The case against Altaf: Reactions, and politics

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain was in the limelight once again on Tuesday after Rangers registered a case against himfor threatening the paramilitary force.

The case, filed at Civil Lines police station, seeks to charge the MQM chief under Section 7 of the Anti-terrorism Act (ATA) and section 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Given the fine line MQM has been walking since the Rangers raided Nine Zeroon March 11, 2015, today’s development was viewed as an explosive one, with reactions pouring in from political parties and legal experts across the country.

PPP

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in a telephonic conversation with Altaf Hussain, expressed his party’s wish that the MQM become part of the PPP-led Sindh government.

Zardari said MQM was going through a “difficult time” and expressed solidarity with the party, vowing not to leave it alone in these “times of trouble.”

PML-N

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah, talking to DawnNews, condemned Altaf Hussain’s language against the Rangers, but maintained that the paramilitary force should not have registered a case against the MQM chief.

He said the agency should focus primarily on rooting out terrorism and violence from Karachi — not take part in legal battles.

'Politically motivated'

Renowned legal expert and human rights activist Asma Jehangir termed the case filed against Altaf Hussain as "futile."

She said the case was "politically motivated," and would lead nowhere, especially since Altaf Hussain resides in London.

Former federal law minister, Khalid Ranjha, while talking to DawnNews, said Altaf Hussain should not have used the words he did on TV, but mirrored Rana Sanaullah’s view, saying there were no grounds for the case registered against Hussain.

“I don’t think Altaf’s threat on TV is cognizable, especially with respect to section 506 of the PPC, which accounts for substantive offences. I don’t deem filing of this case as a good move,” he said.

It's personal?

Senior analyst, Nazir Leghari, said Altaf Hussain’s words on TV were very clear.

“Neither the party nor Altaf Hussain took their words back,” said Leghari. According to him, the matter revolved around two individuals — Rangers’ Col. Tahir and Altaf Hussain.

“If they resolve the issue on their own, whereby an apology is sought and accepted, the case will be resolved easily. Otherwise the law will take its own course,” he said.

MQM

MQM MNAs and workers said their party was being targeted in lieu of the Karachi operation.

MQM representative Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, while talking to DawnNews, said, "Altaf Hussain has faced similar cases in the past. This is nothing new for him."

MQM's Rabita Committee said its legal experts are reviewing details of the case registered against Altaf Hussain, and will soon formalise a legal strategy in this regard.

In an official statement, the committee said MQM is a liberal, democratic party and will use all legal and constitutional avenues to defend Altaf Hussain.