ALL SMALLER NATIONS AND ETHNO-LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL GROUPS BE PROVIDED EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, REPRESENTATION AND TREATMENT ALTAF HUSSAIN
London 13 November 2001
Mr Altaf Hussain, Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement
(MQM), has said that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said in clear words
that before pleading or preaching others one should first act or
practice himself or herself, what he or she is preaching or
pleading. Keeping this Hadith in mind, one should act himself
first before preaching others.
Mr Hussain was commenting on the remarks of General Parvez
Musharraf in a Press Conference in Turkey, in which he stated
that Afghanistan is a multi-ethnic country. General Parvez
Musharraf further said that now, the Northern Alliance has
captured many important cities including Kabul and, therefore,
there is no Pashtun representation at present. General
Parvez Musharraf pleading the case of Pashtun stated that the
Forces of the United Nations in collaboration with OIC countries
should be stationed in Afghanistan to ensure proper
representation to each and every ethnic group including the
Pashtun.
Mr Hussain said that he was delighted that General Parvez
Musharraf has not only accepted the existence of multi-ethnic
groups in Afghanistan but also strongly advocated the
representation of each and every ethnic group in Afghanistan.
Referring to the views of General Parvez Musharraf, Mr Hussain
asked that does he believe that Pakistan is also a country of
multi-ethnic groups having different cultures and languages.
Does he believe that all the ethnic groups and smaller ethno-linguistic
nations be also provided equal treatment, representation and
share in the affairs of the Government, national wealth and
resources according to the spirit of the United Nations Charter?
If General Parvez Musharraf cannot do so in his own country what
he is preaching or pleading for Afghanistan then how could he
preach what he himself is not practising? He asked General
Parvez Musharraf would he ask the United Nations and OIC
countries to station its forces in Pakistan to ensure equal
representation of all the ethno-linguistic groups in Pakistan.
He said that he would be waiting for the reply of his questions
raised in this statement and it is the moral obligation of the
President of Pakistan to respond to his questions. If General
Parvez Musharraf responds to foreign journalists then why could
he not respond to his fellow countrymen? Finally, he said that
the resolution of the multi ethnic problems in Pakistan has been
pending for the past fifty-four years.