US brushes aside MQM chief’s call for martial law in Pak

WASHINGTON - Rejecting the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain’s call for martial law in Pakistan, the United States has said that it would not support any move for a military coup, adding it would continue to support that country’s democratic set-up.

“Pakistan has a civilian government and we think it is the best form of government to take,” The Nation quoted Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley, as responding to a question regarding Hussain’s controversial proposal.

In his telephonic address from London, Hussain, whose party is offering support to the Pakistan People’s Party-led government through 25 members of the National Assembly, had urged “patriotic generals to initiate martial law-like steps against feudal politicians and former generals who disgraced the army institution during the Soviet-Afghan war”.

Hussain said that his party would support steps similar to martial law against “corrupt politicians” to weed out the menace of corruption triggering talks of another military coup.

The MQM’s call has come at a time when both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani are facing severe criticism for their slow reaction to the devastating deluge, which has affected nearly 20 million people in the country. (ANI)