Important Meeting of MQM Co-ordination Committee
At International Secretariat in London
Tuesday, 16 January 2008


PAKISTAN’S SOVEREIGNTY AND
INDEPENDENCE IS AT STAKE – ALTAF HUSSAIN
A STRONG ARMY ALONE CANNOT SAVE THE COUNTRY AND IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE A STRONG
NATION STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THE ARMY
APPEALS TO POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THE COUNTRY TO RISE ABOVE PERSONAL
AND PARTY’S INTEREST FOR THE SAKE OF COUNTRY’S SOVEREIGNTY
APPEALS TO WRITERS AND INTELLECTUALS TO
PROMOTE UNITY AND ACCORD

London – 16^th January 2008 MQM Founder & Leader Mr Altaf Hussain has appealed to all the political and religious leaders to rise above their personal and party’s interests for the sake of national interest as Pakistan’s sovereignty, security and independence is at stake. He said this while addressing an emergency session of the MQM Coordination Committee from Pakistan and London at the International Secretariat in London. Those present were Convenor Dr Imran Farooq, Senior Deputy Convenor Tariq Jawaid, Deputy Convenor Dr Farooq Sattar, Incharge Coordination Committee Pakistan Anwar Alam, Members of Coordination Committee Saleem Shahzad, Mohammad Anwar, Tariq Mir, Asif Siddiqui, Naik Mohammad, Shakil Umer, Waseem Aftab, Senator Babar Ghauri, Adil Siddiqui, Mustafa Azizabadi, Joint Incharge MQM Labour Division Syed Mazhar Hussain and Member MQM Central Election Cell Aftikhar Randhawa.

 Mr Hussain said that today’s session is important as the country is passing through its most critical phase since its inception 60 years ago. In 1971, the country was dismembered but the glimmer of hope remained in the form of West Pakistan for those who loved Pakistan. Unfortunately, in the past our foreign policy makers failed to assess the short term and long term benefits and risk to the country. Pakistan is an independent and sovereign country and a member of United Nations but today several national and international media are persistently reporting that Pakistan’s nuclear program should be capped and closed down. The reason given is that Pakistan’s nuclear program may fall in the hands of extremists. Whereas the same media is also reporting that whenever they want they will take action in Pakistan without seeking prior permission. The people of Pakistan should now think, is Pakistan an independent country? If the answer is yes! then those belonging to different political parties must end the politics of personal interests and must decide with their personal and party interest more important than the country’s interest, independence and sovereignty? Regrettably, statements from certain political and religious leaders of the country do not reflect that they are aware of the severity of the situation faced by the country today. They are preoccupied in insulting each other and working for their personal and party’s interest. If they will not change their attitude and the people of Pakistan will not force them to change then sovereignty and independence will remain at stake. We must think and discuss the perils faced by the country today or should we be discussing personal and our party’s interest at this crucial stage? As a result the people at large are not aware of the true situation faced by the country.

Mr Hussain said that if people of the country are not united and don’t stand shoulder to shoulder with their army then the army alone cannot save or defend the sovereignty and independence of the country. He said that he has said this many a times in the past and will repeat again that a strong army alone cannot save the country and it is essential to have a strong nation standing shoulder to shoulder with the army.

Mr Hussain requested the Members of Coordination Committee Pakistan to forward his message to all the political and religious leaders they meet and ask for their views and suggestions in this regard. Having discussions indoors and making public speeches alone will not be sufficient to save the country – in fact, practical and visible steps and actions are the need of time. If all the political and religious parties united on one-point agenda to save the country then the Muttahida Quami Movement will stand shoulder to shoulder with them and will not shy away from offering any sacrifice for the country. He appealed to all the political and religious leaders of the country that for God’s sake in the present scenario rise above personal and party’s interest for the sake of country’s sovereignty. Because we can do politics if the country is safe and secure but what if the country is dismembered then there will be no politics or leadership. It is, therefore, the need of time that we all should unite and demonstrate our unity. We must leave the party differences aside for the time being. Differences also happen within families but when a member of family is in his or her last moments then the family members do not discuss their differences but pray for his or her life. He also appealed to the writers and intellectuals to promote unity and accord through their articles and columns as this is not the time to criticise on having ideological differences.