WHO IS RIGHT? WHO IS WRONG? WHO IS PATRIOTIC? WHO IS TRAITOR?
STATEMENT OF MR ALTAF HUSSAIN

London – 4 March 2002

Mr Altaf Hussain, Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), in a statement issued from London has stated that on 17 September 2000 in a public meeting held at the Acton Town Hall in London he had stated, “the division of Subcontinent was the biggest blunder of the history of mankind”.  Four renowned leaders and scholars namely veteran leader Sardar Ataullah Khan Mengal, Mr Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Mr Syed Imdad Mohammad Shah and Professor Mohammad Arif were also present in that meeting other than the MQM leaders, audience, national and international media.  Mr Hussain said that many Pakistani politicians and columnists raised their objections and strongly criticised his views and some of them even termed him as a “traitor”.  Mr Hussain said that it is now 2002; and what is happening in India?  More than 500 innocent persons have been killed including the Muslims and Hindus in the recent riots in India.  Now the question arises that who are to be blamed for the current riots and the killings of innocent people, either the Muslims or the Hindus?

Mr Hussain said that the utmost reason given for a separate State for the Muslims was that after getting independence, the Muslims who are in minority as compared to the Hindus could live in peace, honour and dignity.  It was further said that the Muslims were becoming subservient to the majority, i.e. the Hindus.  Pakistan came into being as an independent and a separate State for the Muslims in 1947.  After achieving independence and a separate State for the Muslims, did the Muslims live with honour and dignity?  He asked who killed the first Prime Minister of Pakistan Khan Liaquat Ali Khan in 1951, either the Muslims or the Hindus?  Who closed the borders of Pakistan for the Muslims of India after the creation of Pakistan, either the Hindus or the Muslims?  Who did not accept the public mandate of the “Awami League” in the General Elections of 1970, either the Hindus or the Muslims of Pakistan?  Who refused to transfer the power to the “Awami League”, either the Muslims or the Hindus?  Who had raised the slogan “idhar hum – udhar tum”, either the Muslims or the Hindus?  Who had launched an Army Operation in the former East Pakistan, either the Muslims or the Hindus?  Who had killed more than 27,00,000 Muslims in 1971, either the Muslims or the Hindus?  Who had killed more than 7,00,000 Urdu Speaking people in the former East Pakistan, either the Muslims or the Hindus?  Who was and is responsible for the tragedy of 300000 Urdu Speaking people, who are still languishing a miserable life in the 66 Red Cross Camps in “Bangladesh” for the past 31 years, either the Hindus or the Muslims?  Who was responsible for the massacre of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Balochistan in 1973, either the Muslims or the Hindus?  Who was responsible for the killings of innocent Sindhis including men, women and children in 1983 in the Sindh Province, either the Muslims or the Hindus?  Who was responsible for the killings of thousands of Mohajirs (immigrants from India to Pakistan at the time of partition of the British India) since 19 June 1992 to date, either the Muslims or the Hindus?  Who was responsible for butchering, looting, raping and brutally killings of innocent men, women and children in 1986 in Aligarh and Qasbah Colony in Karachi, either the Hindus or the Muslims?  Who is responsible for the brutal killings of innocent Urdu Speaking people and the Sindhi Speaking people on 30 September 1988 and 1 October 1988 in Hyderabad and Karachi, either the Hindus or the Muslims?  Who were responsible for the killings of Urdu Speaking and Sindhi Speaking people in Sindh Province in 1972 and 1973, either the Muslims or the Hindus?  Who is responsible for the killings of thousands of innocent Shias and Sunnis in Pakistan under the guise of sectarian riots, either the Hindus or the Muslims?  Who have been persistently killing hundreds of Shias and Sunnis while offering prayers (Namaz), either the Hindus or the Muslims in different places of Pakistan?  Who is responsible for killing of innocent people branding them as “kafir” (infidel) time and again in different areas of Pakistan, either the Hindus or the Muslims?  Who are terming other Muslims as “Kafirs” just in the name of sect in Pakistan, either the Hindus or the Muslims?  Who are pelting stones and throwing bombs on the mosques and imam bargahs in Pakistan, either the Hindus or the Muslims?  Who is responsible for the ethnic particularism in Pakistan, either the Hindus or the Muslims?  Why the cultural pluralism has not flourished so far in Pakistan – who is responsible for this, either the Muslims or the Hindus?  Who is responsible for imposing Martial Laws in Pakistan time and again, either the Hindus or the Muslims?  Who is responsible for the prevailing feudal system in Pakistan, either the Hindus or the Muslims?

Mr Hussain said that before commenting and blaming other people in the present riots in India, we should first “apne garebaan mein jhankay” then comment on others; and think who is right? Who is wrong? Who is patriot? And who is traitor?

Mr Hussain said that the teachings and preaching of Islam tell us that killing one person without any crime or justification is a murder of humanity.  Similarly, teachings and preaching of Hinduism does not allow its believers to kill anybody without justification.  Therefore, I request both of them to follow their religion, respect each other, help each other and do not play in the hands of those who are defying the true spirit of both the religions.  We are all human beings having the same flesh and blood and creation of the same God.  Mr Hussain said that he felt sorrow, grief, shock and concerned about those innocent people and their families who were mercilessly killed without committing any crime, sin or justification. 

Mr Hussain said that some critics are saying that if Pakistan would not have been created then the fate of the Muslims of Pakistan would be the same as the Muslims of India.  I humbly request them to inform the Muslims of the Subcontinent about the purpose of the creation of Pakistan.  He said that if the Muslims of India are suffering and Pakistan could not save the entire Muslim population of the Subcontinent even then certainly the purpose of the creation of Pakistan has not served the objective and the spirit and ideology of the “two-nation theory” has been defied.

Mr Hussain said that if the creation and existence of Pakistan could not provide the desired opportunities, safety and security to the entire Muslims of the Subcontinent then the purpose of its creation seems to be invalid.  Those who have been presenting their image as the well-wishers of the Muslims of India, they should ask the Government of Pakistan to immediately open the borders for the Muslims of India instead of raising hollow slogans and organising demonstrations.  If they are really sincere with the Muslims of India then they should invite and enthusiastically welcome the Muslims of India from the depth of their heart and must also provide one if not two rooms for the migrated families in the present scenario.

Concluding his statement Mr Hussain requested the historians to calculate and inform the world that how many Muslims were killed in India and how many were killed in Pakistan since its creation.