ASIAN UNION ON THE LINES OF EUROPEAN UNION TO BE FORMED – ALTAF HUSSAIN

London – 18^th June 2005

MQM Founder & Leader Mr Altaf Hussain has stated that learning from the European Union an Asian Union must be formed. Pakistan and India should now accept each others existence and develop friendship between the countries instead of spreading hatred. Moreover, other countries of the region should also have friendly relations for the peace and prosperity of the region. He said that Kashmir is for the Kashmiris; therefore, Pakistan and India must include the Kashmiris in the negotiations. He was expressing these thoughts on the 27^th Anniversary of APMSO organised at the Acton Town Hall in London on 17^th June 2005. A large number of people from all walks of life attended this gathering from London, Birmingham, Manchester and other UK cities; and the MQM workers and office bearers of MQM USA and Belgium Units. Also present were the women in large numbers.

In his address Mr Hussain said that neither Pakistan nor India can get their hands on Kashmir without the will and wish of the Kashmiris. Kashmir is only for the Kashmiris and they have the first right to decide their fate. Pakistan and India must respect and accept the aspirations of the Kashmiris and ensure their participation in the negotiations. He also appealed to the Kashmiri leaders to put their differences aside and unite under one agenda to guarantee success. Commenting on the dialogue between Pakistan and India Mr Hussain said the existence of Pakistan and India is a reality, which should now be accepted by both the countries that are also nuclear powers. War is not the solution to any issue as it only results in loss of lives. We should learn from the European countries that after the First and Second World Wars they have done away with fighting each other and are on the path of peace and friendship. All the European countries are uniting together, European Union and European Parliament has been formed, common European currency in the form of Euro is being used and even having discussions on a proposed common defence. However, unfortunately, Pakistan and India even today consider each other as their enemy and the extremists of both the countries are hell bent to start yet another war and to erect the Pakistani flag on the Red Fort of Delhi. He warned that such extremist propagation will not achieve anything except more distrust and insensitivity between the two countries. He appealed to both India and Pakistan to accept and respect each others existence and promote friendship. He proposed of forming an Asian Union on the lines of the European Union for lasting peace, stability and prosperity of the region.

Expressing his views on the character of the so-called religious parties Mr Hussain said that the so-called religious leaders speak a lot of the seerat-e-tayyaba (lifestyle) of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) but do not adopt this in their lifestyle. The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was used to practice before preaching but these so-called religious clerics never follow what they preach. The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) when called for jihad then he himself practically took part in the jihad along with his companions and even got injured whereas the so-called religious clerics of our country only preach and send others to jihad and chose to remain in the comfort of their homes. They are responsible for sending the innocent Pakistanis in the Afghanistan jihad and also responsible for their deaths particularly at Tora Bora. These so-called religious leaders do not even visit the homes of those who died in jihad to condole their families. He asked is this Islam? How many such religious leaders took active part in jihad and died at the forefront? Mr Hussain said that he has not only always preached to his workers to offer sacrifices for the righteousness and remain determined despite the odds but has also practiced this preaching. He said that he was arrested three times and tortured in the State torture cells but remain determined. His elder brother Nasir Hussain (66 years old) and his nephew Arif Hussain (28 years old) were arrested but he did not begged to the Establishment for their release and instead prayed to Almighty Allah to grant him strength and fortitude at this trying time. In the end, after three days, his brother and nephew were murdered after being brutally tortured and their dead bodies were recovered from Gadap, Karachi. Mr Hussain said that after hearing this news he again prayed to Almighty Allah to grant him solace and courage to bear this tragic loss.

Mr Hussain said that those who use others in the name of religion and jihad for political gains are in fact non-believers and the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has indicated not to be deceived by the beards and the marks of worship on the foreheads of such non-believers as they are acting against Islam under the guise of Masjid-e-Zarrar. He asked the crowd that if these non-believers will come to you and say that go to jihad in Afghanistan and Iraq then you should reply, “first you go to jihad and we will then follow”.

Mr Hussain said that there are thousands of problems and public issues in the country such as poverty, unemployment, education but these so-called religious leaders are only concerned with the issue of uniform. Speaking of religious tolerance Mr Hussain said that if someone is a Muslim, this is not his or her achievement as this is because he or she was born in a Muslim family. Similarly, if one would have been born in Hindu or Christian families then one would have been a Hindu or Christian respectively. The Almighty Allah creates human beings and decides where you are born – so when He is making this decision then we must not target others of our hatred in the name of religion. The Allah Almighty will decide on the Day of Judgment and we as human beings must not take this in our own hands. Mr Hussain reiterated that MQM believes in religious tolerance. He said that Islam preaches for respect to humanity and tolerance, therefore, we must also love and care for humanity and should not hate anyone on the basis of their religion, sect or belief. Mr Hussain said that we respect all the ethno-linguistic identities including Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch, Seraiki and Kashmiris and love them all. Unfortunately, one-nation concept is not prevalent in Pakistan. He said that we want such system in Pakistan whereby every citizen is treated equally and the one-nation concept is promoted. A few families in Pakistan with the change of faces continue to loot Pakistan for the past 57 years. We are striving to rid the country from the clutches of the two percent privileged class and to establish the rule of poor and middleclass masses. If we are allowed to form the Government then we will ensure equal and legitimate rights are awarded to all the provinces, no one will be big or small and will establish the rule of poor and middleclass. He said that we want that poor are also respected and only being rich should not be the criteria for giving honour. He announced that the Last Sermon of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is the manifesto of the MQM whereby "All mankind is from Adam and Hawwah, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white, except by piety and good action.”

Mr Hussain said that we do not want to punish the feudals, jaagirdars and waderas but we are struggling to bring about reformation in the country whereby the hundreds and thousands of acres of baron land of these feudals is distributed amongst the poor peasants for them to cultivate and thus making the country prosper, self-sufficient and decide its own fate. Mr Hussain demanded to announce the NFC Award soon so as to remove the grievances and alleviate the unrest of smaller provinces. He further demanded not to resort to army operation in any province and to resolve issues through dialogue.

Others who addressed the gathering were: Acting MQM Convenor Mr Tariq Jawaid, Members of Coordination Committee Mr Mohammad Anwar and Mr Syed Tariq Mir whereas the Members of Coordination Committee Mr Javed Kazmi, Mustafa Azizabadi and Member of International Secretariat Qasim Ali Raza, Incharge MQM UK Ladies Wing Safia Akbar and workers of MQM UK Unit Sohail Khanzada, Faisal Malik and Ain Akbarabadi recited their poems.