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MQM leader to be charged with high treason
Author: Kamal Siddiqi
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: October 28, 2000
The Pakistan government is finalising plans to charge the leader of the Karachi-based Muttahida Qaumi Mahaaz (MQM) party, Altaf Hussain, and his party leaders with high treason for speaking out against the two nation theory and the creation of Pakistan.
Officials in Islamabad said that the interior ministry is finalising the charges against Hussain, whose party represents the majority of Muslim refugees who migrated to Pakistan and settled in Karachi and are called "mohajirs".
Hussain told the media earlier this month that the two nation theory, which argues that Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations which have to live separately and is the basis of the creation of Pakistan "was a farce."
Apart from that, Altaf Hussain said that the creation of Pakistan was a mistake as it divided the Muslims of the sub-continent even further and left most of the mohajirs worse off than they were at the time of Partition in 1947.
Representatives of the MQM, including Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who served as minister for industries in the government of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, travelled to India ostensibly to address the Muslims of India but also gave interviews to Indian television stations that were widely watched in Pakistan.
The MQM team which arrived from London -- where the MQM high command, including Altaf Hussain, reside -- said that it rejected the military government in Pakistan and called for the undoing of the partition of the sub-continent.
Pakistan chief executive General Musharraf has taken strong exception to the statements of the MQM team and have asked for "the most serious punishment that can be given to them under the law." Musharraf, himself a mohajir, chided interior minister General Haider, yet another mohajir, for not taking any action against the MQM.
General Haider later told newsmen that the MQM had travelled to India on diplomatic passports provided by the Indian government and "were playing into the hands of India." The government now intends to start legal action against the MQM leaders, who are already facing several charges against them and are mostly residing outside the country.
The MQM says that it has faced the "most severe state persecution imaginable" under successive governments for raising the voice of the oppressed mohajirs. Officials said that there is also a possibility that theMQM will not be allowed to participate in the forthcoming local bodies elections in the country.
MQM leader to be charged with high treason
Author: Kamal Siddiqi
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: October 28, 2000
The Pakistan government is finalising plans to charge the leader of the Karachi-based Muttahida Qaumi Mahaaz (MQM) party, Altaf Hussain, and his party leaders with high treason for speaking out against the two nation theory and the creation of Pakistan.
Officials in Islamabad said that the interior ministry is finalising the charges against Hussain, whose party represents the majority of Muslim refugees who migrated to Pakistan and settled in Karachi and are called "mohajirs".
Hussain told the media earlier this month that the two nation theory, which argues that Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations which have to live separately and is the basis of the creation of Pakistan "was a farce."
Apart from that, Altaf Hussain said that the creation of Pakistan was a mistake as it divided the Muslims of the sub-continent even further and left most of the mohajirs worse off than they were at the time of Partition in 1947.
Representatives of the MQM, including Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who served as minister for industries in the government of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, travelled to India ostensibly to address the Muslims of India but also gave interviews to Indian television stations that were widely watched in Pakistan.
The MQM team which arrived from London -- where the MQM high command, including Altaf Hussain, reside -- said that it rejected the military government in Pakistan and called for the undoing of the partition of the sub-continent.
Pakistan chief executive General Musharraf has taken strong exception to the statements of the MQM team and have asked for "the most serious punishment that can be given to them under the law." Musharraf, himself a mohajir, chided interior minister General Haider, yet another mohajir, for not taking any action against the MQM.
General Haider later told newsmen that the MQM had travelled to India on diplomatic passports provided by the Indian government and "were playing into the hands of India." The government now intends to start legal action against the MQM leaders, who are already facing several charges against them and are mostly residing outside the country.
The MQM says that it has faced the "most severe state persecution imaginable" under successive governments for raising the voice of the oppressed mohajirs. Officials said that there is also a possibility that theMQM will not be allowed to participate in the forthcoming local bodies elections in the country.
MQM leader to be charged with high treason
