A top PML-Q leader has rounded on Indian Premier Narendra Modi, saying the latter is "mentally against Muslims". His statement came in response to a meeting between Premier Moodi and his counterpart, Nawaz Sharif - the first ever between the two in Ufa, Russia. With Premier Moodi's expected visit next year, he will be the first after his counterpart, Atal Behari Vajpayee.
In his reaction to Sharif-Moodi formal meeting, party President and former Premier Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain who made the statement said good relations with all the neighbouring countries, particularly Afghanistan, are necessary and Pakistan should never be reluctant in taking the initiative. About the Indian interference in Pakistan's internal affairs, particularly in Balochistan, the politician said, "The govt should formally raise this issue in the United Nations."
On the army operation, he said, "That intention of the army is all right. The army chief thinks about Pakistan rather than his popularity. Any operation cannot take place in Karachi so far because of political exigencies. The Karachi operation will eventually reach its logical conclusion and terrorism has been reduced because of the Zarb-e-Azb."
But the politician was critical of the army chief's predecessor, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, whom, he claimed, was more concerned "about his term extension", saying that was why he delayed the operation. "If the army and the government are on the same page, the books are different," he added.
In reference to the frequent power shortages, he offered a solution. "The only solution to the power-cuts is the construction of the Kalabagh Dam." Back in the local politics, he claimed that despite the mass rigging in the 2013 elections against it, his party was still the fourth largest one and "it has played the role of the opposition during the past two years more than its numerical strength. All small and big fish involved in corruption should face the music, and 150 cases in the NAB's list should be decided in 12 hours after an open trial and the common man should also have the permission to question them during the hearing."
He then talked about the 1984 era when he and his father, the late Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, had won cases against British newspapers over false allegations and received damages. But, Nawaz Sharif has never gone to the court against BBC allegation of money laundering despite his advice ... and now Altaf Hussain should go to the court."