Mati and MQM senator in altercation at Parliament entrance

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 8 years ago |  Daud Malik

ISLAMABAD - Matiullah Jan’s program Apna Apna Gareban on Waqt News turned into an altercation Friday with MQM Senator Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif over the issue of new army chief, with both the anchor and the legislator using harsh words against each other.

Mati (pictured) was asking MNAs and senators at the parliament entrance what qualities they thought the new army chief should have. However, interviewing Senator Saif, Mati pointedly asked about making a comparison between former President Gen. (Retd) Pervez Musharraf and Gen. Raheel Sharif.

The senator gave a guarded answer to the question saying both were outstanding and served the nation. Senator Saif briefly served as the minister for youth affairs and sports in the last days of Musharraf’s rule. Before joining MQM in 2013 he was a member of All-Pakistan Muslim League, a party formed by Musharraf in 2010.

After answering the question over comparison, the senator seemed to lose his cool, telling Mati he should not resort to “insulting him”. Initially Mati was also calm and respectful. But when the senator said he would “sort him out”, Mati told him not to threaten him.

When the interview at the parliament entrance started, both the senator and the anchor were alone. But when they began exchanging heated words, people started gathering around them.

Among others, Mati also interviewed MNA Ijazul Haq, son of former military ruler Ziaul Haq, but the legislator calmly answered questions about his father’s appointment as army chief in the mid-1970s. Similarly, PMLN MNA Raza Hayat Hiraj candidly discussed the role of politicians in supporting military governments, including himself, as he was part of the cabinet under the Musharraf rule in 2002.

Afterwards Matiullah tweeted the clip of the incident saying “barrister Musharraf lawyer & MQM Senator shows talent”.