NAVEED BUTT

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution strongly condemning the anti-Pakistan statement and provocative speech of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain and attacks of MQM workers on media houses.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Chaudhry Muhammad Barjees Tahir presented the resolution in the House, which was unanimously adopted.

The resolution also condemned the violence which took place in Karachi on 22nd August when the party’s founder incited MQM workers to violence.

The resolution also condemned every type of crime, violence, terrorism activities and anti-Pakistan slogans. It demanded that action should be initiated immediately against those who resorted to such acts.

The resolution further said that this House expresses solidarity with the Parliament, armed forces, media, judiciary and all other democratic institutions working under the constitution.

After the approval of resolution, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said we support the resolution.

He said that his party had disassociated itself from its founder following his controversial statement against the country. He said the party should not be pushed to the wall on the act of one individual. He said the MQM is a pro-Pakistani party and has distanced itself from those who raised slogans against the country.

He said there is now need to embrace those who are chanting slogans of ‘Long Live Pakistan’. He said that their forefathers sacrificed for the creation of Pakistan.

Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch said that the people of all provinces love Pakistan. “It is not good to give impression that only a segment of society especially related to Karachi had sacrificed for Pakistan and others did nothing.

The people of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other areas too sacrificed their lives for Pakistan”.

He said that the MQM Chief in fact had never accepted Pakistan and his acts and statements were a clear proof of it. He said come what may nothing against the Pakistan’s security and dignity will be tolerated. He said that action is being taken in Karachi across the board without any discrimination.

He welcomed the decision of MQM to disassociate itself from Altaf Hussain.