MQM protests to UK envoy

Karachi

A seven-member delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) met British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi John Tucknott and presented him with a memorandum in protest against what it called a “malicious” BBC report.

The delegation, comprising members of the Coordination Committee and parliamentarians of the party, presented the memorandum in the form of a letter addressed to British Prime Minister David Cameron.

It said the British Broadcasting Company aired a malicious news report about the MQM and its founder, Altaf Hussain, which hurt the feelings of millions of people.

The delegates were Coordination Committee deputy convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar, Senator Nasreen Jalil, Senator Barrister Farogh Nasim, Sindh Assembly opposition leader Syed Faisal Sabzwari, parliamentary leader Syed Sardar Ahmed and deputy parliamentary leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan.

They said their party believed in the freedom of press and media, but it “rejects the media trial of anyone as yellow journalism”.

“The MQM reserves its democratic, constitutional and legal rights against such journalism.”

The delegation said the BBC broadcast the second report about the MQM in which the norms of journalism were not maintained, thereby hurting the credibility of the broadcaster.

After the airing of the report, Altaf Hussain had said conspiracies had been hatched against his mission and cause ever since the movement began.

In a statement addressed to the party leaders, office-bearers, workers and sympathisers. Hussain had said attempts had always been made to bring him and the party into disrepute by levelling fabricated allegations.

“I want to inform the entire nation that I have never bowed down my head before the forces of evil. I suffered imprisonment and saw death from very near but I continued my mission.

“I want to tell my sympathisers that a new web of conspiracy is being woven around me and various false allegations are being levelled. Not only negative propaganda is being done against me but false allegations are being used to implicate me in various cases. I want to inform the public that I will never bow down my head before any international forces.”

Hussain urged the people to follow his teachings should any harm come to his life.

He also asked them to continue the struggle instead of letting the conspiracies succeed and ending the movement. He urged them to be ready for sacrifices.

The MQM chief particularly asked the members of the Coordination Committee, elected representatives and office-bearers across the country to take serious notice of his statement and follow his teachings.