Pakistan must do more in al Qaeda fight, Biden says

(CNN) -- Pakistan has been an unreliable ally of the United States in the war against al Qaeda and other extremist organizations, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told CNN in an interview set to air in full Monday night.

Biden, who spoke to CNN's John King on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, said Pakistan has failed "on occasion" when forced to choose between the United States and al Qaeda.

The price of Pakistan's choices has been the "loss of life of American soldiers in Afghanistan," the vice president said. Islamabad has "been very helpful in other times," he added. "But it's not sufficient. They have to get better. We need a relationship that is born out of mutual interest. And it's in their interest that they be more cooperative with us."

"We are demanding it," he said.

Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May. Pakistan's government -- which has struggled with significant pro-al Qaeda sentiment within its borders -- was not informed of the attack beforehand.

Pakistani authorities insist they did not know bin Laden's location.

Despite troubles in Pakistan and elsewhere, the United States is "getting close" to bringing about an end to organized, legitimized terrorist activities, Biden said. Read More at CNN

Imran Khan lays blame for Karachi violence on MQM

KARACHI: In a press conference on Sunday, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan lambasted Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) as “the pioneer of belligerence in Karachi politics by instituting a militant wing,”.

The PTI chairman added that, “the major responsibility of the present situation is on the MQM’s shoulders since the party was the forerunner in organizing and funding land and bhatta mafias. The rest of the political parties followed this trend later on.”

He was addressing a press conference at the Palwal House in DHA phase four which is home to the party’s vice present Najeeb Haroon.

Khan said that the politics of militancy and accusations would ultimately divide this city along ethnic lines.

Expressing his views on the deteriorating law and order situation of the city, the PTI chairman said that major political parties cannot find a way out of the anarchy in Karachi because their armed militant wings are the root cause of the anarchy.

“Name any political party in Karachi that get votes and doesn’t have a militant wing,” Khan posed a question, adding that only a neutral governor rule under a powerful administration can restore peace and stability in the city.

“No PTI militant wing”

Khan said that the PTI took great efforts to curb pressure from inside that the party should establish a militant wing. “It has become a trend now. People can’t think of any political party devoid of a militant wing but PTI can’t compromise on principles,” he added.

Reiterating his stance on military intervention, the PTI chairman said that an army operation in Karachi is not a permanent solution, adding that an unbiased police force under neutral administration could control the law and order situation.

The PTI chairman urged the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to ensure a free and fair probe into the allegations levelled and revelations made by former Sindh senior minister Zulfiqar Mirza against Rehman Malik and the MQM.

He added that the allegations made by Mirza were directly related to the integrity and stability of the country and the President, Prime Minister and Federal Interior Minister should step down.

Khan held President Zardari responsible for target killings, violence and a wave of crime across Pakistan.

“The present government is trying to complete its tenure by providing shelter to terrorists,” Khan said. Read more at Express Tribune

ANP: Altaf has Pashtun blood on his hands

ISLAMABAD / PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) leader Afrasiab Khattak on Saturday said Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain had the blood of Pashtun on his hands.

Responding to Hussan’s allegations of the ANP misleading Pashtuns, Khattak said “aap ka Pashtun-duhsman chehra sab kay samnay hay.” He said the MQM chief should consider what the people think of him looking at the number of Pashtun bodies coming to Khyber-Pashtunkhwa, FATA and Balochistan from Karachi.

“Nobody has killed more Pashtuns than the MQM,” said the ANP leader.

Speaking on the MQM chief’s allegations of US funding of the ANP during elections, Khattak said that the number of assets the MQM and its people owned in the United Kingdom and the letter written to then Prime Minister Tony Blair was something to be questioned.

“Where is the MQM getting the money for all this?”

Khattak said that the ANP would not rest until the killers of May 12 have been arrested.

The ANP leader said that Altaf Hussain had “verbally abused” all political parties during his press conference except for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and this was because the MQM could get “seats” from them.

“ANP does not need a certificate of patriotism from Altaf Hussain”

ANP leader Zahid Khan, speaking to the media earlier in Islamabad, said his part did not need a certificate of patriotism from Altaf Hussain or anyone else.

He said if anyone had any allegations against the ANP they should come to the courts.

Khan said everyone had seen the way Altaf Hussain had acted during the press conference yesterday.

“First he reference the Holy Quran, then he spoke about the Prophet (pbuh). I am a layman, but if the muftis keep quiet on the way he spoke, it will be damaging for the religion and society.”

The ANP leader said there was shadow of fear around Altaf Hussain during the press conference and he acted like “a person who does not know what to say.”

He alleged that the MQM leader had tried to impress the judiciary and had tried to create pressure by saying he would set his workers free in Karachi. Keep Reading at Express Tribune

I might be killed for patriotism: Altaf Hussain

LONDON: During a video conference Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain claimed that if the army, ISI, and MQM joined hands than they could even face a superpower, Geo News reported.

The MQM chief spoke of an international conspiracy to divide Pakistan. He said his life was at risk due to this conspiracy.

Presenting a map in which Punjab along with half of the country was marked as a part of Afghanistan he said, "I fear I may be killed as I am a hurdle in plans of dividing Pakistan."

The map also showed Balochistan as an independent state while some parts of Karachi were also included in Afghanistan.

Hussain said that he was willing to provide all MQM workers to support the army in an effort to thwart international conspiracies to divide the country.

