SECOND SESSION OF DIALOGUE BETWEEN RESIGNED MEMBERS OF THE MQM AND THE CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

The second session of dialogue between the seven resigned members of the MQM and the Co-ordination Committee began at the MQM International Secretariat in London on 3 August 1999. The seven resigned members i.e. Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Mohammad Anwar, Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad, Syed Zulfiquar Haider Advocate, Anees Ahmed Advocate, Wasay Jalil and Dr. Sagheer Ansari and the Members of MQM Co-ordination Committee present in London i.e. Senator Mustapha Kamal, Syed Tariq Meer, Javed Kazmi, Kanvar Naveed, Mustafa Azizabadi, Ashfaq Ahmed and Raza Haroon attended the second session. Mr. Rauf Siddiqui, Chief Organiser Mohibban-e-Pakistan, Mr. Mohammad Yunus, Chief Organiser MQM USA & Canada and Mr. Asif Siddiqui, Member of UK Organising Committee were also present. The MQM Co-ordination Committee Members continued to convince the resigned members to take back their resignations. The resigned members explained the justifications behind the resignations.

Mr. Altaf Hussain, Founder and Leader of MQM also attended the session for a short period. He categorically said that he does not question the loyalty of the resigned members. He said that they have some differences with the policies of the party. Reassuring the resigned members Mr. Hussain said that their demands, which fall within the framework of the Constitution of Pakistan, would be considered. However he said that we would never accept any unjust or unconstitutional demand. He conveyed the gratitude of the Co-ordination Committee to the resigned members for starting a dialogue with the Members of the Co-ordination Committee in London.

The resigned members said that international organisation will never come forward and solve our problems and provide justice to the Mohajir Nation. To achieve justice and due rights we have to struggle. They said that we have tried every possible democratic means but have been unable to stop the continued genocide of the Mohajir Nation. They further said that for the past two years we have been trying our best to convince the Co-ordination Committee to adopt a clear line of action but nothing happened. They said that since the Co-ordination Committee was unable to take any decision, therefore, we decided to resign. They appealed to the Co-ordination Committee to bring about a change in the current policies and should lead the Nation in the right direction to achieve their due and just rights.

The Members of the Co-ordination Committee said that the MQM has never let down the Mohajir Nation and has always raised its voice over the suppression, discrimination, victimisation and near-genocide of the Mohajir Nation and will continue to do so within the framework of the Constitution of Pakistan. In the end it was agreed that the dialogue should continue.