Altaf NICOP: MQM MPAs protest outside Sindh Assembly
KARACHI: The provincial assembly members of Muttahida Qaumi Movement staged a protest outside the Sindh Assembly against the non-issuance of new National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis to...
May 17, 2014
While protesting outside the premises of Sindh Assembly with his fellow members, MPA Faisal Sabzwari said that negligence has been demonstrated by the authorities in processing the NICOP case of their leader Altaf Hussain.
Earlier, the parliamentary session of the MQM was held which was attended by several party leaders including Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Faisal Sabzwari, Rauf Siddiqui and Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed.
The protesting MPAs were holding banners and placards to show solidarity with their leader and demanded to immediately issue the NICOP to their chief ALtaf Hussain.
They also demanded the Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif to take notice of the delay and to reinstate the suspended staff of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
It may be mentioned here that MQM staged a rally outside the NADRA office on Sharea Faisal on Friday to protest against the denial of a NICOP and a passport to Altaf Hussain.
Addressing the protesters, MQM Deputy Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said Hussain wanted to return home, but the Pakistani authorities concerned were creating hurdles for him.
He said Hussain was known throughout the world and he did not need anyone’s confirmation that he was a Pakistani.
The large number of protesters who had gathered outside the NADRA office carried placards inscribed with slogans against the interior ministry.
MQM coordination committee member Haider Abbas Rizvi said the party would launch countrywide protests if Hussain was not issued a NICOP immediately.
He added that the statements of the additional interior secretary and the DG passports in the Senate last week that they had not received Hussain’s application were shocking for every Pakistani.
