Pro-govt journalists running campaign for Altaf Hussain’s return to national politics?
Two London-based pro-government journalists, Azhar Javaid and Murtaza Ali Shah, were found running a campaign for MQM founder Altaf Hussain's return to the national politics.
Two London-based pro-government journalists, Azhar Javaid and Murtaza Ali Shah were found running a campaign for Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain’s return to the national politics.
Dunya News Bureau Chief UK Azhar Javaid posted a series of tweets on November 5 and 7 in which he was demanding for lifting a ban on the speeches of MQM Founder Altaf Hussain just like the government ended up the ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s speeches.
In a Twitter message, Javaid said that the federal government exhibited dual standards by lifting the ban on Imran Khan’s speeches but it retained a ban on Altaf Hussain and termed in injustice. He said that a Muhajir leader should also be given his due right.
دہرا معیار وفاقی حکومت نے عمران خان پر پابندی کا نوٹیفیکیشن منسوخ کردیا @AltafHussain_90 پر پابندی برقرار وزیراعظم @CMShehbaz اتنی ناانصافی کیوں مہاجر لیڈر کو بھی اس کا حق ملنا چاہئے الطاف حسین پر سے بھی پابندی ختم کی جانی چاہئے pic.twitter.com/zs3lNasz3V
— Azhar Javaid (@azharjavaiduk) November 5, 2022
In another tweet, the journalist said that as a Punjabi, he considers ban on Hussain illegitimate as he tendered his apology for his wrongdoing. He added that ban should be lifted on the most popular leader of the urban Sindh and Muhajir people. Javaid said that a Pakistani citizen was demanding his right for speeches and the prime minister should give the right to the Muhajir people now.
بطور پنجابی سمجھتا ہوں @AltafHussain_90 پر پابندی ناجائز ہے وہ اپنے کہے الفاظ پر معافی مانگ چکے شہری سندھ اور مہاجر قوم کے سب سے مقبول رہنما پر سے پابندی فوری اٹھنے چاہئے وزیراعظم صاحب @CMShehbaz پاکستان کا شہری آپ سے تحریر و تقریر کا حق مانگ رہا ہے حق دیجئے مہاجر قوم کو pic.twitter.com/hsxh5QzLHZ
— Azhar Javaid (@azharjavaiduk) November 4, 2022
On November 7, he wrote on Twitter that Pakistani media could air Hussain’s speech live on TV channels as he has pardoned. If the federal government lifts ban on Imran Khan’s speeches then why it is doing injustice with the Muhajirs.
ایم کو ایم کے قائد @AltafHussain_90 کا آج براہ راست خطاب ہے کیا ان کا یہ خطاب پاکستانی میڈیا دکھا سکتا ہے وہ معافی مانگ چکے اگر عمران خان پر سے @reportpemra کی پابندی وفاقی حکومت ہٹا سکتی ہے تو وزیراعظم صاحب @CMShehbaz مہاجر قوم کے لیڈر کے ساتھ ناانصافی کیوں دہرا معیار pic.twitter.com/ND7RfmOGYq
— Azhar Javaid (@azharjavaiduk) November 6, 2022
Geo News UK reporter Murtaza Ali Shah has also demanded to lift ban on Altaf Hussain by the Pakistani government.
Ban on Mohajir leader @AltafHussain_90 should be lifted https://t.co/bYLLmn2Aln
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) November 5, 2022
Analysts raised questions about why the pro-government journalists hurled such demands at a time of political turmoil in Pakistan.
They also questioned whether they raised their demands for lifting the ban on the MQM founder at the request of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and what political benefits they want to get from the moves.
