Tuesday, June 30, 2015

MQM-RAW Connection; Pakistan Heatwave Deaths; Iran Pew Survey; Pak-Afghan Ties

Is leaked Interrogation of MQM finance chief Tariq Mir in London about RAW funds for his party authentic? How will it impact MQM's future with or without Altaf Husain? Will the party still remain popular with its base in Karachi?


Who or what is to blame for over 1000 heatwave deaths in Karachi, Sindh? Could these deaths have been prevented or reduced? What does Sindh government need to learn from this tragedy?

What does the latest Pew Poll of 40 countries on Iran say about the country's highest approval rating in Pakistan?

How will the Afghan parliament attack by the Taliban impact Pak-Afghan ties?

Viewpoint From Overseas host Faraz Darvesh discusses these questions with panelists Misbah Azam (politicsinpakistan.com) and Riaz Haq (www.riazhaq.com)

https://vimeo.com/132175583


MQM-RAW Connection; Pakistan Heatwave Deaths; Iran Pew Survey; Pak-Afghan Ties from WBT TV on Vimeo.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO0l8kTl8Tc





http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2w52wc



MQM-RAW Connection; Pakistan Heatwave Deaths... by ViewpointFromOverseas

Related Links:

Haq's Musings

Leaked Transcripts of MQM's Tariq Mir's Interrogation

Has Modi Stepped Up India's Proxy War Against Pakistan?

Pak-Afghan-China Ties

Climate Change and Heatwave in South Asia

Talk4Pak 

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/09/pakistani-newspaper-fake-leaks-india

Riaz Haq said...

متحدہ قومی موومنٹ کے رہنما طارق میر کے چند دن قبل سوشل میڈیا پر نمودار ہونے والا مبینہ اعترافی بیان لندن میٹروپولیٹن پولیس کی دستاویز نہیں ہے۔
لندن میٹروپولٹن پولیس کے ترجمان ایلن کروکرفورڈ نے بی بی سی کو بتایا کہ طارق میر سے منسوب مبینہ اعترافی بیان لندن پولیس کے ریکارڈ کی دستاویز نہیں ہیں۔
طارق میر سے منسوب یہ بیان سوشل میڈیا پر نامعلوم ذرائع سے جاری کیا گیا تھا اور اس کے بعد یہ بیان پاکستان کے ہر اخبار میں شائع ہوا اور ہر ٹی وی چینل پر بار بار نشر کیا گیا۔
لندن پولیس کے ترجمان نے بی بی سی اردو کے استفسار پر ایک ای میل کے مختصر جواب میں کہا کہ پولیس نے پاکستان کے مختلف اخبارات میں شائع ہونے والے اس مبینہ اعترافی بیان کا بغور جائزہ لیا ہے۔
ایلن کروکرفورڈ نے کہا کہ ’اس دستاویز کا بغور جائزہ لینے کے بعد ہم اس بات کی تصدیق کر سکتے ہیں کہ یہ پولیس کی دستاویز نہیں ہے۔‘
دریں اثنا لندن میٹرپولیٹن پولیس کے دو افسران پر مشتمل ایک ٹیم پاکستان میں موجود ہے جو ڈاکٹر عمران فاروق کے قتل کے سلسلے میں پاکستان پولیس کی زیرِ حراست دو افراد سے پوچھ گچھ کر رہی ہے۔
ایم کیو ایم کے رہنما طارق میر کے مبینہ بیان سے قبل بی بی سی کی ایک رپورٹ میں کہا گیا تھا کہ ایم کیو ایم کی قیادت کے بھارت سے رابطے تھے اور بھارت سے ان کو مالی مدد بھی ملتی رہی ہے۔
ایم کیو ایم نے بی بی سی کی اس رپورٹ کی سختی سے تردید کی تھی

http://www.bbc.com/urdu/world/2015/06/150630_met_police_mqm_deny_fz

Riaz Haq said...

London police have denied the authenticity of the document, not necessarily its contents.


http://www.bbc.com/urdu/world/2015/06/150630_met_police_mqm_deny_fz

Anonymous said...

But ofcourse, they denied only the paper it was printed! Had it been printed on single bonded (Recycled and Green) paper they would have happily accepted the document!

Riaz Haq said...

Evidence of RAW funding of Baloch insurgents, TTP militants and MQM thugs is mounting every day. Here's Modi's NSA Ajit Doval: "How do we tackle Pakistan? .. You make it difficult for them (Pakistan) to manage their internal security... Pakistan's vulnerability is many many times higher than India's....Taliban have beheaded 23 of their (Pakistani) soldiers...funding can be countered by giving more funds...more than one-and-a-half times the funding they have available and they'll be yours..the Taliban are mercenaries...go for more of a covert thing"

http://www.riazhaq.com/2015/05/ex-indian-spy-documents-raws-successes.html

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-189739-Mir,-Anwar-confessed-Indian-funding

Riaz Haq said...

