DR IMRAN FAROOQ PAID GLOWING TRIBUTES TO THE PEOPLE OF SINDH FOR OBSERVING COMPLETE PEACEFUL STRIKE

London: 28^th February 2000.

Dr Imran Farooq, convenor of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Co-ordination Committee has paid glowing tributes to all the people of Sindh for observing complete peaceful strike in protest against government’s atrocities.

He said that the exemplary unity, understanding and cooperation demonstrated by the residents of Sindh has proved that they are not prepared to succumb to any pressure and atrocities. The establishment through its nefarious designs and conspiracies could not succeed in sabotaging the unity, trust and cooperation existing between the Mohajirs and Sindhis in the province.

Dr Imran Farooq said, the strike call had been given jointly by MQM and JSQM to record protest against illegal, unconstitutional and unlawful shifting of Dr Farooq Sattar from Karachi to Attock Fort, dismissal of Sindhi and Mohajir employees from Pakistan Steel Mills, government, semi government, autonomous and semi autonomous organisations and continued injustices meted out to the inhabitants of Sindh and appealed for keeping all shops and business establishments closed today.

Dr Imran Farooq deplored that the government mobilised all its resources including police, rangers and even armed forces to see that the peaceful strike failed, the government first tried to convert the peaceful strike into violent one and in order to achieve their malicious objectives, a night before, vehicles were set on fire, gun fire was resorted to, but when all their efforts failed, the shopkeepers and business concerns were terrorised by police and rangers to keep their establishment open on strike day and transporters were forced to ply their vehicles. They were also threatened of serious consequences including implicating them in false cases.

According to information, the shopkeepers were in many case victimised and force was used against them to open their shops. The shutters of their shops were broken and they were threatened that their shops would be set on fire. In the same manner the transporters were also threatened of serious consequences if they ply their vehicles. At many places the rangers forced the drivers at gun points to ply the buses.

Dr Imran Farooq said that despite government’s use of state force, victimisation and serious threats, the people of Sindh demonstrated unique strength of character and understanding and made the peaceful strike a great success, and set an example that the establishment could not succeed in sabotaging the Sindhi – Mohajir unity and mutual understanding. He advised the present government and those at the helm of affairs to read the signs on the wall, take immediate steps to bring back Dr Farooq Sattar to Karachi, reinstate all the dismissed employees of the Pakistan Steel Mills and other organisations without any loss of time so that rule of injustice in Sindh comes to an end.