Kamran Khan returns on TV, leads Dunya News' special transmission
BBC's allegations on MQM and Karachi's heatwave were discussed
(Web Desk) – Renowned investigative journalist Kamran Khan conducted a special show, his first after one year and discussed latest round of accusations hurled over at Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) by BBC.
Quoting BBC’s recent report over revelations that one of the leading political party in Pakistan, Muttahida Qaumi Movement has been taking money from Indian intelligence agency RAW, Kamran Khan said that such claims are unique as no political party has ever been quoted to have obtained financial assistance from RAW by a foreign news agency.
Citing MQM as the fourth largest political party in terms of seats in National Assembly, Kamran Khan said that report by BBC’s Owen Bennet-Jones is not the first one by the renowned investigative journalist on the party as he has made claims in the past that MQM’s leadership in London is under investigation for ‘grave’ accusations including money laundering, Dr Imran Farooq murder case among others.
Talking to MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari via satellite link, Kamran Khan asked probing questions regarding MQM’s alleged involvement in acts of terrorism on Pakistani soil.
Defending his party’s stance, Faisal Sabzwari said that his party and its leadership has zero tolerance for individuals involved in illegal activities.
Declaring the latest rounds of accusations as a repetition of history, Faisal Sabzwari said that such allegations had been hurled against MQM in 1992 as well yet the party emerged victorious as it was innocent.
Faisal Sabzwari said that he could quote a number of allegations against other political parties which have had baseless accusations against them yet no action had been taken against them.
The panel of experts present at the show included Iftikhar Ahmed, Mujibur Rehman Shami, Salman Ghani, Zahid Hussain which posed a number of questions as to how the latest situation should be dealth with.
Mujibur Rehman Shami said that MQM should stop comparing the latest series of accusations with the ones leveled in 1992 as the political landscape had altered drastically.
He said that MQM’s leadership wasn’t present in London in 1992 nor had a murder taken place in London (referring to Imran Farooq murder case).
He said that the ball is now in United Kingdom’s ‘courts’.
He also took SSP Rao Anwar on board. SSP Anwar said that his earlier claims of MQM being involved in dubious activities had been reconfirmed as even BBC had reported that MQM was taking funding and military training from Indian intelligence agency RAW.
SSP Rao Anwar claimed that Javed Langra is residing in India and has obtained nationality as well.
Senior journalist and analyst Zahid Hussain said that if the authoritative source quoted by MQM knew the party s connection with India then they should ve turned to law instead of media trial.
Citing his own experience, Zahid Hussain said that a story like this cannot go on without credible source.
Senior journalist Salman Ghani said that MQM was treated with pragmatism in the past since the political forces had their own interests.
He said that intelligence agencies must come forward with the evidence they have on MQM so that the matter can move forward with haste.
Kamran Khan also took Sheikh Rasheed on board for the show where the leader of Awami Muslim League said that eradicating MQM from the political landscape is not possible and the only way to solve the issue is to pursue it legally.