Scotland Yard says leaked #MQM-#India paper ‘genuine police document’ https://shar.es/1qlQi7 via @sharethis

LONDON: The Scotland Yard has confirmed that one of the two documents being circulated about the MQM related money-laundering investigation is a “genuine police document” however, the second one is “not recognised as a genuine police document”.

Speaking to Geo News, a spokesman for the Scotland Yard, when asked to comment to clarify or validate, said that one of the documents “appears to be a genuine police document and a second we do not recognise as a police document”. This correspondent understands that the police now officially own the document which has been released in reference to Sarfraz Merchant while disowns the document in circulation in relation to Tariq Mir.

Scotland Yard warned that the leakage of such documents could have a “possible prejudicial effect” on the “ongoing police investigation”. The spokesman further said: “We are not investigating a possible leak in relation to this matter and will not be drawn into discussing any further documents that may be given to the media by third parties.”

Meanwhile, officers from Scotland Yard’s Counter Terrorism Command Unit investigating the money-laundering case related to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) visited the residence of Karachi businessman Sarfraz Merchant to check his “welfare” after a paper linked with the inquiry was mysteriously released in media, causing media storm in Pakistan.

Sarfraz Merchant is currently being investigated by Scotland Yard for the money laundering case involving the MQM and other suspects, among others, include Altaf Hussain, Muhammad Anwar and Tariq Mir. On Tuesday, a “pre-interview briefing paper” was leaked on social media carrying the name of Sarfraz Merchant as the interviewee.

The paper, written by the police, stated that the MQM was being investigated for receiving funds from the Indian government for its operations and that its assets and cash might be criminal because of the alleged illegal origins. The document also confirmed that two senior MQM leaders had confirmed under oath that two senior MQM leaders had confessed under oath to the British police that they had received funds from the Indian government. The BBC had said the same thing in its report last week, stressing that the MQM was being investigated for accepting prohibited foreign funds the Indian authorities – believed to the country’s top spy agency called RAW.

Police sources confirmed that they had visited Mr Merchant to ask about his well-being and also about the leaked document. When contacted by The News, Sarfraz Merchant confirmed that the police officers were concerned about his safety and security and reviewed the security arrangements. He said: “I have told the police the truthabout the leak. I informed the police about the two men who may have leaked this information in the public domain.”

Sarfraz Merchant had earlier told Geo News that he had shared the document with two MQM linked men who are believed to have leaked it. He confirmed that the document was authentic but not released by him. He also shared his security concerns with the police. It’s understood that the police have stepped up security around the area where Sarfraz Merchant lives.

Sarfraz Merchant, along with Tariq Mir, was arrested in the first week of December 2013 by the Scotland Yard investigators from his central London home and remains on the police ban. He says he was made part of the investigation after making a loan payment of around half a million pounds to two MQM related bank accounts. He stresses that he had never been involved in money-laundering or any other illegal activity.

MQM says that it will not comment on any aspect of the investigation and will make its stance known to the police or to the jury if charges are brought. MQM says it’s fully cooperating with the police and will defend itself against all allegations.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-326709-Scotland-Yard-says-leaked-MQM-India-paper-genuine-police-document

Riaz Haq said...

Bramdagh Bugti: "If #India wants to help us why should we refuse?" #Pakistan, #Balochistan http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34077864 …


A leading Baloch separatist has said he is ready to consider dialogue with Pakistan, as long as the army ends military operations in the province.
Brahamdagh Bugti told BBC Urdu his party could drop calls for independence if "the Baloch people agree".
Mr Bugti, who lives in Switzerland, is accused of leading an armed struggle.
Balochistan has seen a long-running conflict between security forces and separatists who want a greater share of the province's natural resources.
Brahamdagh Bugti, 34, is regarded as one of the most hardline of the Baloch separatist leaders and has until now been opposed to any rapprochement with the Pakistani state which he has vowed to "fight to the death".
His remarks are being viewed as an olive branch to the military and could signal the first softening of attitudes within the separatist movement.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34077864

Riaz Haq said...

AK-47s, Motorcycles, Money, Desperation: #Balochistan Ex-Militants Tell All After Surrender in #Pakistan http://nbcnews.to/1N2KNIP via @nbcnews

AWARAN, Pakistan — The promise of an AK-47, money and a new motorcycle tipped Hammad into militancy at the age of 20.

"I was given three men, a motorbike, a Kalashnikov and 15,000 rupees [$150] per month," the 23-year-old said.

This was a big deal for a middle-school dropout from a region with few jobs and even fewer roads. Hammad learned how to assemble bombs, which added to the thrill of fighting to carve out a separate state for his people, the Baloch.

"My task was easy. To destroy [military and paramilitary] vehicles…Just plant a mine or fire a rocket and zoom off," said Hammad, who asked to be identified by his first name only.

But fighting for independence from Pakistan soon turned sour.

Riaz Haq said...

