THE SUSTENANCE OF PAKISTAN LIES IN THE DECENTRALISATION OF POWERS- ALTAF HUSSAIN, FOUNDER AND LEADER OF THE MQM

9 August 1999-London

Mr Altaf Hussain, founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), while addressing a public rally in Karachi on the conclusion of the first phase of the hunger strike said that the secret of the sustenance of Pakistan lies in the decentralisation of powers from the Federation and provincial autonomy.

He said that unless the export of the officers from Punjab to administer the minority provinces does not cease, the mandate of the people of the minority provinces is not accepted and usurpation of their rights does not stop, the resolution of the conflict is not sought democratically instead of suppressing it on the gun point, he feared that God forbid, the debacle of the former East Pakistan may be repeated.

Mr Altaf Hussain appealed to the International Monetary Fund (I M F), World Bank, other international financial institutions and human rights organisations to link the loans, aid and grants to Pakistan with the respect of human rights and provision of the constitutional rights to the ethno-linguistic cultural minorities including the religious minorities.

Addressing the rally, Mr Hussain stated it is not a secret that successive governments and particularly the Nawaz Sharif Government launched the most ruthless operation against Mohajirs in general and the MQM in particular by hatching conspiracies and orchestrating unfounded allegations against the MQM to crush it. He said that thousands of MQM workers and supporters have been extrajudicially executed. He further stated that over forty workers have been sentenced to death by "Kangaroo Courts" on false and fabricated charges. He further said that MQM Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Mr Shoaib Bukhari Advocate and other Members of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Mr Wakeel Ahmed Jamali and Mr Afzal Anwar are in unlawful custody where they were stripped naked, hung upside down and brutally tortured for many days.

Mr Altaf Hussain emphasised that despite Government atrocities on MQM workers and near-genocide of Mohajirs, MQM persisted with peaceful means and endured the state atrocities with patience. He reiterated that despite all the excesses of the Government, the MQM will remain peaceful and democratic and will continue its struggle though peaceful means.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that Sindh is considered as "Punjab occupied Sindh" and is a colony of Punjab. He pointed out that Punjab in fact, is "Pakistan" and there are two Prime Ministers in Pakistan, one is Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and the other is the Chief Minister of Punjab (Prime Minister) as he negotiates contracts on behalf of Punjab province with U S A, China and other foreign countries while the Chief Ministers of the minority provinces do not have any right to negotiates any contracts with foreign countries or investors. He also stated that if it was possible for the fascist rulers of Punjab, they would have named Pakistan as "Punjabistan".

Mr Altaf Hussain reiterated that the people of minority provinces have been denied their rights to administer their provinces as the functionaries from Punjab have been forcibly imposed upon them. He asked how would Punjab feel if the functionaries of the minority provinces imposed themselves over Punjab.

He appealed to the Sindhis to understand the divide and rule policy of Punjab executed by their agents and unite with Mohajirs to launch a joint struggle to free themselves from the Punjabi occupation.

Finally, he appealed to end the "Governor Rule" in Sindh, restore Assembly of Sindh and democratic process, the elected representatives should be allowed to administer the province, cease the state operation against the MQM, release the unlawfully arrested workers and supporters of the MQM, withdraw all false and fabricated charges on the MQM leaders, office bearers, workers, supporters, their relatives including who are in detention, withdraw the ATC (Kangaroo Courts) and the sentences adjudicated by these "Kangaroo Courts". He also demanded to allocate funds for Karachi Mass Transit and Northern Bypass projects. Mr Altaf Hussain vehemently demanded to regularise the employment of those doctors who are on contract and payment of their unpaid salaries.

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