Pak Army, ISI behind Ali Raza Abidi's murder: Altaf Hussain

The Pakistan Army and ISI are involved in the cold-blooded murder of former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader and former Member of Pakistan National Assembly (MNA) Ali Raza Abidi, alleged party's founder leader Altaf Hussain.

He claimed that Abidi was killed as he was busy in foiling all conspiracies against the MQM and Mohajir people. "MQM is fully prepared to plead Abidi's case in International Court of Justice and the party will prove with solid proofs that Pakistan Army and ISI were behind his murder," he said.

Continuing his tirade against the Pakistani Army, Hussain said that the biggest proof of Army's involvement in Abidi's killing was that it did not issue any condolence statement.

"The Pakistan Army did not issue any condolence statement but it always gave one on assorted matters and incidents. Almost every single person was shocked and gave his condolence statements except the Army because they killed Abidi," he alleged.

Hussain said that despite living in Karachi's most sensitive zone, Abidi was killed on December 25. Prior to his murder, policemen and Pakistani Rangers were "removed" from the area, he claimed.

"CCTV showed that the assassins were highly trained and they shot him in his head and neck so as to ensure he would not survive," Hussain alleged.

Hussain underlined that Abidi was a devoted Mohajir and was working for the unification of different factions of MQM. He added that Abidi had formed a Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) for the unification of different MQM factions and had been meeting different leaders and personalities for the same cause.

"Unfortunately, his criticism on the federal and provincial governments and on military forces was the reason that he was deprived of police protection," the MQM leader alleged.

Hussain further said: "His support for MQM was evident from a video he recorded on December 9 on the occasion of MQM's Martyrs Day, where he voiced his support. These were the reasons that Pakistan Army and ISI have been giving him threats repeatedly of dire consequences and he had also shared those threats with his friends."

Criticising the ISI, Hussain claimed that the agency was undertaking a campaign to malign the MQM. He alleged the ISI has "already been exposed of their cunningness and butcher-like character that they could go to any limit to implement their nefarious agenda."

Hussain also slammed country's Chief Justice, Justice Saqib Nisar on refusing to take a suo moto notice on Abidi's murder.

He went on to say that Abidi believed in humanity and was progressive and liberal and wanted to see Pakistan as a real welfare country free from the clutches of "military rule".