MQM TO CONTEST THE GENERAL ELECTION 2007 FROM ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY INCLUDING AZAD KASHMIR – ALTAF HUSSAIN

London – 18^th March 2006

MQM to contest the General Elections 2007 from all over the country including Azad Kashmir. This was announced by MQM Founder & Leader Mr Altaf Hussain while addressing a mammoth public gathering of the MQM workers and supporters organised to celebrate the 22^nd Anniversary of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM). He assured that after these elections, the MQM will emerge as one of the largest political party of the country. This address was relayed simultaneously to Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah, Sukkur, Sanghar, Larkana, Badin, Dadu, Ghotki, Khairpur, Shahdadkot Kambar, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Noshero Feroze and Kashmore.

Mr Hussain elaborated on the events leading to the creation of the MQM on 18^th March 1984, which thereafter transformed into Muttahida Quami Movement on 26^th July 1997. He said that during the struggle of 28 years, the MQM has faced numerous challenges, hardships, difficulties, incarceration and extrajudicial executions of thousands of its workers, who sacrificed their lives but refused to change their loyalties and remained committed to the Movement. He paid huge tributes to the martyrs of the Movement and associated the success of the Movement to their sacrifices.

Mr Hussain said that the MQM is the only political party from Asia which has emerged from the middleclass and poor masses. It is the only party which is struggling for the rights of 98 percent poor and middleclass and believes in abolishment of the medieval feudal system and establishment of a system based on justice and transparency. It is a liberal party which believes in promoting tolerance and an end to the spread of hatred of any kind. MQM considers that all citizens are equal irrespective of their cast, colour, creed, language, sex, sect and even religion and preaches for respect to all religion and faiths. MQM believes in religious harmony and tolerance and is against religious extremism and fanaticism.

Mr Hussain criticised the actions of those who looted the shops and ransacked the public property during the violent demonstrations over the publication of blasphemous cartoons of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). He said that the MQM also registered its protest peacefully against this heinous act but rejected the use of violence. He said that a few families have in turn ruled the country. On the face they talk about the rights of poor but have never nominated or sent members of poor and middleclass to the parliament on their party tickets.

On this occasion Mr Hussain announced to celebrate and remember the year 2006 for the services of Shah Latif Bhitai^RH, to organise meetings in this regard and held a Shah Latif Conference as soon as possible inviting all the true intellectuals from Sindh province. He said that MQM’s message is now crossing the borders of Sindh and spreading in the Punjab, Balochistan, NWFP and Azad Kashmir. He predicted that in near future the MQM’s flag will fly high in every nook and corner of the country. He reiterated that MQM believes in religious tolerance and promotes love because we belong to Sindh, the land of love. MQM wants every citizen to have equal access to education and clean drinking water and believes in serving all without discrimination.

Mr Hussain warned the people of Sindh to beware of the conspiracies of the so-called nationalists who are bent upon creating differences between the Sindhi Speaking Sindhis and the Urdu Speaking Sindhis on the basis of urban rural divide. He said that the people of Sindh are now united under the banner of the MQM, identified the enemies of Sindh and will defeat all such conspiracies of the so-called nationalists who are the agents of the Establishment.

Mr Hussain said that we are not against privatisation but he demanded of the Privatisation Commission to safeguard the interests of the employees of Habib Bank and other institutions; and ensure that they are not left high and dry. He also demanded of the Government to resolve the Balochistan and Waziristan issue through dialogue and ensure that the allocated funds for the victims of earthquake reach the affected without discrimination.