President summons Zulfiqar Mirza

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned Zulfiqar Mirza to the federal capital. According to Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar, Zulfiqar Mirza has been summoned to explain his recent statements against MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and the Urdu speaking community.

The Presidential spokesperson said that the PPP had already distanced itself from the statements made by Zulfiqar Mirza adding that party leadership had been directed to be responsible with their statements and it was imperative that Mirza’s statements be explained.

Meanwhile Interior Minister Rehman Malik welcomed the appeal given by MQM Chief Altaf Hussain to people across to country to remain peaceful and stop protests against the statements made by Zulfiqar Mirza. He said that Altaf Hussain showed maturity and calmed the emotions of the people.

MQM workers protested across the country on Thursday against statements made by Zulfiqar Mirza. Mirza had called MQM Chief Altaf Husaian a worse criminal than MQM-Haqiqi leader Afaq Ahmed and had made other derogatory comments towards the Urdu speaking community. The Muhajir Rabita Council had demanded that Zulfiqar Mirza and ANP Sindh President Shahi Sayed leave Karachi within 48 hours and stated that Mirza apologize to MQM Chief Altaf Hussain. Earlier on Thursday, a hand-written apology issued by the information department and peoples’ media cell claimed to be written by Zulfiqar Mirza was issued.