Shireen Mazari shocked at the statement of Altaf Hussain

Lahore: Dr Shireen Mazari, Central Information Secretary PTI, expressed shock at the statement of MQM leader Altaf Hussain basically threatening a break-up of Pakistan.

She said as a leader of a Pakistani political party Altaf Hussain’s remarks contravene the Constitution which makes it incumbent on all citizens not to say or do anything that threatens the territorial integrity of the country. Dr Mazari added that for a politician to demand the separation of a part of Pakistan and give a barely veiled threat of violence to that end is a clear contravention of Article 5 of the Constitution – “Loyalty to State and obedience to Constitution and Law”. Advocating the breaking away of Karachi from Pakistan is contravention of this article.

Moreover, Altaf Hussain’s statement is also in violation of the Pakistan Penal Code Chapter VI, Section 123 A Condemnation of Creation of the State and Advocacy of Abolition of Sovereignty and Section 124A Sedition.

Under these legal infractions,Dr Mazari demanded that the SC needs to take immediate notice of Altaf Hussain’s dangerous statement. If the SC does not do so, it is incumbent on the federal and provincial governments to act.

She expressed amazement over the dangerous and distorted logic of the MQM leader who chose to respond to charges of massive rigging by his Party with a threat of breaking Karachi away from rest of Pakistan – like a spoilt child throwing a tantrum because he couldn’t get his way!

In conclusion, Dr Mazari also expressed concern over the UK government allowing its soil and its citizen (Altaf being a UK citizen) to threaten violence and the territorial integrity of another sovereign state, a member of the Commonwealth and a member of the UN! This is against the basic norms of inter state relations.