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Altaf terms resignations attempt to 'alienate' him

By Aamir Ghauri

LONDON: MQM founder leader Altaf Hussain has termed the resignations by seven leading members of his party an attempt to "alienate me" and said he would not be forced into undemocratic and unconstitutional ways to win the rights of the Mohajir people.

Talking to The News on Tuesday, Altaf Hussain said: "We want to achieve our rights within the framework of Pakistan and its Constitution. Mentioning his interviews with international news agencies and radio stations, Altaf said while we are trying to remain peaceful, the president and the establishment should take notice of state brutalities against Mohajirs.

He asked the army chief to "give time" to the MQM's Central Coordination Committee so that they could tell him of their grievances and "state brutalities".

In a press release issued in Karachi Altaf reiterated his firm stand that the party firmly believed in peaceful, democratic methods of struggle and would always adhere to his declared policy of continuing their struggle through legal and constitutional means.

He said majority of MQM workers and supporters are seeking to achieve their basic rights through democratic, legal and constitutional means. He stated this on Tuesday evening in an interview with BBC correspondent.

In response to a question that certain circles were of the opinion that majority of the leaders who resigned were involved in heinous crimes, therefore they were obstructing in compromising with the government and that the MQM wanted to screen them out from the party, but they tendered their resignations in advance, he said this information is based on lies and negative propaganda.

To another question that those who were with him since the very beginning gradually separated themselves from the movement, he said people join the organisation of their own will and go away as per their wish.

Asked whether people have developed differences with the style of his leadership, Altaf said in a very confident tone so far the question directly concerned him that he was heading the organisation, he agrees that he is heading the MQM and he always firmly upheld the policy of peaceful democratic methods and vigorously pursued legal and constitutional means to achieve their objectives.

The correspondent said if Altaf Hussain's statement is considered true, it would mean that these people were victims of misconception. He maintained that they had differences on practical matters; they were of the opinion how long they would continue to offer condolences, Qur'aan Khawani and Fateha for their "martyrs". They stressed that the organisation should formulate a policy of tit for tat, he said. However this was their opinion, but majority of people firmly believe in peaceful struggle and achievements of rights through legal and constitutional methods, he said.