IF SINDH IS CONTINUED TO BE RULED FROM PUNJAB THEN A TIME WILL COME WHEN PEOPLE WILL BE LEFT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO DEMAND FOR THE RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION ACCORDING TO THE 1940 LAHORE RESOLUTION-- ALTAF HUSSAIN

Mr. Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder and Leader, said that if the province of Sindh is not given full provincial autonomy and the Provincial Administration is continued to be controlled by the people from Punjab province then a time will come when the people of Sindh province would be left with no choice but to demand for the "Right to Self Determination" according to the Resolution of 1940 known as "Qarardad-e-Lahore". He appealed to all the Sindhi mothers, sisters, elders, and representatives from all walks of life particularly the Sindhi students, to get united and join the struggle to liberate the peaceful land of Shah Lateef from the fascist rulers of Punjab. He expressed these views while speaking to pressmen and the members of public gathered at the Hunger Strike Camp of the MQM at Karachi Press Club.

Replying to the question of supporting Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz (JSQM) on their strike call on 14 August 1999, to observe the Day of Independence from the Rule of Punjab in Sindh, he said that the MQM Co-ordination Committee will decide on this matter but in principle we fully support JSQM. He said that our basic disagreement with JSQM is that they demand for a separate "Sindho Desh" whereas we want to achieve full provincial autonomy for Sindh province within the framework of Pakistan. He said that in his view the Federal Government should control only the ministries of finance, foreign affairs, communication and defence and there should be no interference by the Federal Government in other provincial matters. He said that we want an end to the Rule of Punjab in the provincial matters of Sindh province. He reiterated that if Sindh province is not given full provincial autonomy and the corrupt rulers from Punjab continue to interfere in the Administration of Sindh province then a time will come when the people of Sindh province will be left with no other choice but to demand for the "Right to Self Determination" according to the Resolution of 1940 known as "Qarardad-e-Lahore". Replying to a question he said that sacrifices are a prelude to liberate the occupied land from aggressors and occupiers. He said that atrocities upon the citizens of Sindh province have intensified and this is the sole reason behind the resignations of the seven MQM leaders, and they have decided to take their own line of action to rid the province from the Rule of corrupt leaders from Punjab. He categorically stated that we will continue to struggle peacefully to attain our due constitutional and fundamental rights within the geographical boundaries of Pakistan.

Mr. Hussain appealed to the Sindhi brothers, mothers, sisters, elders, and people from all walks of life particularly the Sindhi students to get united and join the struggle to free the peaceful land of Shah Lateef from the rulers from Punjab. He also appealed to the rural Sindhis not to trust the same waderas and jagirdars (feudals) who have done nothing for Common Sindhis in the past and beware that they are the agents of the corrupt Punjabi leadership. He warned that if the people of Sindh could not free themselves from the clutches of these waderas and jagirdars then nobody can stop Sindh from becoming the Colony of Punjab. He emphasised that if the Sindhi people are in agreement with our policies to achieve the rights of the Sindh province then I am ready to lead them, but this offer should not be construed as a pre-condition. He said that being the son of the Sindh province I will unconditionally and indiscriminately continue to struggle for the constitutional rights of Sindh and Sindhi people.