Allegations against Altaf: Kamal must approach government if he has evidence: Nisar

The Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday said that Mustafa Kamal, former senior leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), must approach the government if he has any substantial evidence regarding allegations he has levelled against MQM supremo Altaf Hussain.
"If Mustafa Kamal or anybody else has any documentary proof against Altaf Hussain's links with Indian intelligence agency RAW or money laundering, he should provide it to the investigation committee constituted by the Interior Ministry for probing the allegation levelled by senior MQM leader Sarfraz Merchant," the Minister said in response to a question while addressing a press conference at Punjab House. However, he said that majority of the allegations levelled by Kamal were not new and such allegations had been levelled in the past as well. It is not the duty of the government to issue its point of view on every political debate that takes place in the country, he said.
Khan said Mustafa Kamal just made a verbal statement and that he provided no documentary evidence to support his allegations or contentions. It is not necessary for the government to set up a judicial commission following anyone's press conference, he said.
"Kamal had gone abroad on his own and returned home on his own volition," he said.
About the allegations levelled by the MQM leader Sarfraz Merchant, he said that a committee constituted to investigate allegations of Merchant has finalised its initial report and sought to interview Marchant and examine the documentary evidence that he has to substantiate his allegations. He said that the Committee will meet on Monday and write a letter to Marchant to come Pakistan to give an interview to the investigation committee and provide the documentary evidence. He
said that if Merchant does not agree to the request of investigation committee then the UK government will be contacted. Nisar said he assures everyone, including the MQM, that as long as he is holding this office, no injustice will be done to anyone. He also said that if anyone has some evidence or information about the money laundering case, then they should share it with the committees formed to investigate the issue and their names will remain confidential.
The Minister said that Pakistan has provided sensitive information to Scotland Yard about the MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq's murder case. The Interior Minister expressed his disappointment at the slow pace of progress in the investigation by the UK government adding that we will take it up again with the UK government. He said that a Scotland Yard team has appreciated FIA's efforts in the investigation of the Imran Farooq murder case, but we cannot comment on the progress of this case as without the co-operation of the UK government things cannot move ahead. The Interior Minister said a three-member security team has been constituted, headed by senior police officer Usman Anwar, which will visit India on Monday to assess security situation for Pakistani cricket team. He said that a decision regarding the scheduled departure of the cricket team for India would be taken on basis of initial report of security team.
He said that without the security clearance, Pakistan team will not leave for the T-20 World Cup to India. Nisar said that serious reports about security threats to Pakistan cricket team are emanating from India including threats from extremists organisations to create law and order problem during the visit of Pakistan cricket team. We have taken these threats very seriously and also asked PCB chairman to raise this issue with ICC, he said.
He said the security of the players is the prime concern of the government and departure of the team can be delayed till necessary assurances for their safety are provided. The Minister said that he has asked the PCB chairman to wait till security clearance is assured. The Minister rejected the media reports that government is working on a proposal regarding clipping the powers of FIA. He said that the government is not working on any kind of proposal and FIA is doing well and it has recovered Rs 14.6 billion during the last two years in corruption cases. He said there are overlapping functions of FIA and NAB and government is looking into it. He strongly condemned the attack on Aaj TV's offices in Karachi and Lahore. He said that action would be taken against those elements who attacked the TV channel premises.