I AM READY TO PLAY A MEDIATORY ROLE BETWEEN THE MUSLIM LEAGUE (N)
AND THE FEDERATION – ALTAF HUSSAIN

London: 01 March 2009

Mr Altaf Hussain, founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) said that if Mian Nawaz Sharif asked, he was ready to play his role in mediating between him and the Federal Government and also offered the services of the MQM legal experts to file Review Petition in the Supreme Court on behalf of Mian Nawaz Sharif. He appealed to Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif to desist from confrontational route and follow the route of peaceful settlement through negotiations and understanding to continue the wheel of democracy in the country. He said this while addressing a historical gathering assembled at the Tibet Centre, M.A. Jinnah Road, Karachi to protest against the desecration of the Memorial of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shahid in Rawalpindi, Punjab over the telephone from London on Sunday, I March 2009. The “Rally” was attended by hundreds of thousands of men, women and children belonging to all ethnic and religious groups. The “Rally” was addressed by Mr. Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sindh province, Senior Provincial Minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Huq, Mr Nisar Khoro, The Speaker of Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Provincial Interior Minister Dr. Zulfiquar Mirza, Deputy Convenor of the MQM Dr Farooq Sattar, Mr Ashfaq Mangi, Member Central Co-ordination Committee of the MQM and others. Participants in the “Rally” were Mr Rashid Rabbani, Mr Rafique Engineer, Haji Muzaffar Shijra, Mr.Mukesh Kumar Chowla, Mr.Abdul Jalil, Mr.Sohail Ansari, Ms. Sharmila Faruqi Mr Faisal Raza Abedi and other leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Mr Altaf Hussain strongly condemning the act of desecration said that this “Protest Rally” had been arranged on a short notice of 22 hours and further added that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed was not only the Daughter of Sindh, most popular leader of Pakistan but also an international personality and the people of Sindh are shedding tears over this act of desecration of the Memorial of a leader who made unparalleled sacrifices for the country and its 160 million people. He further said that the return of Sharif brothers was only made possible by her sacrifices and the verdict of disqualification were made by the Supreme Court not by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed then why the workers of Muslim League (N) desecrated her Memorial by ransacking and torching it? He stated that by holding this protest rally, he has not done any favour but done what a person would do for her sister. He exalted that today’s Assembly has given a verdict that people of Sindh are with the present government, President Asif Ali Zardari and the Prime Minister Mr Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. He reiterated that that the decision of disqualification was given by the Supreme Court and not by the President Asif Ali Zardari and hence he should not be held responsible for this and shall not be made an excuse to use derogatory and unparliamentarily language in every meeting and conventions against him.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that the country is passing through a critical phase and every political party should avoid confrontational politics and lodge protests in a democratic manner and under the guise of agitation the police and civil administration of the Punjab province should not be incited to a civil disobedience. He further said that while the country desperately needs national integration, unity and understanding now giving orders of the civil disobedience in Punjab by Mian Nawaz Sharif is most inappropriate. He exhorted that what would be the state of Pakistan if a leader of Sindh, Balochistan and Pakhtunkhaw had given orders to its police and civil administration to observe civil disobedience asking them to defy the orders of the Federation? He urged Mian Nawaz Sharif to desist from using derogatory languages by turning political differences into personal acrimonies that would precipitate the situation on the ground.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that no party approves of the imposition of the “Governor Rule” but he wanted to refresh the memory of Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif that under the guise of an operation against dacoits and criminals consisting of 72 big fishes an operation was launched against the MQM, his coalition partner. He enquired whether MQM deceived Mian Nawaz Sharif or did he at that point? In 1996, Mian Nawaz Sharif had pledged that same would not be repeated again and the MQM having believed again entered into an accord but he deceived the MQM again and imposed the undemocratic “Governor Rule” in 1998, suspended the Provincial Assembly of Sindh on false and baseless charges. The High Court ordered the resumption of the Sindh Assembly after having heard the Constitutional Petition of the MQM but Sindh Assembly was locked instead of complying the Court Order. He added that the Punjab Provincial Assembly was unlocked that manifested the magnanimity of the President Asif Ali Zardari and the Prime Minister Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani instead of narrow mindedness. Mr. Altaf Hussain addressing Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif said that he had resolved during the All Parties Conference (APC) in London on 14 May 2007 that none of the party would enter into a dialogue with the MQM but putting all that behind I welcomed Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif to forge understanding and follow democratic and peaceful route instead of confrontation. He further added that brutal operation was launched against the MQM and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and their leaders and workers were arbitrarily victimised during the rule of Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif but MQM and PPP made no utterance against the country. It is, therefore, the Mulsim League should not also commit such acts that would affect the integration and stability of the country, he added.

Mr Altaf Hussain appealed to Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif to file a Review Petition following the constitutional route and if Mr. Nawaz Sharif agreed then forgetting the past; he offered the services of the legal experts of the MQM to file the “Review Petition” on behalf of Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif unconditionally and with an open heart. He reiterated that he was doing all this to save the democracy and country because the country presently cannot afford confrontation. He said that Today’s Rally is to save the democracy and the country and urged Mr Mian Nawaz Sharif to cool down his temper so that the wheel of democracy remains in motion. He said that MQM desires peace, harmony and understanding to help flourish the environment of tolerance, peace and harmony. He said that MQM did not celebrate on the imposition of Governor Rule in Punjab but regretted it and if Governor Rule can be imposed then it can be lifted also. He said that he was prepared to play a mediatory role between Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and the Federation, if Mr. Sharif wanted. Mr Altaf Hussain said that brutal State Operations were commissioned against the MQM and the Pakistan Peoples Party, their leaders and workers victimised, Mr Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto was sent to the gallows, Shahnawaz Bhutto, Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto were martyred and similarly Khan Liaquat Ali Khan was also martyred but never acted against the country and therefore, Muslim League (N) must also not act against the country. He further said that he prayed to God to show them right path who desecrated the Memorial. He said that the workers of the Muslim League (N) tore the posters of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and during the Operation against the MQM they garlanded the posters of Altaf Hussain with shoes but I advice my workers that they do not tear the posters of Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif, if they see one. He said that the integrity of Pakistan and democracy in the country was most dear to him and it is therefore, he is promoting peace and harmony and appealing to desist from confrontation. He said that Sindh is the land of the revered Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai that promoted peace and brotherhood and therefore how could he preached confrontation from this soil. He further said that certain elements are promoting perceptions that there exists differences between the President and the Prime Minister  and I categorically state that there was not, is not and will not be any difference between the President and the Prime Minister and he paid tribute to the workers of the MQM for organising such a mammoth gathering and successful programme on a very short notice of 22 hours and expressed his gratitude to Mr Qaim Ali Shah, the Chief Minister of Sindh, Provincial Ministers and PPP leaders for participating in the rally.