FULL PROVINCIAL AUTONOMY BE PROVIDED AS
ENVISAGED IN THE 1940 RESOLUTION – ALTAF HUSSAIN
IF THERE HAS TO BE POLICE, PARAMILITARY
RANGERS AND THE ARMY IN SINDH THEN IT WILL
COMPRISE OF SINDHIS AND MOHAJIRS ONLY
Karachi – 15 August 2000
Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder and Leader, has said
that we want to see that Pakistan remains in existence forever
and continues to flourish. However, the formula for the
very survival of Pakistan is to end the process of crushing the
smaller provinces and the use of State force against them.
Moreover, full provincial autonomy should be provided as
envisaged in the 1940 Resolution. He said that the people
of the smaller provinces are striving for their rights today, but
if the people of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan are not given their
rights then a time may come when the demand for rights might
transform into the demand for independence. Warning those
at the helm of affairs he said that the process of enslaving the
people at gunpoint cannot continue for long. He was
expressing these views at the seminar organised by the Graduate
Forum, on the Independence Day of Pakistan at the Hasrat Mohani
Memorial Hall in North Nazimabad, Karachi. The topic of
this seminar was “The 53rd Independence Day of
Pakistan – What we have lost and what we have found”.
Internationally renowned poet, intellectual and thinker Mr Jameel
Uddin Aali chaired the seminar. Apart from the addresses of
Mr Altaf Hussain and Mr Jameel Uddin Aali, prominent religious
scholar Allama Abbas Kumaili, renowned scholar, critic and
intellectual Dr Farman Fatehpuri, Dr Abdul Khaliq Peerzada,
editor, poet and well-known journalist Mr Mehmood Shaam, Mr M B
Naqvi, Syed Razi Qamar and the President of Graduate Forum Dr
Rafeeq Khanzada also addressed the seminar. Moreover,
Deputy Convenor of MQM Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh recited his
poem in the seminar. The participants of the seminar
included the members of MQM Coordination Committee, dignitaries
of the city and peoples from all walks of life.
Expressing his point of
view on “What have we lost and what have we found”, Mr
Altaf Hussain said that in my opinion we have only gained in the
past 53 years and have lost nothing. We found the country
with no constitution after only nine years of its creation.
We found that the first prime minister of the country Mr Khan
Liaquat Ali Khan was murdered. The country’s first
constitution was introduced in 1956 and only after two years it
was abrogated by the military. Similarly, three
constitutions were abrogated and in this manner we found the
democracy and the constitution slain. In the General
Elections of 1970, the Awami League, the representative party of
the Bengali Muslims won the elections with overwhelming majority
but they were not handed over the power to govern. In
addition, an army operation was launched against them and in this
manner we found the massacre of our Muslim countrymen by the
Muslim Pakistan Army. We found the biggest “honour”
in the Islamic history in the form of surrender of 93000 army
personnel. Those who remained loyal to the British Raj and
established the Unionist Party were called “patriotic”
and those who sacrificed their lives for Pakistan were awarded
with “certificates of treachery”. We found that
the province of Punjab, which had opposed the creation of
Pakistan, portrayed as most patriotic to the country. We
found the Punjabi ruler issuing certificates of treachery to the
smaller provinces. Despite the freedom from the British Raj,
we found their established feudal system in practice. We
found the country surviving on the charity of the World Bank and
the IMF. 
Instead
of strengthening the country economically. We found the
“honour” of being the second most corrupt country of
the world. Our rulers and army generals found billions of
rupees in defence deals as kickbacks and commission. The
people created Pakistan as a result of the valuable sacrifices
but we found the military enjoying the fruit of these sacrifices.
We found the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.
Those who looted the national exchequer, received kickbacks and
commission found themselves rich and privileged whereas the
people of the poor and middle-class were found to be called
disadvantaged and deprived. In the field of cricket we
found the awards for “match fixing”. We found the
destruction of the educational system and the spread of
illiteracy. We found the slaying and lack of respect of the
constitution, law and the judiciary. We found the judges
taking a fresh oath under the PCO. We found the blaze of
sectarian violence. We found the attacks on mosques and
imam-bargahs; and the barbaric and ruthless murders of the
innocent worshipers. The province of Sindh, which passed
the resolution in the favour of the creation of Pakistan, found
the dominance of the province of Punjab. The provinces of
Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP found the drought, famine and the
sense of deprivation.
Speaking on the sense of
deprivation amongst the Mohajirs Mr Altaf Hussain said that
before the creation of Pakistan, people of the areas which are
now included in the present day Pakistan used to travel to
Aligarh, Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Bihar and Hyderabad Deccan to seek
education. They used to feel proud of achieving education
in these areas. But our elders made the reverse-migration
from these developed areas, which was their biggest mistake of
the history. He said that in these areas we were called
sons of the soil, we had our heritage, the graves of our
forefathers, our name, our identity but now we are called people
with no land. Today we are called as “Tilyar”,
“Makkar” and “Matarwa”.
For the creation of Pakistan, we sacrificed the land of our
forefathers but in this country no one is prepared to accept us
as the sons of the soil. Our forefathers were deceived with
the slogan of “Pakistan ka Matlab Kya – La Ilaha Il-Allah”. Our
forefather not only raised the slogan of “Seenay pa goli
khaian gay – Pakistan banaen gay” but they also
sacrificed their lives to practically prove the slogan.
Despite our forefathers sacrificed all their possession in the
creation of Pakistan, injustices were carried out against us.
When we demanded our rights, an army operation was launched
against us on 19 June 1992, which continues even today.
