END OF FEUDALISM, PROVINCIAL AUTONOMY MUST FOR
PAKISTAN’S SURVIVAL-ALTAF HUSSAIN
 

KARACHI ( FEB 28,2005)---Muttahida Quami Movement Fuonder & leader Mr. Altaf Hussain made it abundantly plain tonight that end of feudalism, and complete provincial autonomy alone can ensure Pakistan’s survival and went further to suggest “United Sates of Pakistan” as the new nomenclature for the country. |He demanded separate Saraiki province, asking the party’s coordination committee to include in party manifesto the spirit of the aspiration of Saraiki people.

He made these remarks and suggestions during an hour-long address at the 18^th annual convention of the party’s labour division at the Lal Qila ground, a spacious ground near the offices of the MQM's coordination committee

Mr. Hussain strongly opposed use of force or military action  in Balochistan, explaining that dialogue was the only solution to political problems, and reiterating his party’s commitment to quit the coalition should the government resorted to use of force in the south-western province.

|He said in no ambiguous terms that every single worker of his party would treat the assault on the modesty of Balochi women as assault on the modesty on his own mother and sister.  MQM believed in democracy and  solving problems through parleys. It would never approve or be party to military operation in Balochistan or anywhere else.

Feeling happy that Shaukat Aziz was the first prime minister to come from the masses, and had ascended to the present position. Through sheer hard work, Altaf Hussain offered to accept him, as permanent premier should he chose to work for the well being of the struggling masses. The prime minister, he said, was doing a fine job. MQM in return was ready to provide him the political platform which he lacked at present.

He directed the Rabita Committee to include in |MQM manifesto the spirit of the aspiration of the people of Seraiki belt, and propose that a separate Saraiki province be established.

He said that if the Punjab chief minister could announce free education up to metric, his counterparts in the remaining three province of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan too should have the right to do the same in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

The MQM leader dispelled the misconception that he was opposed to the Punjabis. He said he respected the right of every single nationality of the country. His opposition was against the feudals, be they Punjabis, Sindhis, Balochis or Mohajirs. |He hoped that his message would be understood clearly now, and those pseudo columnists who were engaged in painting him black would see logic and reason and refrain from spreading hatred between residents of different provinces.

He called upon the prime minister that as a commoner, he should abolish feudal system and distributes the lakhs of lands occupied by the feudals among the poor farmers. The society, he said, can prosper only through building of a strong middle class and by eliminating the vested interests who had no other obligation but to run for power and pelf. They want to be rulers without conceding the just aspirations of the broad masses of the country. Feudalism therefore has to end, without that the country would not progress.