ISLAMABAD: Confronted with a storm of criticism and in what seemed like a bid to end the ongoing controversy over his remarks in which he had asked for a ‘martial law-like action’ against corrupt politicians, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said on Saturday that his party would never support military rule.
In an interview to a private television channel, the MQM chief explained that he had never sought imposition of martial law, saying he wanted the army to act within the constitutional limits and help the poor “snatch the lands and big palaces of feudals and landlords”.
However, it was not clear if his detailed interview on the issue would put an end to the controversy. The MQM chief was of the view that the Constitution allowed such an action.
“Under Article 190 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court can direct army, police, Rangers or any law enforcement agency to apprehend those who had breached canals and barrages only to save their lands and properties causing deaths and destruction,” the MQM chief said.
Mr Hussain, whose party was a part of the Musharraf regime when Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was deposed in 2007, said he held the present judiciary in high esteem.
However, he warned that “if the chief justice and present SC judges do not take decisions in the country’s interest regardless of the consequences, then the people will hold them accountable as well”.
“In the past you (army) imposed martial laws for your own interests and feudals’ benefits. Now come out in support of the people of Pakistan to help them get rid of feudalism,” he said.
To a query, Mr Hussain suggested the formation of an interim government comprising honest and reputable persons to help the poor “occupy the lands and palaces of feudals”.
Mr Hussain said he had not only talked about corrupt politicians, but also about those “corrupt generals” who had “occupied 30 per cent lands of the country”.
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