Irshad Salim
NEW YORK: MQM Chief Altaf Hussains’ exclusive interview with Sohail Warraich on Geo TV is a must watch. It comes after his controversial speech in which he demanded patriotic generals to use martial-law type measures to fix the sorrupt system and to get rid of corrupt politicians, Jagirdars, Waderas, Sardars, and the nouveau riche. Altaf’s statement was immediately shot down by politicians, lawmakers and the civil society. It was however welcomed by the man on the street and the youth.
Sans martial law, almost every one wants system change, it has emerged, demonstrating that while almost every one agrees on Altaf’s diagnosis, they are split on the solution not the problem!
Interviewer Sohail Warraich discusses with Altaf his most recent statement on bringing about a bloody revolution in Pakistan, changing the corrupt system, getting rid of Jagirdari, Sardari and Wadera nizam, and holding accountability of the nouveau riche, etc.
Altaf says the system has failed and therefore it needs to be replaced, he adds. Temporarily, a government consisting of non-politicians such as professionals, elders, respectable individuals, retired generals, etc. be installed with the support of the judiciary and and the military under Article 190 of the Pakistan Constitution, he suggests. Says he is not in support of Martial Law . He wants the agent of change to be the Judiciary who can utilize the Army to execute its orders, he observes.
Altaf blames on the nouveau riche, the waderas, jagirdars and sardars for breaching the dykes (bundh) to divert the recent floods towards the villages in order to save their own lands and crops. This unfortunate event, he says, has finally exposed the real face of those Jagirdars, Waderas and the nouveau riche who have used democracy to come in power and do influence-peddling, he commented. This is not democracy, he said.
Altaf’s statement had become controversial in Pakistan as almost all politicians (except Pir Pagara, Imran Khan, Mushahid Hussain Syed), unanimously voiced resentment against it, calling it either a diversionary tactics or ill-intended.
Altaf clarifies his point of view and answers Warraich’s candid questions.
WATCH ALTAF HUSSAIN’S INTERVIEW:
(Updated at 10:50 AM ET)
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