MQM IS THE ONLY POLITICAL PARTY THAT CAN SAVE PAKISTAN – ALTAF HUSSAIN

AMERICAN INCLINATION IS TOWARDS INDIA NOT PAKISTAN

London – 12^th March 2006

MQM is the only political party of the country, which has emerged from the people and believes in serving the public and can save Pakistan from its current precarious situation. MQM Founder & Leader Mr Altaf Hussain stated this while addressing party workers in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir. He said that for the past 58 years, the country is ruled by feudal lords and army generals as a result the people have been deprived even of their basic rights. It was propagated that MQM is anti-State and a terrorist organization, however, it was witnessed soon after the devastating earthquake of 8^th October 2005, how the MQM workers, leader, elected representatives and volunteers reached the affected areas instantly to offer their services. This was a clear testament, which manifested that all the allegations leveled against the MQM were baseless and unfounded and MQM is the only political party of the country, which believes in serving the community. He stressed that MQM’s only ‘fault’ is that it has emerged from the poor and middleclass and has sent representatives from these classes to the parliament and legislatures so they can sit side by side with the feudal lords in the assemblies. MQM’s crime is that it has educated the poor and middleclass of their rights.

Mr. Hussain said that the feudal system was abolished in India soon after its independence but this medieval oligarchic feudal system has remained prevalent in Pakistan even today. It is a historical fact that during the struggle for independence all the feudal lords sided with the British opposing the creation of Pakistan and supported the Unionist Party. However when it became imminent that Pakistan will be created, these feudal lords joined the Muslim League overnight. They became the rulers and the creators of Pakistan and their families were maliciously ignored. In 1970, the army generals supported Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a big feudal, against the Awami League because they were aware that Awami League will win the elections as it belongs to the poor and middleclass. They were scared that if Awami League will come into power then it will abolish the medieval feudal system from the country. For this purpose, the slogan of roti, kapra aur makan (food, clothing and shelter) was raised. All the waderas and jaagirdars (feudals) joined the Pakistan Peoples Party, however, despite all the conspiracies the Awami League emerged as the majority party of the country after the general elections. This was not acceptable to the army generals, so they opted for the disintegration of the country instead of transferring power and rule to the Awami League. If power had transferred to Awami League then Pakistan would not have disintegrated but have strengthened.

Commenting on President Bush’s recent South Asia Visit, Mr Hussain said that this visit has made it abundantly clear that American inclination is towards India instead of Pakistan, which is the direct result of wrong policies and bad governance of the past governments and using the people of Pakistan in the name of jihad during the Cold War between the two super powers of the world.  He said that the only way to save the country from its current precarious situation is to awaken the millions of people from poor and middleclass and get them united. He categorically stated that the only political party that can save Pakistan must be from the people, believe in serving the public even if thousands of miles away – and that political party is only and only the MQM and MQM’s success is directly related to the country’s progress.  He explained that the people of Pakistan have been persistently hoodwinked in the name of Islam and other meaningless slogans; they have been used for political purposes and to serve the interest of religious parties in the name of religion. On the publication of blasphemous cartoons of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) these religious outfits have come out in the open and using the issue for their political gains. These religious parties have termed the vote casting of women un-Islamic and in the recent local bodies elections they banned the womenfolk from casting their vote. However, particularly in NWFP, the MMA, the PPP and Muslim League (N) mutually agreed during the general elections to send the women from their homes as elected members of senate and parliament.

Mr Hussain inquired which of the parties whose politics is Kashmir-based came to the rescue of the Kashmiris after the devastating earthquake? He reiterated that it is only the MQM, which can save Pakistan and provide the Kashmiris with their rights. Speaking on the Kashmir Issue, Mr Hussain said that it must be resolved according to the aspirations and wishes of the Kashmiri people. He also appealed to the Kashmiris to get united instead of being divided in small parties –a united struggle will lead towards the success of Kashmiri cause. He reminded that in such a political culture where the focus is on wealth, it is not easy to struggle for the rights of poor and middleclass – however, this is not impossible and revolutions in the world are brought about by public force. He further stressed the workers to remain steadfast and determined – continue their peaceful struggle courageously and spread the MQM’s message in every nook and corner of the Azad Kashmir.