ALTAF HUSSAIN MEETS WITH ATTA ULLAH MENGAL IN LONDON

London – 9 June 2000

MQM Founder and Leader, Mr Altaf Hussain met with the President of Balochistan National Party, Sardar Atta Ullah Mengal at his residence in London on Thursday, 8 June 2000. The meeting was also attended by Dr Imran Farooq, Convenor of MQM, Mr Mohammad Anwar, Chief Organiser MQM UK & Europe and Mr Tariq Meer, Joint Chief Organiser MQM UK & Europe. Both the leaders discussed the current political situation of the country, particularly of Sindh and Balochistan provinces.

During the meeting, Sardar Atta Ullah Mengal stressed that the prosperity and progress of Sindh lies in the better understanding, brotherhood and unity amongst the Sindhis and Mohajirs. He said both the Sindhis and Mohajirs should struggle together for the progress of Sindh. He said that all the oppressed nations wish for the unity between Sindhis and Mohajirs because both are oppressed and suppressed. He said both the Sindhis and Mohajirs have a right over the land of Sindh and should struggle for the prosperity and progress of Sindh. He emphasised that openhearted efforts and actions should be made to breed harmony and brotherhood between Sindhis and Mohajirs. He offered his full support in further developing the unity and harmony between the Sindhis and Mohajirs. He emphasised that all the nations in Pakistan should be provided equal rights and for this purpose, we should struggle unitedly.

Praising the thoughts of Sardar Atta Ullah Mengal, Mr Altaf Hussain said, “I am very delighted after listening to your pragmatic thoughts”. Mr Hussain said that he has made all efforts in the past for the unity between Sindhis and Mohajirs and recently written an open letter for the Sindhi brethren, mothers, sisters and elders and would continue to make all efforts for the unity amongst the Sindhis and Mohajirs. Mr Hussain said that on behalf of the MQM he would once again reiterate and clarify that neither the Mohajirs wish to own the province of Sindh nor they wish to conquer Sindh. He said that the Mohajirs would like to join hands with the Sindh brothers to struggle for the prosperity and progress of Sindh because like the Sindhis, Mohajirs also live and die in the land of Sindh. Mr Hussain reiterated that Sindh has been completely made as a colony of Punjab and the height of the excesses of the Punjabi Establishment is that the Sindh province is even deprived of water and the water due for Sindh is being redirected towards Punjab to barren the lands of the province of Sindh.

Mr Hussain said that for the past eight years the Establishment is continuing with the army operation against the Mohajirs. During this operation, thousands of our leader and workers have been extrajudicially killed but we continued with our struggle. He said that it is our resolve that despite all the State atrocities and highhandedness, we will continue our peaceful struggle to achieve our due rights. He emphasised that all the oppressed nations in Pakistan have been deprived of their rights and State atrocities are unleashed upon those who struggle for the attainment of these rights and they are labelled as ‘traitors’. In the past, army was used against the Bengalis and Balochs, then Sindhi brothers were made their target and today Mohajirs are the victims of the army operation. Mr Hussain said that solution to the problem lies in providing equal rights to all the oppressed nations living in Pakistan.

Mr Hussain expressed his gratitude to Sardar Mengal for the support and assistance his son Mr Akhtar Mengal extended to the MQM Medical Aid Committee in its relief activities in Balochistan. Sardar Mengal also thanked Mr Hussain for visiting his house. Both the leaders agreed that further meetings would continue in the future. The meeting continued for four hours during which both the leaders discussed important matters in solitude for one hour.