MQM WILL HOLD A WOMEN PUBLIC MEETING IN THE PUNJAB SOON: ALTAF HUSSAIN
INTERVIEW TO NOTED JOURNALIST MUJEEB-UR-REHMAN SHAMI

LONDON: 22ND FEBRUARY 2012:

Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has said that the MQM would hold a public meeting of women in the Punjab. He said that no one had raised the voice for Balochistan more vigorously than him. He had talked to Pervez Musharraf thrice over the Balochistan situation in the past.

Mr Hussain said that the proceedings into the memo scandal were a waste of money.

Mr Hussain made these observations while answering the questions of the noted journalist Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami in a programme on a private TV channel.

Mr Hussain said that he had been striving for the rights of the women, particularly the women belonging to the lower, middle and working classes and the number of bills by passed for the rights of women by the efforts of the MQM were many as compared to other parties.

Mr Hussain reiterated that there were areas in Pakistan where women did not have the right to vote, and if they dare to contest the election, they are put to death.

Mr Hussain said that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) used to stand when his daughter Hazrat Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her) came to meet him. He said that it was unfortunate that women were married with the Holy Quran while the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) had termed the burying of female child as deep ignorance.

Mr Hussain said that Islam gives the right to men and women to marry according to their freewill but here in Pakistan innocent girls were being married to the Holy Quran which was the height of cruelty.

In response to a question Mr Hussain said that the MQM would soon hold a woman public meeting in the Punjab as well.

Speaking about Balochistan Mr Hussain said that he had spoken to Mr Pervez Musharraf three times on the Balochistan situation and objected to his actions there. He said that he had been speaking vociferously on the Balochistan situation and a situation like the secession of East Pakistan can emerge if corrective steps were not taken soon. He said that the establishment, and the military must accept that they committed mistakes and embrace the Balochi people.

Speaking about the implication of Mr Musharraf in the murder case of Ms Benazir Bhutto Mr Hussain told Mr Mujeeb that he was a senior journalist and knew more than him.