DAILY THE NEWS
25, JANUARY 2004
Altaf Hussain calls for opening of Indian C-G, Khokhrapar border
KARACHI: cheif of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain has urged the governments of Pakistan and India to open Consulate-General in Karachi, as the people of Sindh were facing difficulties in getting visas and additional travelling expenses due to the closure of Khokhrapar border.
Addressing a mammoth public meeting at Shah Faisal Colony on Sunday, the Muttahida chief also demanded of presidents and prime ministers of the two countries to take initiative to open consulate in Karachi and the border of Khokhrapar as first step of talks between the two countries.
This was the first public meeting of the Muttahida in the area after 12 years in the area. The venue of the meeting was jam-packed, while the surrounding streets also overflowed with emotionally charged participants, including men and women, who were chanting slogans "Jeay Muttahida" and "Jeay Altaf".
The participants, who were carrying party flags and portraits
of Altaf also made commitment that they would remain united under the flag of
the Muttahida and the leadership of Altaf Hussain while singing songs with the
party chief.
The venue was decorated with the portraits of Altaf, roses and balloons, and pigeons were also released on the occasion. Party MNA Iqbal Muhammad Ali and MPA Abbas Jafri claimed that the Muttahida had subdued its rivals in the area and it was a major victory of the party.
Paying tributes to party activists who had laid down their lives during the last 12 years in "no-go" areas, the Muttahida chief announced that the party would rehabilitate their families and declared that there would be no "no-go" area in future.
Altaf condemned the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), particularly Jam’aat-e-Islami, for extending support to army operation against the Muttahida, and the activities of terrorist elements, which had made the people of "no-go" areas hostage just for their vested interests.
He said that the fake religious leaders promoted extremism in
the name of Jihad, which created crisis for the country. Altaf said these
religious parties were responsible for the killing of thousands of youths in the
name of Jihad and declared that nobody could save these leaders, as the
geo-political situation was rapidly changing against them. He termed this
situation a "revenge of
Nature".
He said the double standards of the religious parties proved
that they were strong supporters of the feudal system and crimes like Karo-kari,
which the Muttahida chief term against the teachings of Islam. Altaf said his
party was deadly against religious extremism and wanted equal religious and
political freedom for all.
He said those opposing his demands for friendship with India, opening of Khokhrapar border and Indian Consulate in Karachi, and accusing him of being Indian agent, were now talking of friendship with India and opening of borders and trade with her.
The Muttahida chief said that all the characters involved in the army operation against his party were no more in the world and the responsible political leaders were living in exile. Without naming either Nawaz Sharif or Benazir Bhutto, he said those who claimed himself "lion" have left the country like "jackal" and were living in exile and those who named Muttahida leaders as "mouse" were now living like "mice" abroad.
He asked the people to be ready for welcoming him as he could be returning any time to meet them. Other party leaders, including Abdul Haseeb, Anwer Alam and Abdul Khaliq Baluch, also spoke on the occasion.
Daily Dawn
26, January 2004