LONG MARCH FOR NATIONAL HONOUR AND DIGNITY: ALTAF HUSSAIN

LONDON: 9^TH NOVEMBER 2010

The Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has called for a long march in order to regain dignity and self-esteem for Pakistan in the comity of nations. He made this statement while addressing a mammoth assembly of party workers and supporters who had gathered in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas to listen to him on the occasion of the Martyrs Day. He said that the people of Pakistan had rejected the imposition of Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) but it was unfortunate that the ambassadors of foreign powers were lobbying for it in order to get it approved from the parliament. He called upon all the religious and political parties to forgo their ideological differences and come together because “Time has come when the people must decide if we have to live with honour and dignity or continue to live under the thumb of superpowers deprived of any semblance of self-esteem.”

He said that Pakistan had come into being because of the immortal sacrifices of the Muslims of the subcontinent but half of the country was lost due to wrong policies and the remaining half was encircled by internal and external threats. “The autonomy of the country is on stake and is demanding sacrifices from each and every Pakistani for its security and integrity. The people of Pakistan must decide if they have to regain their lost honour or continue to follow their old trend.”

He said that the national honour and dignity had been mortgaged with international donor agencies such as IMF, World Bank and big superpowers such as USA. “Situation has come to such sorry a pass that foreign countries are dictating their terms for giving loans and assistance. We must decide if Pakistan is a free and autonomous country.” He asked intellectuals and analysts in the country if Pakistani diplomats could also act in the same manner in foreign countries by giving dictation to parliamentarians regarding introduction or passage of bills in their parliament.

He questioned the concessions being given to foreign diplomats to interfere in the internal affairs of the country when the same is not available to our own diplomats. “Did we fight for freedom so that others may decide for us? If we have to free our self from the clutches of foreign powers then we must prepare for a revolution on the lines of French Revolution.

He said that there was a great hue and cry over RGST in the country and foreign diplomats were lobbying for its passage in the parliament despite the fact that the people of Pakistan had to decide about its passage. “The foreign diplomats know nothing about thieves and robbers in the country who have robbed the national exchequer of billions of rupees.”

He told the audience that it was against the norms of justice to remain silent in the face of oppression. He exhorted them to come forward and play their role. The audience thundered a big “No” when Mr Altaf Hussain asked them if the RGST should be imposed or not. The crowd raised their hands to show that they did not want the RGST to be imposed.

He appealed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan for making a commission to know about the tax that the rich parliamentarians paid. He assured the Supreme Court that each Pakistani would stand behind it on the formation of such a commission. He made it clear that the public would pay taxes if the President, Prime Minister, Federal Ministers, Members of National and Provincial Assemblies and senators paid their taxes honestly. Citing a judgement of the Supreme Court PLD  1993 page 173 regarding unfair taxation he said that the Court had hold that excessive taxation amounted to depriving the people of their property through legal means which was discriminatory and against the basic rights enunciated in the Constitutions.

He said that the prices of essential items were soaring with each passing days and were becoming out of reach of the common people. He warned that the people will not be able to bear additional tax burdens. He asked the people to submit their suggestions about RGST at Nine Zero.

Speaking about the Martyrs Day he said that all the movements in the world for providing justice to people and restoring their rights could not have succeeded without the sacrifices. “The Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions gave enormous sacrifices. Muslims of the subcontinent laid down their lives in large numbers during Pakistan Movement.”

He paid rich tributes to MQM martyrs and vowed that their sacrifices would not be forgotten and the noble cause for which they gave their lives would definitely be achieved. In the end he said that the name of MQM Convener Dr Imran Farooq was also  included in the list of the martyrs. He prayed for all the martyrs and congratulated MQM workers for making arrangements worthy of the day.