MUTTAHIDA QUAMI MOVEMENT (MQM) BRINGS ENTIRE SINDH PROVINCE TO A GRINDING HALT -- MEMBERS OF THE CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE.

Karachi – 4 September 1999

The members of the Co-ordination Committee of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) vehemently criticised the Nawaz Sharif Government for employing undemocratic and unconstitutional methods to sabotage the peaceful strike in province of Sindh including Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities called by the MQM.

The members of the Co-ordination Committee lashed Nawaz Sharif Government for deploying over ninety thousands policemen and Para-military Rangers in Karachi alone while deploying several divisions of forces in other parts of Sindh. They said that Mohammad Nawaz Sharif has manifested beyond any doubt his fascist policy in hot pursuit to save his falling government and colonisation of Sindh to serve the interest of Punjab. They said that humiliating departure of the Pakistan Muslim League Government headed by Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is clearly written on the walls and any undemocratic and unconstitutional orchestrations will not save Mohammad Nawaz Sharif’s beleaguered Government from a humiliating insulting exit.

The members of the Co-ordination Committee lamented Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and his "political agent" Ghaus Ali Shah on their sustained policy of mass and widespread arrests of innocent MQM leaders, office bearers, workers, supporters and their relatives. They said that the provincial administration headed by the co-opted "political agent" has deployed convoys of police and Para-military rangers in every street and cornerstones of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah and other cities and rural areas of Sindh. "These police force and Para-military rangers have arrested thousands of MQM workers since yesterday in night long and crack of dawn house to house siege and search operations forcing their entry into the houses by breaking the doors and arresting without warrants", said the members of the Co-ordination Committee. They stated that the people of Sindh have the democratic and constitutional right to peaceful demonstrations and strikes against the punitive policies and corruption of Nawaz Sharif and his minions. They further said that anti-Pakistan, anti-people policy and corruption of the PML (Pakistan Muslim League) Government is pushing the ninety-eight per cent of Pakistanis to impoverishment and the country to destruction.

The members of the Co-ordination Committee said that according to the eye witnesses, the police and the Para-military rangers are intimidating, unlawfully arresting and torturing innocent people that pre-dominantly includes workers of the MQM and of other political parties. The police and the Para-military rangers are extorting bribes from the family members of their innocent victims, they said.

"Successful and volunteer observance of strike is a smack on the face of the government and a testimony of its total rejection by the people while a demonstration of the total and unquestionable support to the MQM of the people belonging to all walks of life including traders, businessmen, shopkeepers, industrialists and transporters", stated the members of the Co-ordination Committee.

"Despite all the Government’s blockades, deployment of forces, strong arm tactics, the support of people in making the strike a total success is a irrefutable evidence of the peoples belief in and their impregnable support for the MQM. The present regime, the Establishment and any future governments ought to draw a lesson from today’s rock solid support that in future the rulers and Establishment must never conceive even a faintest idea of breaking the vote bank of the MQM because the ninety-eight per cent of the people of Pakistan and particularly the Mohajirs have today, once again, reposed their total confidence in the MQM and demonstrated that no one and no one can put a dent on their unity", claimed the members of the Co-ordination Committee.

The members of the Co-ordination Committee declared today’s strike as a "Super Strike" and demanded of the Government to step down gracefully before people of Pakistan throw them out of the power. They warned Mohammad Nawaz Sharif that after his dismissal he will be held accountable for his corruption, anti-Pakistan and anti-peoples policy in an "Accountability Commission", commissioned by the people which will be transparent and without stains.

Finally, the members of the Co-ordination Committee expressed their gratitude to people of all the segments of the society, businessmen, employees, employers and civil servants for their total support and commended that "today you have sowed the seed of justice and you will reap its harvest very soon, and soon you will see a strong Pakistan, a corruption free Pakistan entering into the new millennium".