The New York Times Management Dated: Sep-14-2013
The New York Times
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New York, NY 10018
Re: Pakistani’s Iron Grip, Wielded in Opulent Exile, Begins to Slip
I have been a reader of The New York Times for many years. I enjoy reading the paper’s unbiased reporting and neutral coverage. I was shocked after reading Mr. Declan Walsh’s article, “Pakistani’s Iron Grip, Wielded in Opulent Exile, Begins to Slip” published on September 13, 2013.
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In this article, Mr. Walsh makes an attempt to damage the credibility, integrity and honesty of Altaf Hussain, the founder and leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). MQM is the second largest party in the province of Sindh and the fourth largest in Pakistan. I have been a supporter of MQM from 1986 to 1996 in Pakistan and I have been working for MQM USA since 1996.
I would like to point out a few of the many inaccuracies in Mr. Walsh’s article.
1. According to Mr. Walsh, “...over the years, dozens of murder charges have been lodged against Mr. Hussain in Pakistan.” Mr. Walsh failed to mention that these charges were lodged after Mr. Hussain left Pakistan in 1992. This is common practice in Pakistan and Mr. Walsh should know this since he was also a victim of the same practice in Pakistan.
2. Mr. Walsh also fails to mention that MQM is the only party standing against brutal Talibanization in the port city of Karachi. MQM has lost many workers and legislators to cold-blooded killings by the Taliban. Mr. Walsh has mentioned Taliban terrorism, guerrilla assaults, target killings, kidnappings for ransom and bank robberies in his article, “Taliban Spread Terror in Karachi as the New Gang in Town.” Strangely, Mr. Walsh overlooked his own article about Taliban terrorism in Karachi and framed MQM for the violence.
3. In his article, Mr. Walsh mentions that “Scotland Yard went to Mr. Hussain’s home and arrested Ishtiaq Hussain, his cousin and personal assistant, who is now out on bail.” Mr. Hussain’s cousin’s name is Iftikhar Hussain and he was neither arrested nor is he out on bail.
4. Mr.Walsh is critical of the British government for granting asylum and a British passport to Mr. Hussain. I am not sure whether it was Mr. Walsh’s frustration or his inherent hate for the British government that led to this attitude.
I was stunned that the facts and figures in this article were collected from unverified websites and blogs. Expert opinions were taken from irrelevant sources who are neither from MQM nor from Karachi.
As a NY Times reader, I request that the paper refrain from yellow journalism. I also request that you conduct an inquiry into this article and investigate whether the author was paid to write imprecise facts about Altaf Hussain and MQM. The credibility of the paper is at stake in Pakistan and the international Pakistani community.
Sincerely,
Fawad Rehman
Washington DC
