I am prepared to work with a Sindhi middle class party as an ordinary worker--- ALTAF HUSSAIN.

London
11Feb 2001.

MQM Founder and Leader Altaf Hussain expressed these sentiments while addressing a gathering of Sindhi Journalist, Intellectuals and Scholars at Sanghar Press Club.

He reiterated to Sindhi Elders, Scholars, Intellectuals and Journalists of middle and poor class to come forward and choose among themselves a sincere person who has true love for the soil of Shah Latif and wants to liberate the land of Sindh from the clutches of Punjabi Establishment. He said that he would not mind working as an ordinary worker in such a party of Sindhi middle class under an honest and sincere leadership and will never trade the rights of Sindhi. While relating the example of Z A. Bhutto he pointed out that Pakistan has been ruled by the Punjabi Establishment ever since and It was the Punjabi Establishment, which brought Z A. Bhutto as a Prime Minister to raise the morale of the public after the 1971 debacle and also to obtain the release of Ninety three thousand arrested soldiers. He said in the election of 1970, Awami League was elected with thumping majority by the people of East Pakistan but the Army Generals and the Establishment refused to handover the power to Awami League and started Army Operation in East Pakistan after declaring the Bengalis as Traitors.To appease the Army Personnel, Z A. Bhutto whole-heartedly took undemocratic actions and the undemocratic language by using the phrase  “IDHAR HUM UDHAR TUM” but all this could not save him from the gallows. Benazir Bhutto was brought as Prime Minister in 1988 to calm down the Sindhi anger on the execution of Z A. Bhutto but she was soon dispensed with once she served the purpose for which the Punjabi Establishment brought her.

Benazir Bhutto became Prime Minister twice but She couldn’t do anything for the people of Sindh. She could not do anything to safe guard even her Brothers.

Shahnawaz Bhutto was killed under mysterious circumstances and Murtuza Bhutto was assassinated when Benazir Bhutto was a Prime Minister. She has not come forward to reveal the conspiracies behind these killings. May we ask why she did not disclose the killers of Murtuza Bhutto? Now Pakistan Peoples Party under the leadership of Benazir Bhutto is trying to make a deal with the Military Government of General Pervaiz Musharraf because She is interested in becoming prime minister again. Similarly, Nawaz Sharif has been removed twice from premiership when he stopped to serve the interests of the establishment. The establishment is playing a game of musical chairs between Muslim League and Pakistan peoples Party and they do not want any Government from the grass root level.

Commenting on vagaries of the Establishment Mr.Hussain said that despite the Bengalis agreeing to parity between East and West Pakistan they did not receive even that from the establishment of West Pakistan. Army action was taken against East Pakistan and it was claimed that this has been done in the larger interest of the country. The Military actions against Sindhis and Baloch were also proclaimed as in the greater interest of the country. The military action against MQM and Mohajirs was commenced in 1992 and again it was said that it is in the larger interest of the country.

Is this the interest of the country or the interest of the Punjabi elite that the Establishment is protecting? He inquired.

He reminded the audience that Z A. Bhutto was hanged on the charge that he instructed to carry out the murder of one person but Nawaz Sharif and his brother Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif were involved in thousands of extra Judicial killings and squandering the wealth of the nation but despite cases and charges against them they have been allowed to leave the country honourably with all their wealth along with their family members. Had Nawaz Sharif been a Prime Minister from Sindh he would surely have been hanged.

Talking about the 1973 constitution he pointed out that the province of Sindh has always been ruled from the centre regardless of who is in power. The 1973 constitution could not bring prosperity to the province of Sindh but PPP continue to support and stand by the 1973 constitution. He said that this constitution could not protect Mr. Z A. Bhutto and even itself from repeated abrogations and has singularly failed to provide justice to the people of Pakistan especially the people of smaller provinces. The Hamood-ur- Rehman commission report testifies that Military was responsible for the killings of hundreds of thousands of Bengalis but not a single person responsible for the atrocities has been apprehended or tried or punished. The people of Sindh will always be losers regardless of who is in power if the 1973 constitution is in practice under the prevailing system and under this constitution you will never get your rights, he declared. He asked the establishment to grant all the provinces full autonomy in the true spirit of 1940 Resolution and keep the portfolios of foreign Affairs, currency and defence with the Federal Government. The Army should be reconstituted in such a way that all the provinces should have equal representation in the Army. He pointed out that the only people who will sacrifice for autonomy and rights are the people from the middle class. You should come forward and form a party of middle class and poor people and I will work with you. He appealed to the Sindhi Intellectuals, Journalists, writers and people for unity and to take the message of unity through out the province and start their struggle for their fundamental rights. The rights will only be achieved when the people of Sindh will take the matter in their own hands and are prepared to struggle and sacrifice for their rights.