Nisar asks Mustafa Kamal to corroborate claims

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday termed Mustafa Kamal’s allegations against MQM leader Altaf Hussain as rhetoric, asking the former mayor of Karachi to come up with substantial evidence to corroborate his claims.

Addressing a press conference, he said it was not necessary for the government to form a judicial commission every time somebody makes allegations.

“Some seniors suggested a judicial commission be set up on the issue of Mustafa Kamal and Sarfaraz Merchant,” the minister said.

“There was nothing new in Mustafa Kamal’s press conference. He didn’t give any documentary evidence” he said.

The minister, however, said a committee has been set up to look into Sarfaraz Merchant’s interview, in which he spoke of some documentary evidence regarding money laundering case.

He added that the committee would seek help of British authorities to gain access to Merchant if he is willing to meet the Pakistani investigators.

Nisar said as long as he was holding the office, no injustice would done to anyone including the MQM.

When asked whether the Pakistan cricket team would visit India in the wake of threats being hurled by extremist Hindu elements, the interior minister said: “We will not send team until we are satisfied.

A three-member security team will leave for India on Monday to examine the situation”.

“We are concerned about threats and opposition to Pakistan team visit to India by extremists. We could not give team green signal for visit until we are satisfied with security,” he said.

“Team will leave on Wednesday, if security team gives a positive report or else the visit will be postponed,” he further said.

Chauhdry Nisar Ali Khan expressed disappointment over what he said slow progress in the murder case of Dr Imran Farooq in London.

He rejected the impression that the government had plans to clip powers of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The minister said the Scotland Yard had also praised the FIA for its performance.