Govt to file reference against Altaf Hussain : Pervaiz Rashid

Lahore : Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervaiz Rashid on Wednesday said Pakistan government will send a reference to British authorities against Altaf Hussain for inciting people to violence

and attacking media houses in Karachi.

     “The state is playing its role. We will send a reference to British government against Altaf Hussain whose address provoked people to violate the law and attack private property,” he said.

speaking in a PTV programme. He said the government was taking required steps to deal with the situation and was also in contact with the British government. Scores of Pakistanis residing in UK were also filing complaints

against MQM leader which were being examined by the British authorities.

     The Minister said that when in the past we had complained against Altaf Hussain, the British government replied that there was freedom of expression in their country. “But, this time we expect that they will seriously consider our concerns because

Altaf Hussain incited people to attack private property and create unrest,” he added.

     “We believe that British democracy and law will take its course and nab Altaf Hussain for urging his party workers to extremism and violence,” he added.

     Pervaiz Rashid said, the government was also analyzing the statement of Dr. Farooq Sattar about distancing himself and the party from Altaf Hussain and it would keep monitoring whether he stood by his stance or backed out. Like other political parties their positive political role would be welcomed and if people voted them for fair politics, nobody could have any objection. He said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan visited Karachi and talked to Sindh government on the issue. I have also written a letter to Sindh Chief Minister appreciating his gestures to visit media houses and assuring them protection.

     “I have also requested him to ensure measures in this regard and extended him all out support from the federal government,” the minister said. He said there is no need to comment on recent speech of Altaf Hussain as his words had exposed his real face because this time he had directly attacked the state of Pakistan.

     The Minister said during Pervez Musharraf’s regime, Altaf Hussain had spoken against Pakistan when he had visited India, but because he was an ally of the dictator, so no action was initiated. Moreover, media at that time was not that much vibrant

to expose his real face before the masses, or the media was not  allowed to report his                 statement. But, now our media is more vibrant and the reaction to his anti-Pakistan statement was clear as every party and every patriotic Pakistani had condemned his speech and many have also filed cases against him, he added.

     The Minister said next week he had summoned the meeting of the Ministerial Committee constituted by the Prime Minister to address security related issues of media houses. This meeting would be attended by provincial home secretaries and

Representatives of federal government and the interior ministry and review the steps taken so far and ensure further measures for security of media houses.