Successful nation-wide strike in a verdict against Nawaz Sharif government -- Altaf Hussain

London, 4 September 1999

MQM founder and leader Mr. Altaf Hussain paid special tribute to all the businessmen, traders, shopkeepers, transporters, labours, students, political and religious parties on their co-operation for the historically successful nation-wide MQM strike call.

Mr. Altaf Hussain thanked the public from the bottom of his heart and declared the successful strike a referendum against Nawaz Sharif totalitarian government. The fact that the strike was observed throughout the country but particularly in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah, Sukker, Sanghar and other parts of Interior Sindh by keeping all the businesses to a standstill is an indictment against Nawaz Sharif's autocratic, inapt regime, he declared. The facist government of Nawaz Sharif used all the undemocratic repressive methods to undermine MQM strike call. Even a repressive ordinance was hurriedly invoked through the "Presidential Ordinance Factory". The entire state machinery including police and Para-military Rangers were deployed to intimidate the public, and used the state controlled media to threaten them. But the public defied all the nefarious acts and pronounced their judgement on Nawaz Sharif government, by observing the strike.

Mr. Altaf Hussain commended the unity shown by the urban and rural population of Sindh province on this historic day. By this act of solidarity the people of Sindh have pronounced their verdict against the colonial style domination of Punjab. They would never allow their province to become a colony of Punjab, he declared. Mr Altaf Hussain asked the members of MQM Co-ordination Committee and parliamentarians to visit all the industrialists, traders, businessmen, transporters and other representatives of organisations of their respective constituencies to thank them personally for their co-operation in making this strike a resounding success.

Mr Altaf Hussain also paid whole hearted tribute to the members of the Co-ordination Committee, MQM elected representatives, members of ladies wing and all MQM workers for making the strike and the 3rd September rally at Fresco Chowk a great success. You have proved that the state persecution shall never deter you from taken a principled stand and Insha Allah your sacrifices shall produce results - the reign of tyranny shall come to an end very soon, he concluded.