PAKISTAN’S HISTORY IS BEING DISTORTED – ALTAF HUSSAIN

London – 24 December 2004
“Pakistan’s history is being distorted and the new generation is being mislead with its concocted version. However, with sincerity and honesty, I will make them aware of historical facts about Pakistan.” MQM Founder & Leader Mr Altaf Hussain stated this while addressing an Eid Milan gathering of MQM workers and office bearers of Hyderabad Zone. Mr Hussain said that All Pakistan Mohajirs Students Organisation (APMSO) was formed in 1978. The youth who joined the APMSO then have added 26 years to their age. Similarly, the MQM workers and office bearers who were 20 to 25 years of age during the Operation against the MQM have added 12 years to their age. A large number, who are today between the ages of 32 and 40 years are not aware of the historical facts and may not be able to distinguish between right and wrong. This generation has limited knowledge of the history because of the deliberate distortion and deletion of historical facts from the syllabus.

They may not be aware of the fact that Pakistan Movement was not active in today’s Pakistan, i.e. Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP. Majority of this generation may not be aware of how many provinces existed before 1971? They may also not be aware of how many units existed in these provinces? They may not be aware of the concept of “One Unit”, when did it originate, who originated this and what were the motives behind this concept? He said that this generation might also not know who imposed the Martial Law in 1958? Was there any justification for imposing this martial law? This generation has been taught that Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman was a traitor, Awami League was anti-State and made Mukti-Bahini in collusion with India and wanted to break the country. Ultimately, the Awami League and Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman parted their ways from Pakistan and in the history of Pakistan they were held responsible for the break-up of Pakistan. He asked, “has the new generation been informed that Mujeebur Rehman and his party, the Awami League, were not responsible for the break-up of Pakistan and in fact it was the then Army Generals and the politicians”? Has this generation been informed the people of East Pakistan are not responsible for the break-up of Pakistan and in fact it was the people of West Pakistan who conspired for the disintegration of the country.

Mr. Altaf Hussain said that it was necessary that the new generation of Pakistan was informed of factual history and should know that the four provinces of West Pakistan namely Punjab, Sindh NWFP (North-West Frontier Province) and Balochistan were made one unit and the masses were told that the reason to form one unit was to treat everyone equally. He said that after studying the history of Pakistan, we came to know that the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan was brutally murdered in Rawalpindi before hundreds of thousands of people while the young generation was also not informed that the founding father of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah and his sister Fatima Jinnah were murdered covertly. He said that he would apprise the new generation of Pakistan of the factual history and put the proof before the nation. He further said that after the murder of Mohtarama Fatima Jinnah, her sister Shireen Jinnah came to Pakistan to claim her right to inheritance. Instead of providing her the inheritance, she was produced in the court and humiliated while the new generation was kept uninformed about this as well.

He said that Maulana Shabeer Ahmed Usmani was a great leader and Islamic scholar and it was he, who had performed death prayers (Namaz-e-Janazah) of Quaid-e-Azam. Maulana Usmani was in the vanguard of the Independence Movement of Pakistan and had migrated to Pakistan leaving her home and heritage for the sake of Pakistan. When he presented a demand for a small house in Pakistan, he was given a small house but later on. However, later on, police was sent to forcibly displace him from the house he rightfully acquired. Maulana Usmani had wept in front of his colleagues and said that we were betrayed and today, “we are being humiliated.” This bitter truth is deliberately removed from the history and distorted history is being taught to our young generation.

Mr. Altaf Hussain said that patriot was one who loves his country while traitor is not only that person, who betrays the geographical boundaries of a country but also acts as colluders of the oppressors. Citing an example, he said that the often people are co-opted by the oppressors from the oppressed groups who are struggling for the rights of the oppressed. These co-opted persons become turncoats by becoming allies of the oppressors and murderers, they inform the oppressors of the whereabouts of the people struggling for their rights. When a country is invaded and some people from that beleaguered country become allies of invading forces and inform them of the whereabouts of the people who are struggling against the invasion are also termed traitors.

Mr. Altaf Hussain said that once again, the public today was misguided under the pretext of religion and Islam. He told the participants of the meeting that if someone tell them that Altaf Hussain was against religion and was speaking against Islam, would they believe him? The participants of the meeting told in unison that “not at all”. Mr. Altaf Hussain further stated that their minds will be confused when they will be told that Altaf Hussain was using religion for his own interest and if they say that Altaf Hussain does not believe in Allah, Rasul (PBUH) and Islam, would they believe this? The gathering replied in unison that “not at all”. The address of Mr. Altaf Hussain continued for more than two hours. Further details of the address will be published tomorrow.