Author:
Publication: Rediff on Net
Date: June 19, 2002
URL: http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jun/19pak.htm
Hitting out at the Pervez Musharraf
regime, Pakistan's Muttahida Quami Movement chief Altaf Hussain has warned
that if the army did not give the people their rights, then it could lead
to 'dismemberment' of the country.
"In order to continue with their
oppressive policies, the feudals and the army did not give rights to the
people in 1971 resulting in dismemberment of Pakistan (formation of Bangladesh).
If they persist in their wrong policies, the country may face the same
fate," Hussain was quoted by Dawn as saying at a function in London.
In an interview to Pakistani weekly
Newsline, he said, "The role of the army in all genuine democratic countries
is only to defend the borders and not to get involved in politics or rule
the country in any shape or form."
Criticising the hike in Pakistan's
defence budget, he said, "If the budget had been spent on the welfare of
soldiers, we would not have objected to it."
"But the problem is that the money
goes into the pocket of corrupt armymen," he said. "If the United Nations
had to resolve the Kashmir issue, why are hefty defence allocations made
in the budget?"
Accusing a 'group within the ISI'
for the recent killing of two senior MQM leaders in Pakistan, Hussain said
this group comprised few former and active servicemen and 'elements of
the ISI who are still supporting religious, fanatic outfits and also working
against the interests of the country'.
It also wanted to establish a 'Taliban-like
government' in Pakistan and was 'involved' in the killing of US journalist
Daniel Pearl and the attack on Islamabad church.
