Pakistani authorities stop Imran Khan entering Karachi
PAKISTAN: Pakistani authorities Wednesday stopped opposition
politician Imran Khan from entering Karachi, saying he posed a threat to
public order in the volatile port city.
The cricketer-turned-politician was sent back to the capital
Islamabad on a regular flight from Karachi and police arrested a dozen
supporters who had come to receive him, provincial home ministry
official Waseem Akhtar said.
The government in the southern Sindh Province, which is ruled by a
coalition including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Tuesday banned Khan
from entering the city for a month. MQM is a staunch ally of President
Pervez Musharraf. But Khan defied the order, saying it was his right to
visit any part of the country.
"It is a total violation of my fundamental rights guaranteed in the
constitution," Khan later told AFP after leading a demonstration in
Islamabad against the visit of a senior US diplomat.
"America must stop interference in Pakistan's internal affairs," Khan
said as US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte held talks with
Pakistani leaders.
"We do not want made-in-Washington liberal democracy, especially when
it includes a terrorist organisation like the MQM and a military
dictator," Khan said.
Khan, who heads the Tehreek-e-Insaaf (Justice Movement), said 300 of
the party's workers were arrested in Karachi, a stronghold of the MQM.
"I will appeal in the court of law against the action by MQM."
Khan earned the wrath of MQM when he labelled its London-based chief
Altaf Hussain a "terrorist" for masterminding May 12 bloodshed in the
city that killed 43 political workers.
"We took the latest decision in the interest of maintaining (the) law
and order situation in the city," Akhtar said.
He said Khan had arrived on a domestic flight from Lahore but was not
allowed to leave the airport and was turned back.
"We did it according to the law as his entry has been banned under
special directives of the provincial government," Akhtar said.
Khan has led a campaign by anti-government parties against the
alleged mafia-like activities of the MQM chief.
Islamabad, Thursday, AFP, Asian Age. |
