A Muhajir's Prayer

The Times of India

London-based Altaf Hussain, founder-leader, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), is sceptical of the outcome of the Indo-Pak talks slated for the coming weekend, when Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf and India's Atal Behari Vajpayee will exchange views in Agra. Hussain maintains what he's said several times before - ``Partition of the subcontinent was the biggest blunder in the history of mankind'' he said during a recent indiatimes.com live chat show:
Are you hopeful that the summit between Musharraf and Vajpayee will yield something positive?
I'm glad that the two nations have begun a dialogue, but I'm not optimistic of the summit's outcome. While prime minister Vajpayee is an elected head of state, general Musharraf is not. I would be less reticent if both the heads of state were elected.
In your eyes, who is responsible for disparity between average Pakistanis? Why are Muhajirs treated as second-class citizens in Pakistan?
Migrants from India to Pakistan have not been treated at par with the Punjabis, and have been denied their basic fundamental rights. They are discriminated and victimised. Muhajirs were educated and skilled workers living in the trade capitals of undivided India. After Partition, they were never allowed to mingle because of the feudal system prevalent in Pakistan. The Punjabi establishment is responsible for the bedlam in Pakistan and for the miserable condition of the Muhajirs. The Punjabi establishment (not the oppressed Punjabis) is also responsible for subjugating, victimising and discriminating the minorities including the Sindhis and Balochis. They have been made a colony of the Punjabi establishment. Anybody belonging to the deprived provinces is denied their rights, and are termed as traitors or Indian agents.
Why don't you visit India?
Unlike general Musharraf, who is a dictator, I am answerable to millions of people. My followers have urged me to visit India, and I wish to see the birthplace of my forefathers and meet the people living there. If possible, during my visit I would like to apprise them of the plight of the Muhajirs living in Pakistan and use my all good offices to resolve the Kashmir issue.
If India bleeds with Kashmir, and Pakistan with Karachi then how is it that Kashmir is the only agenda for the summit?
The strife in Kashmir traces its route to the British, whereas the Pakistani army and the Punjabi establishment have created the muhajir problem. As both the countries accuse each other of occupying Kashmir the problem can be resolved through sincere dialogue or negotiations. The muhajir issue is different because the muhajirs are being killed by their own army and fellow Muslim brothers. To my mind, the issue can be resolved only if the Muslims living in India and members of the commonwealth countries exercise their influence.
Was Partition a mistake?
The division of the subcontinent was the biggest blunder in the history of mankind. The Partition not only divided our land, but also divided Muslims into three parts.
Do the Pakistanis hate Indians?
I assure you that Pakistanis do not hate India or Indians. The Punjabi establishment and the feudal lords have created this image for their own sustenance.
Can we undo the blunder we made through Partition?
Both the countries should learn from the West. They have fought two world wars, killed millions of innocent people and only then realised that war does not end hatred. Negotiations and developing cordial relationships with each other are the only hope. As citizens of countries we should convince our leaders that we do not want war but lasting peace in the region. We have already fought three wars, and have achieved nothing, but the destruction, orphans, widows, poverty and disease. In the end friendly relations is the key to success of both the countries.
Why is Pakistan so reluctant to allow the reopening of the Indian consulate in Karachi? Why is it not prepared to open the Khokhrapar border in Sindh?
A majority of the immigrants from the Khokhrapar border are muhajirs. Opening the border would end the bribe and extortion that the Punjabi establishment extracts from the muhajirs on the Punjab border.
Is it practical to run an organisation in exile? How do you keep in touch with MQM activists in Pakistan?
Students of history usually learn from past experiences. And then go on to frame their own path to achieve their objectives. For the first time a leader living in exile for nine years has been able to guide a polity over the telephone, or through letters and statements. Indeed, the telephone and IT has never ever been used the way I have used them.
A widespread consensus seems to be developing about the involvement of MQM in violent and terrorist activities in Karachi, and this is being widely reported in the print and electronic media of Pakistan. Is it just propaganda or is there some truth in it?
People are the best judge. People have been voting in favour of the MQM since 1987. Such propaganda is not new - Mandela and Yasser Arafat were termed as terrorists once. Now these leaders are winning Nobel prizes. Those who struggle against obsolete medieval unjust systems there are always termed as terrorists by brute forces. I strongly deny any involvement of the MQM in any sort of violence. MQM believes in democracy and is against all sorts of violent terrorism.
Will a divided Pakistan be better for Indo-Pak relations?
The persistent brutal acts of inflicting torture against many ethno-linguistic minorities will ultimately force the victims to think about a right to self-determination, rather than demanding their rights in the framework of a federation.
The muhajirs living in India were forced to live in camps despite supporting the Pakistan army in East Pakistan. If reality were to be repeated, what would you advise?
Millions of Pakistanis are still living tortuous lives in almost 66 Red Cross camps in Bangladesh. No one except for the MQM is struggling for their repatriation. It is the moral obligation of the army and all political parties to support their repatriation. It is the moral obligation of all those jehadis who raised their voice in favour of the Bosnian Muslims, Kashmiris, Palestinians - why don't they concede and raise their voice in favour of Pakistanis who are stranded for the past 30 years?
MQM has built units all over the world. Why does it not build a unit in India?
India has allowed fundamentalist organisations like the Jamait-e-Islami to have organs in India. Therefore, it is India's democratic obligation to let us have an organ in India. We would like to do so if India allows us to.
Can India and Pakistan form a confederation for the bright future of the people in South Asia?
I can only hope for the best, as I do not have the power to influence the decisions. The answer is not in my hands - I can just pray. If there was such an authority, it would set another example like the European Union.