No documentary evidence provided by Kamal: Nisar

Team formed to investigate Sarfaraz Merchant’s allegations; three-member team to visit India today to assess security environment for Pak cricket team; a few select groups occupying national resources in name of democracy; overlapping functions of FIA, NAB to be looked into but FIA’s wings not being clipped

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday rejected demands from some quarters for the constitution of a judicial commission to investigate the allegations of former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal against MQM chief Altaf Hussain.

“It is not necessary to constitute a commission on every press conference and certain claims. Mustafa Kamal has presented no evidence; he can contact the investigation committee if he has any. The government is under no obligation to issue its point of view on every political debate that rages in the country,” said the minister while addressing a news conference here.

He said a majority of the allegations levelled by Kamal had been mentioned in the past too and there was nothing new in what Kamal had said.

“There was no documentary evidence provided by Mustafa Kamal to support his allegations; they were merely verbal claims,” Nisar added.

To another question, the minister said an investigation team had been constituted to look into the allegations of MQM leader Sarfaraz Merchant.

“The UK government will be contacted in this regard and this process will start from Sunday (today).

“I assure everyone, including the MQM, that as long as I am holding this office, no injustice will be done to anyone.

“If anyone has some information about the money laundering case, then they should come forward and share it with the government and the committees formed to investigate the issue,” said Nisar.

He also expressed his disappointment with the slow pace of investigations by the British government and added that he had conveyed to them his reservations.

“Scotland Yard has appreciated the FIA’s investigation into the Imran Farooq murder case, but we cannot comment on the progress of this case since it is being pursued in the UK.”

The minister contradicted a report carried in a section of the media that a proposal was under way to restrict the FIA’s powers.

Nisar said the FIA was doing well and had recovered Rs14.6 billion in different corruption cases during the last two years. 

The interior minister said the overlapping functions of the FIA and NAB would be considered but it did not mean that the wings of either the FIA or NAB will be clipped.

“In my view we should increase the powers and the authority of the FIA, considering its recent performance”, the minister said.

He said the installation of mobile phone towers at inappropriate places in the capital had negative effects on the residents’ health due to radiation.

The minister said he was trying to conduct a study on the matter and a report would be presented to him within a month.

Responding to a question, Nisar said a few select groups had encroached upon national resources in the name of democracy.

Talking about the visit of the Pakistan cricket team to India, the minister said a three-member security team had been constituted to visit India on Monday to assess the security environment for the Pakistan cricket team participating in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup.

He said based on the initial report of the team, a decision would be made about the scheduled departure of the team for India on Wednesday.

The minister said disturbing reports about security threats to the Pakistani team were emanating from India, including threats from extremists and militant organisations to create a law and order situation during the visit of the Pakistan cricket team.

“These threats are not hollow, as our artists and PCB head have faced humiliation during their visit to India. In this backdrop, the security of the players is the prime concern and their departure can be delayed till necessary assurances of their safety are provided,” said the minister.

He also pointed out that it was not a bilateral visit but a World Cup where Pakistan’s participation was necessary. 

“Pakistan is an important cricket playing country and it is the responsibility of the ICC to provide foolproof security to our team.

“The ICC’s security team is in India, but time is short, as our cricket team is due to leave on Wednesday. We can delay our team’s departure till we are sure that they will be safe in India,” said Nisar. 

“I have asked the PCB chairman to wait, and the team can wait until their security is assured.”

Nisar said it was the responsibility of the Indian government to ensure the security of the Pakistani team, as the World Cup was an international tournament and India should ensure that security was provided to all the participants.

“Until the security clearance has been given, our team will not leave for the World Cup.”

An Indian group has threatened to dig up the pitch of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala to protest against the Pakistan cricket team’s participation in the World Twenty20 fixture against India on March 19.