WE WANT TO GET RID OF PUNJAB'S AUTOCRATIC DOMINATION
OF SINDH: ALTAF HUSSAIN

London, 13^th April 1999

Founder Leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement Altaf Hussain has invited all the permanent settlers in Sindh especially Sindhis to come forward and resolve all differences separating us and start a united effort to rid Sindh from the domination of Punjab. He said, I unconditionally offer my services to rid Sindh from outsider's domination and to attain its constitutional rights. I am with all those self respecting Sindhis who want to end the brutal rule of Punjab in Sindh province.

Altaf Hussain expressed these sentiments in a meeting with a representative delegation of Sindhis belonging to various walks of life at the MQM International Secretariat. The delegation apprised Altaf Hussain of the injustices and excesses meted out to Sindh province in different walks of life. Altaf Hussain told them that he was aware of these injustices and as to how Sindh has been made a mere colony of Punjab.

He stated that the soul of Shah Abdul Latif would be in pain to see Sindhi brethren in distress and Sindh as a colony of Punjab. He said that he himself is distressed at the situation in Sindh and wants to end the despotic domination of Sindh by the Federation. He said that I am with all those self-respecting Sindhis who are striving for their rights and provincial autonomy for Sindh and an end to the illegitimate occupation by Punjab. He salutes all those virtuous Sindhis who struggled against outsiders and invaders to protect the land of Shah Latif without compromising.

He termed it unfortunate that some of the opportunist Sindhis have sold their conscience to the establishment and did not feel ashamed having bargained the sanctity of Sindh for their personal gain and making it a colony of Punjab. He pointed out that similar things have happened in the past as well, where some unscrupulous Sindhi politicians bargained the rights of Sindhi people and left them high and dry having made use of them. Today all those honorable men who participated in the campaign for the rights of Sindh are languishing in various jails in Sindh province. No one has ever bothered about their freedom or well being. Betraying the sanctity of motherland is tantamount to betraying one's own mother, he declared.

A cursory look at the Sindh administration and police would reveal that the whole province has been highjack by the Punjabi establishment, be it the Sindh's Inspector General of Police, Chief Secretary or Home Secretary. Sindh is being run directly from Punjab and Islamabad. Saddest part of the state of affairs is that Sindh's leadership is silent. He said the people who made Sindh their colony were afraid that the permanent dwellers of Sindh (i.e. Sindhis and Mohajirs) would team up against their suppressors. That is why they tried to pitch one against the other by employing the notorious "divide and rule" policy and by dividing them into urban and rural Sindh. A vast gulf was created between them that widened by the day so that they would continue to quarrel among themselves and the oppressors would continue exploiting them.

Altaf Hussain invited all the Sindhis to come forward, shake hands to bridge the gulf between each other and work together to rid Sindh of servitude. He said, I offer my unconditional cooperation to all the people of the land of Shah Latif and especially Sindhis for the attainment of the rights of Sindh and rid it from the autocratic domination of Punjab. He said that he does not want anything in return, nor does he want to be the master or ruler of Sindh Province. I just want to see Shah Latif's Sindh free of autocratic domination and all the people enjoying equal rights. I want Sindh to prosper peacefully where every person living on Shah Latif's land is happy.

At this point Altaf Hussain also recited the famous verse of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. It reads:

"O my beloved God Shower your blessings on Sindh
And make the whole world prosper along with it ".

Mr. Altaf Hussain said that I want to assure my Sindhi brethren that I am an honorable man belonging to a respectable family and assure you that I am offering my services unconditionally to end the subjugation of Sindh. I have never asked for anything for myself throughout my struggle nor do I demand anything now. I only want to assist the oppressed people of Sindh to achieve their fundamental rights. I invite all Sindhi brethren living on the land of Shah Latif to join me in the struggle for Sindh's freedom from the subjugation and try to settle our differences sincerely, amicably and through dialogue.

He said that all those elements who would like to sabotage my unconditional offer of cooperation should come up with their own terms and conditions and put it to the people of Sindh. But all conditions would tantamount to nothing but deception of Sindh and bargaining the interests of Sindhis to the advantages of their masters. He said the establishment had created misnomers about him in the minds of Sindhi people through negative propaganda. But regardless I had always raised voice for the rights of Sindh and would continue do so in future despite all the odds. He said that MQM has always raised its voice for the rights of Sindh, be it the NFC Award, Kalabagh Dam or an attempt to reduce the population of Sindh in the national census by mischief. This open expression by the MQM is reported by the national media and is on record.

Altaf Hussain asked the members of the delegation to let the other Sindhis know about his feelings, the offer he has made and ask them to get united. He said that I have made unconditional offer for the attainment of the rights of the people of Sindh province and freeing Sindh from subjugation.

He said all Sindhi brethren are welcome to comment and make suggestion and they could do so by phoning the MQM's International Secretariat on 0181-952-2844 or fax on 0181-952-2755. They can also email [email protected] or write to:

MQM International Secretariat
First Floor, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street
Edgware, Middx, HA8 7UU
United Kingdom