Ex mayor of #Pakistan's richest city #Karachi: #AltafHusain funded by #India #RAW, runs #MQM militants. http://reut.rs/1TSLRlJ via @Reuters

A former mayor of Karachi, Pakistan's largest and richest city, returned home from self-imposed exile on Thursday and launched a new political party to challenge the iron grip of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on the city.

The MQM political party is under pressure from the paramilitary Rangers force, which launched an armed operation in the southern port city late in 2013 to tackle soaring crime rates.

Since then, hundreds of MQM workers have been arrested and a Pakistani court has issued an arrest warrant for party boss Altaf Husain for threatening the army in a television address.

Mustafa Kamal, who won wide support as mayor of Karachi from 2005 to 2010 for his efforts to ease traffic and improve public services, leveled blistering criticism at Husain's strongarm tactics.

"Today we are launching a new political party," a weeping Kamal said at a news conference. "Children have been slain and generations have been destroyed by Altaf Husain. This is my challenge."

Hussain could not immediately be reached for comment. Wanted in his homeland over a murder case, he has been living in self-imposed exile in Britain since 1992.

Kamal left Pakistan in 2013 over reported differences with Husain, and had lived in Dubai since then.

In a tirade that lasted almost two hours, Kamal accused Husain of the murders of party workers, and of delivering speeches and making party policy while drunk. He said Husain personally ran the party's militant wing.

MQM senior leader Saif Ali dismissed Kamal's accusations, adding there was no doubt Husain was the "undisputed leader of the people."

Karachi is home to Pakistan's stock exchange and handles all of the cash-strapped country's shipping. It generates most of Pakistan's tax revenue, and some of its most wanted men.

The Rangers crackdown and Kamal's unprecedented attack have raised questions over who will control Pakistan's financial heart in the future.

Husain is known for his fiery addresses to supporters in Karachi via a loudspeaker linked to a telephone in his London home. His hold on the sprawling and violent city is so strong he is capable of shutting down entire neighborhoods.

In 2010, MQM founding member Imran Farooq was stabbed to death in London. Party insiders say he had major differences with Husain before his death.

Husain is now under investigation in Britain for Farooq’s murder, as well as charges of money-laundering.

Last year, Pakistani officials arrested two men suspected of killing Farooq. Both are affiliated with the MQM.

Riaz Haq said...

How Pakistan’s Most Feared Power Broker Controlled a Violent Megacity From London


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-10-01/altaf-hussain-how-a-feared-power-broker-controlled-karachi-from-london

Though he was born in Karachi in 1953, Hussain has always identified as a Mohajir—a term that refers to those, like his parents, who left India after partition. In Agra, about 140 miles south of Delhi, Hussain’s father had a prestigious job as a railway-station manager. In Karachi he could only find work in a textile mill, and then died when Hussain was just 13, leaving his 11 children dependent on Hussain’s brother’s civil-service salary as well as what their mother earned sewing clothes. Such downward mobility was common among Mohajirs, who were the target of discrimination by native residents of Sindh, the Pakistani state of which Karachi is the capital. Hussain was enraged by his community’s plight. He and a group of other Mohajir students founded the MQM in 1984, and Hussain gained a reputation for intense devotion to the cause. After one protest, when he was 26, he was jailed for nine months and given five lashes.

Religiously moderate and focused on reversing discriminatory measures, the MQM built a large following in Karachi, winning seats in the national and provincial parliaments. It didn’t hurt, according to UK diplomatic cables and two former Pakistani officials, that it received support from the military, which saw the party as a useful bulwark against other political factions. Although Hussain never stood for elected office, he was the inescapable face of the MQM, his portrait plastered all over the many areas it dominated.

From the beginning, the MQM’s operations went well beyond political organizing. As communal violence between ethnic Mohajirs, Sindhis, and Pashtuns worsened in the mid-1980s, Hussain urged his followers at a rally to “buy weapons and Kalashnikovs” for self-defense. “When they come to kill you,” he asked, “how will you protect yourselves?” The party set up weapons caches around Karachi, stocked with assault rifles for its large militant wing. Meanwhile, Hussain was solidifying his grip on the organization, lashing out at anyone who challenged his leadership. In a February 1991 cable, a British diplomat named Patrick Wogan described how, according to a high-level MQM contact, Hussain had the names of dissidents passed to police commanders, with instructions to “deal severely with them.” (Hussain denies ever giving instructions to injure or kill anyone).

Even the privileged came under direct threat. One elite Pakistani, who asked not to be identified due to fear of retribution, recalled angering the party by having the thieving manager of his family textile factory arrested, unaware the employee was an MQM donor. One afternoon in 1991, four men with guns forced themselves into the wealthy man’s car, driving him to a farmhouse on the edge of the city. There, they slashed him with razor blades and plunged a power drill into his legs. The MQM denied being behind the kidnapping, but when the victim’s family asked political contacts to lean on the party he was released, arriving home in clothes soaked with blood.