Mr. Altaf Hussain's address to MQM elections rallies at Liaquatabad, Ranchoor Line, Gulshan-e-Hadeed and Gulistan-e-Johar in Karachi, Pakistan on 5 October 2002

Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder & Leader, has stated that persistent deprivation of rights of common man gave birth to Muttahida Quami Movement.  If the religious and political parties had provided the people with education, employment and other basic necessities of life then MQM would not have come into being.  He was addressing MQM election rallies in Liaquatabad, Ranchore Lines, Gulshan-e-Hadeed and Gulistan-e-Jauhar in Karachi simultaneously over the telephone from London.  More than 200000 people participated in these rallies.  Thousands of women and people from different minorities also attended these gathering.

Mr Hussain said that except JSQM all the other religious and political parties are opposing Muttahida and hurling baseless accusations.  All these parties are the agents of the Establishment and products of Intelligence Agencies.  They have no sympathy with the poor and middle-class people and they are not sincere in solving their problems.  He said that these parties are doing politics for the past 50 years and if they would have attained the rights of deprived people, provided them with employment, education and other basic necessities of life then MQM would not have come into being.  He said that with full determination and resolve, the MQM raised the voice for the rights of deprived people and refuse to trade on principles.  As a result, on 19 June 1992, an Army Operation was launched against the MQM.  Under the patronage and protection of the Intelligence Agencies, the Haqiqi terrorists took over MQM offices, innocent MQM office bearers and workers were ruthlessly murdered, unimaginable atrocities were committed upon the families of MQM workers, several areas of the city were made as “No Go Areas” for the MQM workers, which are established to date and hundreds of families were displaced from their homes.  When the Army Operation was launched against the MQM, the then Chief of Army Staff General Asif Nawaz and other army officers proclaimed that Altaf Hussain’s chapter has closed.  Dirt was thrown upon the portraits of Altaf Hussain to deter the Mohajirs from joining Altaf Hussain. Malicious propaganda was made on radio, television and in the print media with baseless table stories.  The Establishment planned to wipe out the MQM from the cities, however, despite all the State oppression MQM could not be wiped out and has today spread from the cities to every nook and corner of villages and towns of Sindh Province.  If Altaf Hussain would not have been true to his ideology, mission and to the people then the Intelligence Agencies would have succeeded in deterring the people from Altaf Hussain.  However, as Altaf Hussain was true to his ideology, mission and to the people, therefore, today not only the Mohajirs but also millions of Sindhi, Baloch, Punjabi, Pakhtoon, Seraiki, Kashmiri, Hindu, Christian, Sikh and Bengali people love and respect Altaf Hussain.  Mr Hussain said that it is possible to kill the public, which believes in a particular ideology but it is impossible to eliminate the “ideology”.  It is possible to incarcerate people believing a particular ideology, however, it is impossible to incarcerate the “ideology”.   One could limit the boundaries of a State but one cannot confine an ideology to geographical boundaries.

Mr Hussain said that in Sindh, the Sindh-Mohajir, Punjabi-Mohajir and Pakhtoon-Mohajir riots were engineered by the Intelligence Agencies with a view to blame the MQM for it and to breed hatred amongst the Sindhis, Punjabis and Pakhtoons against the MQM so as Sindh remains the colony of the Establishment.  He said that today when we are striving for the unity between the permanent citizens of Sindh, these Intelligence Agencies and their agents are criticising our struggle and to deceive the people, they are propagating that the unity of Sindhi and Urdu speaking people is against the Punjabis and Pakhtoons.  How could the unity of two brothers of the Sindh dharti be against anyone?   Giving example of other provinces Mr Hussain said that if the people of other provinces such as Punjab, Balochistan and NWFP get united for their rights then how could it be termed against people of other provinces?  He said that those Punjabis, Pakhtoons, Seraikis, Kashmiris and people of religious minorities who are permanently settled in Sindh along with their families we consider them as permanent citizens of Sindh.  We appeal to them to stop looking towards Punjab and NWFP and join the struggle for the rights of Sindh province alongside the Urdu and Sindhi speaking people.  He said that it is very heartening to note that not only the Urdu and Sindhi speaking people but also a large number of Punjabis, Pakhtoons, Baloch, Seraikis, Kashmiris and religious minorities are joining the MQM.  Mr Hussain said that as a result of the unity of poor and middle-class people, a revolution is soon expected, which has caused distress and sleeplessness for feudal and the Establishment.  He said that the people have now recognise those politicians and feudals who had been usurping their rights, looting the national exchequer and building their palaces abroad but did not even provided basic necessities to the poor citizens.  The people have tried these political parties, which demand sacrifices from poor workers but at the time of Elections award tickets to wealthy feudals.

Mr Hussain said that the MQM is the only political party of the country, which does not sell its election tickets and award these tickets on merit.  He said that both Muslim League and Peoples Party speak of poor people but comprise of feudals, who are totally ignorant of the problems faced by the poor citizens.  He said that only those who have themselves experienced the grievances and problems faced by the poor could solve their problems.  Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) is the only political party, whose leadership belongs to the poor and middle-class and is struggling for the rights of the deprived people.  Speaking of the injustices faced by the Sindh Province Mr Hussain said the principles that apply on Punjab must also be equally applied upon Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP.  The industrialists in Punjab are being provided electricity at the rate of one rupee per unit, whereas, the industrialist of Sindhi is paying ten rupees per unit.  Such is the scale of injustices and exploitation faced by Sindh today.  Mr Hussain said that the exploitation must end and the injustices against the smaller provinces be stopped forthwith and they should be granted full provincial autonomy.

Commenting on the role of religious parties, Mr Hussain said that once again in the cities of Sindh these so-called religious parties are trying to hoodwink the people.  He asked them to tell the public whether they would establish Islamic system or Nizam-e-Mustafa in the country?  If these religious parties have faith in God almighty, one Prophet and one Quran and if they are really united then why don’t they announce to end their respective religious parties?  He further stated that until yesterday the leaders of these parties were not prepared to offer namaz behind one Immam but they are together today in their political interests.  How the individuals who are motivated by self-interest alone can be sincere servants of Islam, he asked.  They preach to the sons of others to join jehad, and many young men have laid their lives to their call but their own children are sent to Britain and United States for higher education.  Mr Altaf Hussain said that those who preach extremism in the name of religion, declare others as non-believers, attack the places of worship of muslims and non-muslims, cannot be called humans.  He promised that if MQM forms the government, it would legislate for severe punishment to those who cause death and mayhem by attacking places of worship.  Everyone has the right to worship according to their faith and belief.  Women will have equal rights with men, MQM would work to solve the complaints of common man.  He appealed to the public not to be upset by the opposition propaganda, they should exercise restraint and must remain patient.  He applauded the sacrifices of MQM workers particularly those who laid their lives for the cause.  Finally, he thanked the public for making this rally a great success.