Altaf Hussain address at Nine Zero 24 Feb 2008

HAVE WE ASKED FOR MQM TO BE INCLUDED IN
THE GOVERNMENT?- ALTAF HUSSAIN
MQM is an ideological movement which is struggling to rid the country
of the medieval feudal system and is not after power

Karachi – 24^th February 2008

MQM Founder & Leader Mr. Altaf Hussain said that MQM is an ideological movement which is struggling to rid the country of the medieval feudal system and is not after power. He challenged those leaders who are issuing statements that MQM should not be include in the new government, to come on television and inform the people of Pakistan the names of MQM people who begged them for share in power, if these leaders have any moral courage. While addressing to the emergency general workers meeting at Lal Qilla Graoung, Azizabad, He said that if we were struggling for power then our thousands of dear workers would not have sacrificed their lives for the ideology, thousands of workers would not have been compelled to live in exile, incarcerated or tortured in torture cells. Altaf Hussain would not have been living in exile for the past 17 years and he would have been living in his villa in Islamabad. Mr. Hussain said that those who beg for power don’t offer sacrifices. The number of sacrifices we have offered is unparalleled in the history of Pakistan. Expressing his surprise that after his positive talks with Mr. Zardari over the phone and the earlier positive attitude and approach of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto toward s the MQM why certain PPP leaders were issuing provoking statements. He was addressing a hurriedly called meeting of MQM workers. This was called on a very short notice of only an hour and was attended by thousands of workers and office bearers from all over the city.

Mr. Hussain challenged these leaders to come on live television and inform the nation if any leader of the MQM has approached them in anyway requested to be part of the government. Have we asked for MQM to be included in the Government? They should be bold and courageous enough to appear on television to tell who from MQM has approached them? Mr Hussain said that we never asked to be part of the government. We have accepted their mandate and we simply want them to accept our mandate with open heart. If they do so then it will be in the interest of the province and Pakistan. We once again reiterate our stand that in a democracy one forms the government and other forms the opposition and we continue to maintain that we will be supporting the positive steps of the Government. We will not play the role of negative opposition.

Mr. Hussain said that our attitude and approach throughout the election process was very positive. Giving due consideration to the national reconciliation all the speeches delivered were positive. We even demonstrated patience and observed restraint on instigative activities of our opponents. MQM made every effort to ensure that Elections are held peacefully. Despite all our efforts, on the Election Day, i.e. 18^th February 2008, our candidates, workers and polling agents were manhandled throughout the country. Mr. Hussain said that on the very next day after the Elections, while addressing a huge gathering of MQM workers at MQM Head Office Nine Zero in Karachi he followed the policy of forgive and forget and talked of peace and harmony. “I openly accepted and acknowledged the election results and congratulated everyone leader, particularly naming Mr. Asif Zardari of PPP, Mr. Nawaz Sharif of PML-N and Mr. Asfandyar Wali of ANP. We have accepted their mandate with open heart and hoped that under national reconciliation they will form the government and establish democracy. Unfortunately our positive attitude was responded with negative and provoking statements by certain political leaders.

Referring to the negative criticism by certain television anchors against the MQM Mr. Hussain said that we even did not respond to them.Referring to the statements of certain PPP leaders about the reservations against the MQM, Mr. Hussain responded that every workers and people of MQM have reservations against PPP because of the spate of oppression that was launched against the MQM where more than 15000 of our workers were extra-judicially killed. He said that the conspiring elements have always conspired to pit the people of urban and rural Sindh against each other. They have weakened the province. Sindh and Karachi contributes more 70 percent to the national exchequer but no one worked for the prosperity of Sindh. No one came forward to reduce the difference between the urban and rural Sindh. The only party that made successful efforts in this direction is the MQM.

Mr. Hussain referred to 18^th October 2007 when Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed returned to Pakistan in Karachi. He said that we offered our support and allowed the PPP workers to carry out wall chalking throughout the city and even infront of Nine Zero. After the suicidal attack when several PPP workers were killed, Altaf Hussain was the first leader who called Bilawal House and condole with Benazir Bhutto. When Benazir Bhutto was martyred then again Altaf Hussain was the first one to issue statement of condolences and came on television. Despite all our positive steps certain elements working on the policy of confrontation are saying not to include the MQM but these elements are happy to side with the killers of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

Mr. Hussain said that during our 5 years term in Government, no extra-judicial killing of other party workers was committed and we served the people without discrimination. Development projects were started throughout Sindh including Lyari and Kemari that have no parallel in the 60 years history of the country. Mr. Hussain said that we want to see peace and stability in the country. But do not consider our appeals of peace as our weakness. For Pakistan’s stability, eliminating the rural urban divide, unity of Sindh, the MQM wants peace and national reconciliation. MQM is against all sorts of violence and terrorism. MQM is a peace loving political and Democratic Party. He appealed to whosoever is forming the Government not to adopt undemocratic means as it will be harmful to the stability of the country and promote confrontation. MQM wants peace and democracy in Pakistan for the betterment of the country, for the prosperity of the country and for the welfare of the people of Pakistan. We should accept each other’s mandate. Mr. Hussain offered his congratulations in advance to those forming the Government. He also reminded that it is the responsibility of those forming the Government to respect the Opposition and allow them to play their proactive role in the assemblies. Mr. Hussain once again asked the workers and the people to show patience for the sake of peace of the City, province and the country.