
His commentary starts with one of Geo TV’s satirical show, which has been repeatedly failing to recruit a person lookalike to MQM leader saying “the man Geo TV sought to satirise was Altaf Hussain, the leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). And the reason no one applied was the fear that if Altaf Hussain were unamused by the performance, the actor playing him would be murdered.”
Owen, one of the leading investigative journalists with British Broadcasting Corporation, has made an investigative report MQM, which was aird on at BBC; however, the British media giant has refused to post the report on its website.
Owen reported that Altaf Hussain had been operating from Edgware, the north London suburb, for last 20 years beyond reach of Pakistani prosecutors.
He went on writing: “It’s difficult to know how many murder cases have been registered against Altaf Hussain, but perhaps the most authoritative number was released in 2009 when the then Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf implemented his National Reconciliation Order, granting most of the country’s senior politicians an amnesty. One of the biggest beneficiaries was Hussain, against 72 cases were dropped, including 31 allegations of murder. The MQM rejects all the murder charges lodged against Hussain.”
Owen has also referred to Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s vocal stance against alleged crimes of Altaf Hussain and MQM especially killing of Zahra Shahid Hussain just after the general election.
The report also discussed Altaf Hussain’s speech during a sit in by PTI supporters at Teen Talwar round about of Karachi, the largest city the country besides warnings to media anchors.
After mentioning difficulties stopping public prosecution in London, Owen revealed that MQM-critic MP George Galloway has set up a fund to launch a private prosecution bid. According to him, two British judges have found MQM is involved in violent acts.
The report further said:
“When asked about these allegations, MQM issued the following statement to the Guardian: “We’d also like to point out here that it is the MQM that has been the worst victim of violence in recent history of the country. The Taliban and other jihadi elements have killed scores of MQM members … “
Some others matters including killing of former MQM leader, Dr. Imran Farooq, recovery of 4,00,000 pounds by London police, alleged violent activities of MQM and others.
The special part of the report was when Owen questioned role of British government ans her perks to the MQM leader in form of asylum, passport and using all tools of communication freely.
The end note of the report said:
“For its part the UK government insists there is nothing unusual about its contacts with MQM and that its meetings with MQM officials are: “a normal part of diplomatic activity around the world”. I spoke to a British official recently about the MQM and asked why the UK government, so keen to declare its commitment to human rights, seemed so willing to deal with the party despite officials privately saying that it uses violence to achieve its goals. She said: “There is one thing I can assure you of – it’s not a conspiracy.” Which in a sense is true. It’s not a conspiracy. It’s just policy.”
Please read the full report on The Guardian.
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