PRESS CONFERENCE

Karachi, October 4, 2002

Dear Gentlemen of the Press:

The purpose of today’s Press Conference is to update you about the conspiracies against the MQM with regard to “No Go Areas” in Karachi.

As you are well aware that Haqiqi terrorists were brought into Karachi under military protection on 19 June 1992.  They were allowed to occupy areas in Landhi, Korangi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Lines Area and Liaquatabad by force.  The terrorists evicted hundreds of families from their homes at gunpoint.  The atrocities were committed by the Haqiqi terrorists upon the workers of the MQM and the people generally are common knowledge and on record.  But the authorities have done little to alleviate the sufferings of the inhabitants.

During the last ten years the MQM workers and even the elected representatives were forcefully stopped from entering their areas.  The past elections are proof that inhabitants of these localities are MQM supporters.  The establishment has singularly failed to make Haqiqi terrorists an acceptable group, despite their relentless efforts.  The establishment is still trying to legitimise this band of terrorists who have little support among the masses.  The rumers are gaining strength that the government is bent upon giving away a number of specific seats to Haqiqi terrorists by rigging to legitimise this terrorist group.  Had this not been the case the hundreds of displaced families would have been allowed to come back to their houses and the MQM candidates would have been allowed to freely campaign in those areas.

We want to bring to the notice of the Election Commission, International Monitoring Teams, national as well as international human rights organizations that armed terrorists are roaming in these areas threatening people with impunity.  They are telling public that whosoever votes for Muttahida, his or her house will be burnt down. They have also taken the identity cards of women voters, so that they can cast votes for their own candidates.  Despite such flagrant violation of law, the government and the Election Commission has taken no action against the terrorists.

The present government is not ready to allow the MQM to conduct its election campaign freely in these areas.  Instead our campaign has been constrained and we are asked to campaign only in specific areas.  The government has also done nothing to rehabilitate those residents who were forcefully evicted by the terrorists ten years ago.  The people of Pakistan, the international monitoring teams and human rights organization can visualise the situation for themselves – how can these elections be termed as free, fair and transparent?

We protest against this injustice and blatant vandalism and appeal to General Pervez Musharraf to immediately intervene, clean-up the “No Go Areas” and arrange to bring the displaced families back to their houses, allow the MQM to campaign freely in all localities and take steps to check vandalism.  We also appeal to the Election Commission of Pakistan, the International Monitoring Teams and Human Rights Organizations to seriously look into the volatile situation of the “No Go Areas” of Karachi.

The MQM is a democratic peace loving party.  We want to contest elections in a free and fair manner.  We will continue our election campaign peacefully despite of the all these hurdles and conspiracies.  The people of No Go Areas are with the MQM and its founder and leader, Mr. Altaf Hussain.  We also reiterate our appeal to the MQM workers and the supporters generally to remain calm, united and peaceful and not to be agitated by the actions of the establishment.  Your dedication and perseverance shall defeat the establishment conspiracies.

Thank you very much Gentlemen!

Central Coordination Committee
Muttahida Quami Movement