COUNTRY’S SUSTENANCE NOT ONLY DEPENDS ON STRONG ARMY BUT ALSO ON UNITED NATION – ALTAF HUSSAIN
Pakistanis living abroad to play a positive role in improving the image of the country and religion

London – 24 March 2003
The MQM Leader Mr Altaf Hussain while addressing the party workers on 19^th Anniversary of the party stated that for the country’s survival, national pluralism is as essential as a strong military.  This is only possible when a sense of national unity is inculcated throughout the country by providing equal rights to the people of all the provinces regardless of their ethnicity, religion and language.  He said that he does not lead the nation to a garden path and has always highlighted the stark realities and my apprehensions have materialised. I appeal to all the political, religious leaders and intellectuals to abstain from emotional slogans. He said that maliciously the war between Iraq and America is being portrayed as the war between Islam and kufr, whereas, everyone is a witness that much more demonstrations against this war are being organised in non-Muslim countries as compared to Muslim countries.  He said that religious leaders are preaching for jihad and hatred against non-Muslims without even thinking about the fate of Muslims in non-Muslim countries.  It is a bitter reality that since 1956, Kashmir Issue has not been resolved and the people of Thar are deprived of clean drinking water. If we have failed to provide clean drinking water to the people of Thar then where are we misleading our countrymen under the emotional slogans? We have not been able to strengthen our home, how can we claim to rectify the entire world? Is it in the larger interest of the nation and the country? Today Hamood ur Rehman Commission has been made public but has a single person responsible for disintegrating the country been punished so far?

Mr Hussain said that because of the development in information and technology, we can witness the regretful scenes of human destruction in Iraq. If the information and technology would have developed this much in 1971, then we would have witnessed the atrocities upon Bengali Muslims. We have lost half the country as a direct result of emotional slogans and if we continue on the same path, would it be in the interest of the country? Mr Hussain said that Afghanistan is in ruins because of the ill-conceived policies of our rulers and religious leaders.  What should be our line of action if Pakistan is faced with a critical situation in the future? He said that we should remember that a country’s sustenance not only depends on strong army but also on a united nation. He appealed to the people at the helm of affairs to come forward to promote national integration, inviting the political and nationalist leaders from all provinces, listen to their grievances, keep only a few sensitive functions with the Federation and distribute the rest to the provinces along with maximum provincial autonomy. This will strengthen the sense of national unity.  He again stressed that national unity does not strengthen through emotionalism but is brought about by providing equal rights and treatment to all.  He appealed to the people at the helm of affairs to take proactive steps towards providing due rights to all the provinces, religious and ethno-linguistic minorities.  When America could seek pardon from Japan and Queen of England from India then why cannot we seek each others forgiveness. We should learn from history that refusal to provide rights to Bengalis shattered the national unity and dismembered the country. He emphasised that for national pluralism and country’s development it is necessary to abolish the feudal system.

Mr Hussain said that he has always been a strong opponent of military government and martial law but if an army general enforces martial law in the country and abolishes the feudal system then he would welcome such a martial law.   Mr Hussain once again offered his personal and the party’s services to the country. Mr Hussain appealed to the Pakistanis living abroad to play a positive role in improving the image of the country and their religion.