MR ALTAF HUSSAIN STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE UNLAWFUL ARREST OF BASHEER KHAN QURESHI AND DR NIAZ KALANI

London - 17 October 2001

Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder and Leader, has strongly condemned the unlawful arrests of Mr Basheer Khan Qureshi, Chairman Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz (JSQM), and Dr Niaz Kalani, Senior Vice Chairman JSQM. He said that on the one hand the armed activists of the so-called jihadi organisations are roaming around in Sindh province, causing disruption, arson, and chaos and even attacking the airports and railway stations with impunity. Whereas on the other hand, the sons of Sindh Dharti, peacefully struggling for the rights of Sindh, are being unlawfully arrested. Mr Hussain said that the Establishment has made Sindh its colony and usurped the legitimate rights of its people, including the water, which proves that the Establishment is using State power to suppress the voice of the people of Sindh.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that at present Pakistan is going through a vital phase of its history. On the one hand the Afghan crisis has critically endangered Pakistan, whereas on the other hand the situation in Kashmir is speedily deteriorating. The need of the hour is to build national consensus and draw a line of action to challenge the dangers facing the country. However, it seems that the Establishment is bent upon disseminating anarchy and endangering the country. Instead of developing a national consensus, the Establishment is oppressing those who are raising the voice for the rights of Sindh.

Mr Hussain asked are these acts of the Establishment are in interest of the country? Would the country benefit from the public unrest in Sindh developing because of State repression? He said that the people of Sindh want to clarify that the voice of the people of Sindh could never be suppressed with State power.

Mr Hussain demanded of the Government to immediately release Mr Basheer Khan Qureshi and Dr Niaz Kalani and not to test the patience of the people of Sindh.