PRESS CONFERENCE OF DR. IMRAN FAROOQ, SECRETARY GENERAL MUTTAHIDA QUAMI MOVEMENT HELD AT THE MQM INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT ON 9TH SEPTEMBER 1999
London-9 September 1999
Honourable Journalists,
Assalam-o-alaikum, Adab and Good-afternoon
First of all, I express my thanks to you from the depth of my heart, for attending this emergency Press Conference on such a short notice despite your other pressing engagements.
I have
called today’s press conference to have an opportunity of
speaking to you personally. And through you inform the world that
despite the conspiracies of the Establishment, State Agencies and
successive governments of Pakistan to have me eliminated, by the
grace of God, I am not only alive today, but with my
Quaid-e-Tehrik Altaf Hussain and amongst you.
Honourable Journalists,
I realise your pre-occupation and therefore, I would like to briefly account the details and my ordeals of seven (7) years and four (4) months of hiding.
Honourable Journalists,
On 19 June 1992, I was the Secretary General of MQM, the third largest political party of Pakistan and the second largest in province of Sindh and its Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly of Pakistan. The day, when the "Army Operation" was launched against Mohajirs and their sole representative political party the MQM on the pretext of an operation against the dacoits, insurgents and kidnappers for ransom.
On the
commencement of the Army Operation against the MQM, while
hundreds of false and fabricated charges were levied on
Quaid-e-Tehrik Mr Altaf Hussain, central and regional leaders and
thousands of workers of MQM, I was also implicated in umpteenth
of false and fabricated cases. The successive governments and the
Establishment resorted to heinous propaganda against me and left
no stone unturned in presenting me as a criminal, terrorist and
anti-state on the strength of the State machinery, the state
press and electronic media. Under the circumstances, it is
apparent that I had no alternative but to go in hiding like other
MQM leaders, office bearers and workers. I, therefore, went into
hiding in the evening of 19 June 1992 and later I tendered my
resignation form the National Assembly seat on the instruction of
my party. Finally, the State agencies and the successive
governments having failed to coerce me to compromise on my
principles and conscience and change my allegiance with
Quaid-e-Tehrik Mr Altaf Hussain, they put bounty money in
November 1992 through a government notification, to produce me
dead or alive, giving license and impunity to every individual in
Pakistan to assassinate me. The Government also guaranteed State
protection to the producer or informer of my whereabouts.
Honourable Journalists,
Accounting
the graphic details of ordeals, traumas and State brutalities my
family members and I went through would require weeks and,
therefore, without going into those details, I would like to say
that they could not defeat my determination, aims and objective
and they failed to deviate me from the route of loyalty. The
ideology, teachings and philosophy of Quaid-e-Tehrik was a source
of aspiration and determination for me during my testing times in
hiding. While facing all the State atrocities, I always
remembered that it is not only me but also the entire Mohajir
nation and every Mohajir's house is being subjected to this
brutal State excesses and atrocities in reprisal of raising their
voice for their rights.
During my
hiding, I not only remained in contact with all the party
leaders, office bearers and workers but also managed party
affairs through the use of mobile phone. During my hiding, I
witnessed ups and downs not only in party but also in the
political scenario of the country. However, my inter-action over
mobile continued until 1995, when the Government disconnected all
mobile phones in Sindh including Karachi, Hyderabad and other
major cities. Therefore, I had to disconnect contact with party
workers and restricted my contact with MQM Office in London on
the instructions of Quaid-e-Tehrik Mr Altaf Hussain. Thereafter,
a virulent propaganda campaign was launched against me by the
State and a number of arrested MQM workers were forcefully made
to claim in their coerced confessional statements that the MQM
had me assassinated.
Honourable Journalists,
Today, I am alive amongst you and that does not only belies the claims of my assassination but also renders all the State propaganda against MQM as a pack of lies, baseless and without foundation.
Honourable Journalists,
I spent
seven years and four months of my hiding in Karachi. It was my
desire to remain in Pakistan and render my services to the
Movement. However, it was not possible in the wake of all the
State heinous propaganda against me, registration of thousands of
false and fabricated cases and imposition of bounty money over my
head to produce me dead or alive. Therefore, it was impossible
for me to remain in Pakistan due to the continued threat on my
life and liberty. In accordance therewith, I was instructed by
the party to escape the country. However, I could not make it
despite several attempts. Today, by the grace of God and the
efforts of Quaid-e-Tehrik Mr Altaf Hussain and my colleagues, at
last I am alive and present amongst you.
Honourable Journalists,
I have reached London yesterday evening and have sought political asylum in the United Kingdom. The details of my escape and arrival in the United Kingdom is a long story and could only be divulged to the British Home office due to legal constraints. Therefore, I would like to be excused for divulging these details in today’s press conference. However, I would like to express my gratitude to all those in Karachi who provided me refuge in their homes without fear of State persecution. They did not only provided me refuge but also treated me as a member of their family, a favour that I would never be able to return. On one hand, I am extremely delighted to be with Quaid-e-Tehrik Mr Altaf Hussain while on the other hand, I am satisfied that I remained steadfast despite all the tests and dangers. My conscience is also satisfied that I am not even slightly stained and stand unblemished of betraying the cause.
May God honour and glorify all the martyrs of the Mohajir nation and those who are unlawfully incarcerated or forced to live in exile or hiding. I salute all these determined and steadfast colleagues and advise them to remain so as the sacrifices laid down for the righteousness never go to waste and your will certainly bear fruit.
On the conclusion of the Press Conference, I would like to thank you, once again.
Dr Imran Farooq
Secretary General, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM)
BBC World Serivce
Correspondent Ms. Suniya Qureshi
conducting the interview of Dr. Imran Farooq at the end of the
press conference