Accusing the present Awami National Party (ANP) leadership of misguiding Pakhtuns, Hussain said, "If I was against Pakhtuns the why was the MQM supported across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa [when they had announced the day of mourning for the victims of violence in Karachi.]"

According to Hussain ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan was given several million dollars by the United States to win the 2008 elections.

Saying history taught in Pakistan was inaccurate, Hussain said, Pakistan today is a far cry from Jinnah's vision of secularism and equality for all.

He said innocent people were tortured and slaughtered by terrorists during the recent wave of violence in Karachi. "If I was not the chief of my party I would have been killed or taken someone's life."

He called on the president, prime minster, chief of army staff and ISI chief to view a video of people from the Urdu-speaking community being tortured. Hussain alleged the video was made by criminals from the Lyari Amn Committee.

He clarified that the MQM was not against the people of Lyari but against criminals whoever they may be.

He said the ANP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Peoples Amn Committee and Haqiqi were involved in terrorist activity in Karachi and if action was not taken than he would withdraw his appeal to MQM workers to remain peaceful.

Speaking about the carnage which took place on May 12, 2007 the MQM chief said his party had not taken out the procession against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry nor did they shout any slogans against him.

Hussain accused the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) of paying Haqiqi members to fire on an MQM rally during May 12 and fuelling the violence which took place in Karachi that day.

Hussain demanded that action be taken against the JI's militant wing 'Thunder Squad'.

He added that 16 MQM workers were killed while 65 were injured on May 12.

Calling the Charter of Democracy (COD) a "document of false promises", Hussain said both the Peoples Party and Nawaz Sharif had failed to implement its contents.

When asked about accusations made by Zulfiqar Mirza against him and his party, Altaf Hussain said he would not answer them.

yed Mustafa Kamal Press Conference Against the Allegations of Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza

Source: The News Pk

Syed Mustafa Kamal Press Conference

Syed Mustafa Kamal Press Conference Against the Allegations of Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza

MQM-PPP talks continue

KARACHI: Governor Sindh, Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad met with a delegation of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) comprising of Minister for Religious Affairs Khursheed Shah and Sindh Minister for Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani, Geo News reported.

According to the sources, the return of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to the coalition government was discussed during the meeting.

Several rounds of talks have been held between the two parties as they discuss the MQM's return to the government. Earlier, MQM chief Altaf Hussain and President Asif Ali Zardari spoke over the phone and agreed to play their role in strengthening democracy.

Aftermath: PPP disavows Mirza, but takes no action

ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party on Monday disavowed the statements of former Sindh senior minister Zulfiqar Mirza, calling them ‘unacceptable’ and ‘a violation of party discipline’, though the party leadership stopped short of announcing any punitive actions against Mirza.

President Asif Ali Zardari, in his capacity as PPP co-chairman, had called a meeting of PPP leaders from Sindh to discuss the fallout from the fiery diatribe that Mirza had launched against a member of his own party – Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik – as well as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
“The party leadership disowned the accusations made in the press conference by Zulfiqar Mirza in Karachi on Sunday,” said Farhatullah Babar, the president’s spokesperson, after the meeting.
(Read: Hurricane Mirza shakes up political landscape)
Mirza is considered one of President Zardari’s closest associates, having on several occasions referred to the president as a ‘close personal friend’. Opponents of the PPP have, in the past, assumed that statements made by Mirza were being made on behalf of the president.
But the explosive rant by Mirza on Sunday took most observers by surprise, especially since he announced his resignation from the Sindh cabinet, the provincial assembly and even his position within the PPP leadership, though he stated that he would remain a member of the party ‘for life’.
In an official handout made available to the press after the meeting, Mirza’s actions were termed “an unacceptable violation of party discipline and contrary to the well thought out policy of political reconciliation envisaged by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.”
However, the party leadership made no mention of any possible disciplinary action against Mirza, a point that is likely to raise questions and arouse criticism from the party’s political opponents. In the past, the PPP has been known to suspend the membership of several of its cadre who have stepped out of line.
(Read: Analysis – What now after Zulfiqar Mirza’s bombshell?)
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah tried to term his almost immediate acceptance of Mirza’s resignations from the Sindh Assembly and cabinet a form of disciplinary action.
While still at odds with the MQM, in its statement the PPP leadership also reiterated its resolve to continue the process of political reconciliation, though it did not name any specific party.
“There may have been pauses in the process but there shall be no break in the purpose,” President Zardari was quoted as having said by his spokesperson. Interestingly enough, Rehman Malik and Senator Babar Awan – the two men who have been actively involved in trying to manage the negotiations with the MQM – were not present at the meeting, in an apparent endorsement of the demands made by Mirza and several other PPP politicians from Sindh that these two men not be allowed to intervene in the affairs of the province again.
The two men were replaced at the meeting by Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khursheed Shah (an MNA from Sukkur) and Qamar Zaman Kaira, an MNA from Gujrat.
The Sindh chief minister, meanwhile, briefed the meeting about the ongoing drive against those responsible for the recent wave of violence in Karachi that has thus far claimed the lives of nearly 1,000 people since the beginning of the calendar year.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2011.

Karachi violence: MQM's return to govt stalemated

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement's coming back to the government has again hit a stalemate as they have refused to meet Prime Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani who is visiting Karachi these days, Geo News reported Monday.

Sources privy to the situation informed Geo News that MQM is likely to announce its future course of action today at 5 PM.