ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday rejected the demand from some quarters about formation of a judicial commission (JC) to investigate allegations of former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal against MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
Addressing a press conference, Nisar said Mustafa Kamal neither mentioned anything new in his press conference nor he produced any documentary evidence to support his allegations. “It is not quite necessary to set up a commission on every press conference and certain claims.”
Nisar said that Mustafa Kamal had left Pakistan at his own will and now returned and addressed a press conference on his own. He said it was not obligatory for the government to respond to or issue its viewpoint in response to all political statements.
He invited Mustafa Kamal or any other person to share any evidence with government. “If Mustafa Kamal has any evidence, he can share it with FIA officials,” he said, and added that there would be no injustice with MQM or anyone else.
With regard to claims of MQM leader Sarfraz Merchant about money laundering, the minister said he has formed a committee to investigate the matter and added that Merchant did share some evidence on media. “The team would ask Merchant to come to Pakistan and share documentary proofs. In case, he does not come, we will send a team to the United Kingdom to interview him for which permission would be sought from the British government,” he said, and added the committee would meet on Monday. On the visit of Pakistan’s cricket team to India for T-20 World Cup, the minister said a three-member security team has been constituted to visit India on Monday to assess security environment for the cricket team. Based on initial report of team, a decision would be made about scheduled departure of cricket team for India on Wednesday, he added. Ch Nisar said disturbing reports about security threats to Pakistan team are emanating from India, including threats from extremists and militant organisations about creating law and order situation during visit of Pakistan’s cricket team. He pointed out that these threats were not hollow as Pakistani artistes and head of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also faced humiliation during their visits to India. In this backdrop, security of the players is prime concern, he said, and added that departure of the team may be delayed till necessary assurances for their safety are provided.
Nisar said that it was not a bilateral visit but a world cup where Pakistan’s participation was necessary. Pakistan is an important cricket playing country and it is responsibility of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to provide foolproof security to its team, he added.
“The cricket team would not be given green signal to depart for India until the government got satisfied with regard to security arrangements for our players,” he said.