Mr Hussain said that
instead of getting our rights we lifted the dead bodies of
thousands of our innocent young companions – what is our
crime? Why was such ruthless State oppression unleashed
upon us? We have witnessed several Hindu Muslim massacres
in India since the creation of Pakistan but the Indian Army never
raided the Muslim areas. Whereas the Pakistan Army under
the pretext of law and order has raided our localities and
targeted the Mohajir nation.
Mr Hussain said
that he has written several open letters to the Army Generals,
Chiefs of Army Staff, Presidents of Pakistan and other rulers.
In these letters Mr Hussain said, “I asked them not to
consider us as the enemy of Pakistan, our elders have created
Pakistan, they sacrificed their homes, assets, heritage, graves
of their forefathers, faced the atrocities, sacrificed the
womenfolk, our children were brutally murdered, many of our
sisters and daughters committed suicide to save their chastity,
several were kidnapped with no trace to date etc. Pleading
to the Pakistani rulers, Army Generals and the GHQ Mr Hussain
said, “Why you do not accept us? Why do you term us as
traitors? Why do you suspect our patriotism?”
Addressing the
Sindhi brethren Mr Hussain said that we are also the sons of
Sindh. We feel proud to be the son of the land of Shah
Lateef and being the citizen of Sindh. We do not want to
dominate Sindhis brethren, we do not favour any act against the
interest of Sindh and will never accept any such steps in the
future, we also want the rights of the province of Sindh and to
free Sindh from the illegitimate clutches of the province of
Punjab. For the sake of Allah, please consider us your
brothers otherwise the Punjabi rulers will continue to confront
Sindhis against the Mohajirs forever and the Punjabi police,
paramilitary rangers and the army will continue to loot and
plunder the province of Sindh. Addressing his Sindhi
brethren he said that this is the right time to take the decision
and if right decisions will not be taken at the right time then
we will remain enslaved for centuries. He said, “I
like to clarify that we would rather die here but we will not
emigrate elsewhere”.
Giving his message to the Punjabis, Pashtoons and the
Baloch living in Sindh province Mr Hussain said that if you are
permanently living in Sindh, work here and consume here then you
should raise your voice for the rights of Sindh province and
should not be the spokesman of Punjab while living in Sindh.
However, if you consume the resources of Sindh and favour Punjab
then think what will be the psychological reaction of the people
of Sindh? The permanently settled Punjabis, Pashtoons and
the Baloch should also raise their voice for the rights of Sindh
province and we assure no harm will come to you when we will
attain our rights because we believe in humanity and human rights.
Mr Hussain said
that today Sindh has been turned into as the colony of Punjab.
The police, paramilitary rangers and the army has been imported
from Punjab and posted in Sindh. The people of Sindh are
being treated as slaves. Addressing those at the helm of
affairs he said, “take back the imported police,
paramilitary rangers and the army. If there has to be
police, paramilitary rangers and the army in Sindh then it will
comprise of Sindhis and Mohajirs only.” 
Mr Hussain said that
the Chief Executive and the Chief of Army Staff and the high-ranking
officials of the GHQ should note that the process of enslaving
the people at gunpoint cannot continue for long. Today, the
people of Sindh are demanding the rights of Sindh province but if
the issue of NFC Award and distribution of water is not resolved
and Sindh is not given its due share then the demand for rights
might change into the demand for independence. We want to
see that Pakistan remains in existence forever and continues to
flourish. However, the formula for the very existence of
Pakistan is to end the process of crushing the smaller
nationalities and the use of force against them. Moreover,
provide all the provinces with complete provincial autonomy as
envisaged in the 1940 Resolution. Explaining this he said
that there are more than 50 States in the United States of
America, each with its own flag. But despite these States
being fully autonomous the United States of America is strong.
Similarly, in the United Kingdom, Scotland has so much autonomy
that it has its own currency and its own parliament. The
people of Scotland and Wales openly speak of independence but
they are not hanged for this. Whereas in our country, those
who demand their legitimate rights are termed as “traitors”
and the State force is used against them.
Mr
Hussain asked the participants, "Was Pakistan created by the
army?" The participants relied – No. He said that
we have to sincerely determine -- Was Pakistan created by the
Army? Or the Army was created for Pakistan? He said that
the participants should note this point down that if the
intellectuals, thinkers and academics will not determine this
then God forbid this country would be erased from the map of the
world. He said that on the face of it my statements may
seem bitter but the Allah Almighty has given me strength and
courage to speak the truth – and this courage and strength
could not be weakened despite imprisonment or torture.
Neither the murder of thousands of my companions could weaken my
morale, nor the brutal murder of my brother and nephew could stop
me from speaking the truth. He said, “I have always
spoken the truth and would continue to do so in the future.”
Replying to the address
of Mr Jameel Uddin Aali, Mr Hussain said, “We are proud of
our Pakistani identity and would like to see Pakistan flourish
and develop, we like to see Pakistan as a country where the rule
of law and justice is established, where everyone is provided
their fundamental rights and the establishment of a civilised
society. However, people at the helm of affairs should also
change their attitude and treat everyone as equal and not
consider some as more loyal and others as less loyal to the
country. He said that whatever growth of a particular type
of plant depends upon the seed sown. If the seeds of love
and affection are sown then the plants of love and affection will
grow. Similarly, if the seeds of hatred and dislike are
sown then the plants of hatred and dislike will grow.
He asserted that
the fate of the nation and the country cannot be changed or unity
amongst the people cannot be achieved just by the recitation of
the Holy Quran, Holy Bible or any other Holy Book. 
The Almighty Allah
does not change the fate of those who themselves do not want to
change their fate. He said that hate breeds hate and love
breeds love, therefore, to save the remainder of Pakistan, the
seeds of love should be sown to breed love, affection and unity.
