London - 6 May 2000

Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder and Leader, met with Mr Mahmood Khan Achakzai at his temporary residence in London to express his sorrow and grief over the murder of the workers of Pakhtoon Khwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) in the tragic incident of Quetta on 27 April. Both the leaders prayed for those who died in that incident. Also present at the meeting were Mr Abdul Raheem Mandokhel, Deputy Chairman of PKMAP, Dr Imran Farooq, MQM Convenor, Mr Saleem Shahzad, Member of MQM Coordination Committee, Mr Mohammad Anwar, Chief Organiser of MQM UK & Europe and Mr Tariq Meer, Joint Chief Organiser of MQM UK & Europe. The meeting went on for two and a half hour with 75 minute one-to-one session between Mr Altaf Hussain and Mr Mahmood Achakzai.

Both the leaders exchanged views over the current situation of the country and agreed that the survival and security of the country lies not only with democracy but in provision of equal rights to all the smaller nationalities. The Army and the Punjabi Establishment should now understand that this is not the Eighteenth, Nineteenth or the Twentieth century but it is the Twenty-first Century. This is the Century for the attainment of rights and democracy and in this Century no one on the basis of its strength can usurp the rights of the minorities for long periods. The sooner the Punjabi Establishment realises will be better for the survival of the country. Both the leaders also agreed that as soon as the present unconstitutional and undemocratic military government transfers the powers to public and return to the barracks will be good for the country. Mr Mahmood Achakzai thanked Mr Altaf Hussain and his companions for coming to his residence and expressing their grief. He emphasised that it is essential for the struggle of the smaller nationalities to attain their rights that the Urdu and Sindhi speaking brothers of the province of Sindh should unite and make the land of Shah Lateef "the land of peace". He further emphasised that the process of understanding between the Urdu and Sindhi speaking people of Sindh is in the interest of Sindh, suppressed nations and for the country. Both the leaders also agreed to hold further meetings in the near future.