PERSISTENT DISCRIMINATORY ACTS AND VENGEANCE INSPIRES PEOPLE FOR TOTAL AUTONOMY OR INDEPENDENCE  – ALTAF HUSSAIN

London-21 June 2002
Mr Altaf Hussain, founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) said that persistent discriminatory and vengeful acts instil the sentiments for total autonomy or independence in peoples. He expressed his views while addressing a meeting of the MQM workers and newly elected office bearers of Canada Unit over the telephone from London. Canada Unit has been separated from the USA Unit in a recent re-organisation. Addressing the Canadian units, he congratulated them and said that they had status of an autonomous unit after having separated from the USA unit, however, it was dependent on them that how they would benefit from their autonomous status and were able to extend the party work in Canada. He added that in view of fast increasing work in USA and Canada both units have been separated so that both units could work in a better manner.

Mr Altaf Hussain stated that as far as the sense of independence or autonomy amongst the people living within same geographical boundaries was concerned it is a fact that  persistent sense of deprivation; discriminatory treatment and revengeful acts inculcate the aspirations of total autonomy or independence in the minds of people. For instance, he said that discriminatory treatment of a father towards his children and his persistent ignorance would firstly develop a sense of inequality amongst them that would consequently lead to differences between them and eventually all the children of the same father would separate for autonomy or independent status unless the notion is swiftly corrected. He further said that often dependence on others become the compulsion while sometimes independence could be damaging. He said that the fruit of independence or autonomy is dependent on the acts of the people that how they avail that opportunity. He further said that it would depend upon such nations who create their country, provinces or states that how they not only maintain such an opportunity with their honesty, determination and hard work and by sacrificing their personal interest over the collective interests but also stand on their own feet. Citing the example of India and Pakistan, he said that both emerged as independent and sovereign states on the map of the world simultaneously but compared with in the field of technology, industry and trade, economy and other fields, India seems far ahead while Pakistan is lagging far behind.

The fundamental reasons for the backwardness is that Pakistan could not stand on its own two feet and always depended on others initially on Great Britain, and then the United States of America, IMF (International Monetary Fund), World Bank and other international institutions while the economy is moving on the crutches of foreign aid and loans. He reiterated that the United States, IMF, World Bank and other international financial institutions have set such loan packages that are sustaining Pakistan on the artificial respirations and if they pull the plug, Pakistan will be pronounced clinically dead.    

Mr Altaf Hussain asserted that unfortunately, the people at the helm of affairs in Pakistan have served their personal interests and pushed the national interests by the wayside, this is the reason why Pakistan is burdened with foreign loans after even the lapse of 54 years while on the other hand, world is forced to recognise that India is racing ahead having self-pride and standing on its own two feet. He said that this fact may be bitter but this is fact. He called upon the people at the helm of affairs to take the people of all the provinces into confidence should Pakistan wish to stand on its two feet, redress their grievances and address their sense of deprivation and consider seriously as to why the movement for self-rule taking momentum in the smaller provinces of Pakistan?

Mr Altaf Hussain said that he was hopeful that the workers and office bearers of the Canada Unit would work with co-ordination and with better communication extending the party work and Diasporas. Finally, emphasising on the organisational acumen, co-ordination and communication, he said that those organisations that are equipped with these skills are more effective and organised, they advance and progress and similarly the countries. On this occasion, office bearers of Canada Unit reassured Mr Hussain that they would work tirelessly to extend organisational work.