Saturday, April 12, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 5,1429    

Altaf takes back decision to quit MQM leadership
Angry over party leaders for their failure to contain April 9 violence

Monitoring Report

London—Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain Friday on the pressure of party workers decides to take back his resignation as party chief. Earlier, Altaf Hussain has announced to step down from the party leadership.

According to media reports, Farooq Sattar read a letter from Altaf Hussain to the General Workers body meeting in which the MQM chief said the party leaders failed to contain the violence on April 9 in Karachi city.

Altaf Hussain said in the letter that everybody has a right to protest, however, violent riots are wrong to the core.

The letter said the party affairs would be run by MQM Rabta Committee.

MQM chief said Legal Aid Committee members were staging peaceful demonstration.

Commenting on April 9 incidents, Altaf Hussain said he is grieved at the violent incidents on April 9.

‘After the violent riots erupted in Karachi, I asked Rabta Committee members and representatives to quit their work and restore peace in the city,’ he maintained.

MQM leaders should have played their role in containing the violence in Karachi on April 9 that resulted in the deaths of people and damage to property, he added.

‘This city belongs to all and everybody is responsible for keeping the law and order here,’ he observed.

He said the biggest party of the city is being held responsible for the violent incidents on April 9.

Altaf Hussain said as soon as the injured arrived in hospitals, the conspiracies were started.