950815

Altaf Group

to be

called MQM

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the government negotiations team Prof. N. D. Khan has agreed to call Altaf group as MQM (Altaf Group) in an effort to break the lull in the talks and find a solution to the Karachi situation.

In a letter written to Ajmal Dehlvi on Tuesday, the copies of which were given to the press, he called upon him to "appreciate the urgency and the enormity of the task ahead instead of getting entangled in matters of secondary and semantic importance". "We need to address the broader issue," Khan wrote.

He traced the convoluted history of the MQM which used different names in different contexts.

Khan wrote: ".... starting as APMSO, you switched to Mohajir Quomi Movement but then contested elections as independence under the name of Haq Parast Group (HPG). Thereafter, in 1992, a splinter group within your Organization emerged which called itself MQM (Haqiqi). Subsequently, you substituted the word 'Mohajir' from your Organization's flag with the word 'Altaf'. Thereafter, you changed the name of your organisation to Mutahda Quomi Movement. It will be recalled that the Chairman of MQM was late Azim Ahmad Tariq who was assassinated by Khalid Taqi and others on the order of Altaf Hussain according to the police investigation. Therefore, MQM was officially not headed by your leader Altaf Hussain.

Today there are three known groups of MQM, late Azim Tariq's Haqiqi's and Altaf Group. As the democratic party believing in pluralistic politics it would not be possible for us to ignore the existence of other factions. To do so or demand so, amounts to fascism."

Prof. N. D. Khan, further said taht the organization was not registered under the Political Parties Act 1962.

"I am, therefore, compelled to observe that the point raised by you about the change in the nomenclature of your group is self-contradictory".

He said in view of these repeated transformation in the name and emergence of other groups laying claim to the same nomenclature as your organization, it was difficult to describe you by any other name than that of your leader's.

Khan said, the six clarifications sought by the government addressed the core issue of the dialogue i.e. restoration of peace in Karachi.

The clarifications pertain to the statements of Altaf Hussain and yourself which undermine and question the two nation theory which is the basis of the creation of Pakistan, compromise the sovereignty of Pakistan by espousing the cause of confederation and owning terrorists and issuing threats to resort to violence by your organization."

He wrote that this is an established norm of 'dialogue' that negotiating parties can legitimately seek clarifications on issues related with or pertaining to the core questions.

"Contrary to your averments in the letter under reply on July 16, 1995, the gvernment formally sought written clarification of the statement of Altaf Hussain thereby owning the five terrorists relating to the Korangi incident and his interview in 'India Today' wherein he termed the two nation theory as 'the butt of jokes' and spoke of a 'confederation'. On July 20, 1995, the government formally sought written clarification on the remaining three issues. On July 24, 1995, the government consolidated the six clarifications in formal note which was handed over to you. I, therefore, fail to understand the hesitation on your part to issue written clarifications on such vital and fundamental issues," Khan wrote.

He also suggested Dehlvi to provide a written reply to the clarifications sought by the government "to clear the atmosphere of any mis-givings on these issues" during the next meeting.

He assured the MQM (Altaf) negotiations team of extending all protocol and security for the next round of negotiations.-APP