Altaf Hussain declares law to protect Pakistan ‘unconstitutional’

KARACHI: Rejecting the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief, Altaf Hussain has demanded of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to withdraw, what he termed as ‘dictatorial, unconstitutional and undemocratic’ Ordinance.

“Withdraw this ordinance to avert violation of human rights in its garb,” Altaf Hussain demanded while simultaneously addressing the members of MQM Coordination Committee here at Nine Zero and office bearers of the party’s workers and office bearers in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

The MQM Chief reminded the Prime Minister that in 1998 when he was setting up special courts, at that time too his party had requested him not to do so but he did not accede to it. “And, later, you yourself (PM Sharif) were handed down punishment by one of such courts,” he added.

Altaf said today again ‘an unconstitutional and undemocratic’ law has been introduced in the shape of Pakistan Protection Ordinance 2013. “God forbid, may be tomorrow you and your associates might become the victims of this same Ordinance,” he warned.

He said under this Ordinance, the police and other law enforcers have been authorized to arrest an accused and keep him in detention for up to 90 days. “Now tell me who will be held responsible if the person in detention is tortured to death,” he asked.

He exhorted all the bodies and individuals working for the protection of human rights besides lawyers’ associations to come forward and strongly condemn the introduction of this ‘dictatorial and unconstitutional’ Ordinance.