THE VERY VIABILITY OF THE COUNTRY IS IN DANGER DUE TO TERRORISM THAT
HAS NOW TAKEN A FORM OF A CANCER ALTAF HUSSAIN

London: 9 April 2009

Mr Altaf Hussain, Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) said that the existence of the country is in danger due to the terrorism. He further added that the terrorism has become a cancer and therefore, it is the duty of each and every party including the MQM to come forward to save the country. He said that the country including Karachi is in a state of war due to religious terrorism and extremism and therefore, it is imperative for all the office bearers and workers of the party to remain vigilant and work with honesty and dedication. He expressed these views in his telephonic address from London with the different departments at the Khursheed Memorial Hall at the MQM Head Office in Azizabad, Karachi commonly known as “Nine Zero”. On this occasion, Mr Hussain ratifying the names of the New Members of the Central Coordination Committee (Rabita Committee) proposed by the existing Central Co-ordination Committee for inclusion announced their names. The following are the new Members inducted in the Central Co-ordination Committee; Mr Raza Haroon, Provincial Minister for Information Technology in Sindh province, Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Provincial Minister for Health in Sindh province, Mr Kunwar Khalid Younus, former Member of the National Assembly, Mr Anis Ahmed Khan Advocate, former Member of the National Assembly, Mr Kaif-ul-Wara, Mr Tausif Khanzada, Mr Shakir Ali, Mr Salim Tajik, Mr Saif Yar Khan and Dr Ali Hussain form Lahore, Punjab. Now, the numbers of Members of the Central Co-ordination Committee comprise 31.

During his address, Mr Altaf Hussain paid tributes to Mr Waseem Ahmed, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Karachi and the Police Department for the bravery in subverting the conspiracy of committing terrorism in Karachi. He further added that on my request  Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, Governor Sindh and Federal Interior Minister Mr Rahman Malik announced 1 Million Rupees award each for the Police Raiding Party that  apprehended the terrorists’ and confiscated their armoury. He said that due to religious terrorism and extremism Pakistan is being defamed in the world and only yesterday 12 persons were arrested by British Police in Manchester and 11 out of them belonged to Pakistan. He stressed that everyone has to work in unity to improve the image of the country and unite against terrorism. He said that he was not against any ethnic group and nationality within Pakistan but against the religious extremism and terrorism committed in the name of religion.  He further added that certain elements are propagating in Karachi that MQM is against Pakhtuns but he assured the Pakhtun brethren not to become a victim of this nefarious propaganda because the MQM considers Pakhtun community as brother and the doors of the MQM is open for them. He added that he considered Pakhtun mothers, sisters and daughters his own mothers, sisters and daughters and similarly of other nationalities and ethnic groups. He stressed that he is against using the term of “Minority” for the minorities because he considered them as equal citizens of Pakistan and would strive for their equal status, rights and opportunities. Assuring the women of the country, he said that the MQM will continue to raise its voice against the excesses committed against them and would struggle to attain their equal rights and opportunities in all walks of life.

Mr Altaf Hussain reiterated that the country is at war including Karachi due to religious terrorism and extremism and therefore, it is vital that the office bearers and workers of the MQM remain vigilant and work with honesty and dedication. He said that yesterday he spoke to the office bearers and workers of the party in 20 Districts of Punjab despite torrential rain not only the male workers gathered but also women were present in their respective districts. He stressed that MQM’s stance against the flogging of 16 years old innocent girl in Swat is receiving great appreciation all over Punjab.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that due to the spread of the ideology and expansion in work of the party the induction of new members have been made in the Central Coordination Committee. Congratulating the new Members, he instructed them to speak softly and politely with the workers and public, treat them with respect and dignity and not behave and speak in an authoritarian way. He further advised them to make decision on merit and not on the basis of personal likeness and dislike ness, nepotism and give precedence to the services to the public or collective interests instead of friends and relatives. He suggested to them to work with honesty and allocate maximum time for the promotion of the awareness of the people. He also prayed to bestow dedication into the Members of the Central Coordination Committee to make right decisions, courage and resolve, keep them steadfast and loyal to the party.