There was a time when Pakistan’s economic hub Karachi was taken hostage by Altaf Hussain – the founder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and his armed goons. The whole city used to be at his fingertips with his workers collecting billions of rupees protection money (Bhatta) from all traders across the city, sometimes in the name of welfare funds, charity or animal hides. Those who dared to raise voice against this hegemony and lawlessness were made example of. The fire in Karachi’s Baldia Town Factory in which over 250 workers lost their lives is an example.
In such an era when the entire city, including the law enforcement agencies, were scared of a ‘bully’ there was Neelam Aslam – the talented news anchor – who shocked the former MQM leader with her blunt and brave reply.
In her recent YouTube video, Neelam recalled the moment when she cross-questioned Altaf Hussain, attracting his ire and then telling him off in one of the rarest conversations the MQM leader has ever been involved in on camera.
In the video, she shares glimpses of her conversation with Mr. Hussain, who was on a live beeper from London. While he tries to take charge of the conversation, Neelam interrupts him and asks if the reports of his party workers taking militancy training in India are true.
Her abrupt assault takes Altaf Hussain by surprise who then tries to bully her by accusing her of taking sides. He then gives a disguised threat by offering her ‘tickets to India’ but the witty news anchor turns down the offer in the most unfazed manner, and returns to the basic question.
Neelam recalls how the news producer had instructed her never to interrupt while ‘Bhai’ is speaking, and how everyone else in the newsroom used to react whenever there was a live beeper or speech of former MQM supremo on television.
“There was a sense of fear in every news station, as people were afraid of Altaf Hussain and his gangsters.”
Neelam, however, says she was never really scared of him and had the moral and professional courage to cross-question him and grill him like they used to do with every other politician.
Watch the complete video here:
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