PUNJABI ESTABLISHMENT BY DECLARING THAT SIKHS AND MUSLIMS ARE BROTHERS, BELIEVERS OF ONE GOD AND HIS ONENESS, HAVE PROVED THEMSELVES THAT TWO-NATION CONCEPT WAS SPURIOUS – DR IMRAN FAROOQ

London – 24 November 2000

Dr Imran Farooq, MQM Convenor, has stated that the Punjabi Establishment has practically proved the two-nation concept as spurious and was used to deceive the Muslims of Subcontinent, particularly those of the Muslim Minority Provinces, by granting the permission to replace the Masjid Shaheed Ganj with a Sikh Gurdwara, inviting the Sikhs to dinner and declaring them as brothers, believers of one God (Rab) and His Oneness (Touheed).  He was speaking to a joint delegation of party workers and Mohajir supporters who came from all over the United Kingdom.

Dr Imran Farooq said that it has been advocated since the presentation of the two-nation concept that Muslims and Hindus are two diverse nations in the Subcontinent, i.e. the Muslims have their own culture, religion, civilisation, which is different from that of the Hindus.  However, contrary to this very concept, today the Punjabi Establishment is inviting the Sikhs to attend dinners and declaring them as their brothers and believers of one God and His Oneness.  Dr Farooq asked that if according to the two-nation concept, the Muslims and Hindus had diverse culture, religion and civilisation then how come today it is being declared that the belief, culture and civilisation of Sikhs and Muslims is one?  On the other hand, if according to the Establishment it is true then why the Sikhs massacred the Muslims in 1947, who were coming to Pakistan?  Why thousands of Muslim womenfolk were kidnapped?  Why in East Punjab, thousands of mosques, which were captured and turned into Gurdwaras, have not been transformed back to mosques?  If the Sikhs and Muslims are brothers then why according to the two-nation concept, a separate state for Muslims only was demanded?  Why it was not declared then that Sikhs and Muslims are brothers, share the same cultural values, believers of one God and His Oneness, therefore, a separate state is being demanded for the Sikhs and Muslims?  Moreover, if the Sikhs and Muslims are brothers then why the slogan of “Muslims are a separate nation” was ever raised?

By keeping silent over this declaration of Punjabi Establishment that Sikhs and Muslims are brothers, believers of one God and His Oneness, the champions of the two-nation theory have practically proved themselves that the two-nation concept was spurious and was raised to deceive the Muslims of the Subcontinent, particularly those belonging to the Muslim Minority Provinces.  The Punjabi Establishment used the two-nation concept to provoke the religious sentiments of the Muslims of the Muslim Minority Provinces and through their sacrifices achieve the ulterior motive.

For the past 53 years, under the pretext of the very concept of two-nation and the defence of the ideological boundaries, massive bloodshed of those raising their voice for their rights, was carried out in East Pakistan, interior Sindh, Balochistan and then in the urban centres of Sindh.  However, when the Punjabi Establishment needs the support of the Sikhs to create “Greater Punjab” then the same two-nation concept, which was declared sacrosanct, is being trampled and slogans are being raised that Sikhs and Muslims are brothers, share the same culture and civilisation and believers of one God and His Oneness.

Dr Imran Farooq argued that if this perception of the Punjabi Establishment is true then could the Muslims now be considered as a separate nation?  Where is the two-nation concept?  This very perception of the Punjabi Establishment, its agents, the so-called jihadi and religious organisation is an eye-opener for the Mohajirs and the Muslims of India.  They can very well analyse that the two-nation slogan was raised to deceive them.  It is because of this deception that the Muslims of the Muslim Minority Provinces whether they are in India, living as Mohajirs in Pakistan or the stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh living in the Red Cross Camps, are in the worst condition.  They should now realise from the history that how they were used as “tissue paper” under the pretext of the two-nation concept and then left aside.  Their relatives in Pakistan, i.e. Mohajirs, are being murdered and declared as the agents of RAW, whereas, those who are in India are facing hardships.  Those who are stranded in Red Cross Camps in Bangladesh are destitute and facing hardships.  Whereas, the so-called upholders of the two-nation theory are not only inviting the Sikhs and transforming the mosques to gurdwaras but also holding dinners in their honour and declaring them as brothers, believers of one God and His Oneness.

Dr Imran Farooq said that another proof of how the Muslims of the Muslim Minority Provinces were used under the two-nation concept is opening of the borders for the Sikhs and are being welcomed in Pakistan, whereas these borders are closed for the Muslim of India, who created Pakistan.  Is this the two-nation concept?  When it is demanded to open the borders of Khokhrapar to facilitate the Indian Muslims to come to Pakistan to meet their relatives and similarly the Mohajirs could visit their relatives in India, the Punjabi Establishment declares it as a “security risk” and refuses to open the Khokhrapar border.  On the other hand, extraordinary facilities, including a safe gateway, are being provided to the Sikhs for entering into Pakistan.  Therefore, the entrance of Indian Muslims, who created Pakistan, through the Khokhrapar border, is considered as a “security risk”, whereas the entrance of Indian Sikhs through a special gateway is not considered a “security risk”.

Dr Imran Farooq said that the Punjabi Establishment used the two-nation concept to achieve their ulterior motives and now under the “Greater Punjab Conspiracy”, they are embracing the Sikhs.  Dr Farooq said that Mr Altaf Hussain, Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) had disclosed this conspiracy some years ago and at that time several so-called intellectuals, including some Mohajir intellectuals, made fun of it.  However, the factual situation today proves that the Punjabi Establishment has commenced its plan of the Greater Punjab.

Dr Imran Farooq said that under such circumstances it is the national duty of Mohajirs, particularly the Mohajir intellectuals, dignitaries and writers to come forward and play their role against this conspiracy.  Addressing the Mohajirs of other political and religious organisations, particularly that of Jamat-e-Islami, Dr Imran Farooq said what is your national duty now that you have witnessed that these political parties are working as the agents of the Punjabi Establishment on the Greater Punjab Conspiracy?  Will you remain under the influence of their false slogans, which these parties raise to achieve their ulterior motives?  Would you remain a part of these parties to achieve personal gains or through your wisdom and sagacity fulfil your national obligations to play a proactive role?