MR ALTAF HUSSAIN’S ADDRESS TO A LARGE CONGREGATION OF RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS OF DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHTS AND BELIEFS AT THE KHURSHEED BEGUM MEMORIAL HALL IN AZIZABAD, KARACHI

London – 12 March 2002

Mr Altaf Hussain, founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) addressing a large congregation of religious scholars of different schools of thoughts and beliefs at the Khursheed Begum Memorial Hall in Azizabad, Karachi over the telephone from London warned the people at the helm of affairs of the Government to stop the on-going murders of the innocent people under the pretext of religion and sects, carried out under the patronage of the intelligence agencies. Continuing his address, he said that if the on-going murders are not stopped then it will tantamount to be inviting the wrath of God because when the people having power and authority commission shedding blood of the innocent people and the people seem helpless before their power then God provides justice to them in the form of his retribution for the perpetrators.

Mr Altaf Hussain claimed that whatever is within the capacity of the MQM, it is practically making contributions to create sectarian harmony. He asserted and if the MQM had the power, authority, police and agencies like the Government has then indeed, the on-going bloodshed of the innocent people would not have continued and had it continued then indeed, the perpetrators would have been arrested and brought to justice.

Mr Altaf Hussain asked that who could be behind this unlimited blood shed of the innocent people under the pretext of the religion and sects?  He stated that “I give you a formula.  Its imposition would not only be limited to Pakistan but could be applied universally and you could determine the patrons of the on-going murder and mayhem under this principle”. He said that sectarian and religion violence have occurred everywhere in the world.   Some of these are accidental while others are orchestrated. He said that the accidental violence is claimed to be public re-actions of certain actions or incidents but if the violence is continued or protracts the perpetrators and then the state apparatuses like police and agencies etc, on which billions of rupees are spent do not take steps for its stoppage, then it cannot be a re-action of actions but indeed, it is conclusively, a conspiracy and state terrorism with full involvement of the state machinery.

He said that the perpetrators and premeditatedly kill innocent people in the Imambargahs (mosques of Shiite Muslims) and flee but none of the perpetrator is apprehended.  It is a clear manifestation of the involvement of the state machineries. He said that in recent days it is observed that under a well thought out conspiracy target killings of Shiite Doctors are undertaken and not a single perpetrator is arrested or brought to justice. He further added that in the past one and a half years, at least 300 hundred innocent people have been murdered including a large number were Shiite Doctors. He said whether the murder is of a Shiite or Sunni, it is wrong and it is simply not a murder of an individual but of an entire family, which is affected as a result of that murder and it also renders innocent children, orphans. He asked the personnel of the agencies to fear God, because they also have children. He further asked the personnel of the agencies to stop this bloodshed and seek pardon from God and questioned that why are they hell bent on destroying the remainder Pakistan?

Mr. Altaf Hussain warned the state agencies to desist from patronising the massacres of innocent civilians; otherwise they will invite the wrath of God upon themselves.  When men with power and authority commit murders of the innocent people and the people are rendered helpless, then God provide justice for his creation by punishing those responsible.

He said that from the trauma through which Pakistan has passed since 11 September 2001, we have learned no lesson.  We also lost half of the country but learned nothing.  We are organising protest marches against the atrocities committed upon the Muslims of India.  But we do not look at our own apathy that sectarian killings have become a daily occurrence and we do nothing.  The government spokesmen absolve themselves by blaming every incidence upon Indian Intelligence Agency RAW.  Even if that is the case then what is the function of our intelligence agencies?  What are they doing to apprehend the culprits?  Why they let the agents of foreign agencies into the country?  Taxpayers are sustaining these agencies at cost of billions of rupees, for what?  Mr Altaf Hussain stated that Pakistan was not made for any particular sect or creed.  Muslims belonging to all the sects actively participated in the Independence Movement.  Those who justify imposing one sect upon the nation and pronounce Ahle-Tashis as heretics; I ask them why they accept Quaid-e-Azam, as the founder of Pakistan because he belonged to Khoja Asna-e-Ashri Sect of Shiites.  While referring to the irony of fate he said that those who opposed the creation of Pakistan have taken upon themselves to be the masters.  Whereas those who actively participated in the independence movement are being murdered on one pretext or the other.

When I condemn the killings of innocent people regardless of their sect or religion the agencies brand me as agent of those sects and religions, frankly, I give a damn to such allegations. 

I am against the killings of innocent men, women and children regardless of their religion, sect or creed.  Mr. Altaf Hussain informed the Shiites and Sunni Muslims that all these killings are part of a well thought out conspiracy and they must not succumb to it.  They must stay united.  The MQM has always worked against sectarian violence and for communal harmony; as a result both Shiites and Sunni community fully understand the conspiracies.

He appealed to the religious leaders of all sects to preach peace and harmony in their sermons and refrain from offending anyone.  Finally Mr. Altaf Hussain thanked all the participants individually.