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Hitting out at the Pervez Musharraf regime, Pakistan's Muttahida Quami Movement chief Altaf Hussain has warned that if the army did not give the people their rights, then it could lead to 'dismemberment' of the country.
"In order to continue with their oppressive policies, the feudals and the army did not give rights to the people in 1971 resulting in dismemberment of Pakistan (formation of Bangladesh). If they persist in their wrong policies, the country may face the same fate," Hussain was quoted by Dawn as saying at a function in London.
In an interview to Pakistani weekly Newsline, he said, "The role of the army in all genuine democratic countries is only to defend the borders and not to get involved in politics or rule the country in any shape or form."
Criticising the hike in Pakistan's defence budget, he said, "If the budget had been spent on the welfare of soldiers, we would not have objected to it."
"But the problem is that the money goes into the pocket of corrupt armymen," he said. "If the United Nations had to resolve the Kashmir issue, why are hefty defence allocations made in the budget?"
Accusing a 'group within the ISI' for the recent killing of two senior MQM leaders in Pakistan, Hussain said this group comprised few former and active servicemen and 'elements of the ISI who are still supporting religious, fanatic outfits and also working against the interests of the country'.
It also wanted to establish a 'Taliban-like government' in Pakistan and was 'involved' in the killing of US journalist Daniel Pearl and the attack on Islamabad church.
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