London – 14 September 2000
Mr Altaf Hussain, Founder and Leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has termed the statement of Chief Executive General Parvez Musharraf as deplorable in which he has stated to forget the debacle of East Pakistan in 1971, because this event happened in the past. He has also advised the nation to look to the future instead of the past. Mr Hussain said that if we were to forget the past then the creation of Pakistan in 1947 is also an event of the past – Will General Parvez Musharraf be advising the people of Pakistan to forget the event of 1947 too? He said that General Parvez Musharraf wants the people to forget the incident of 1971 – What will General Parvez Musharraf say if the people of the smaller provinces, who have been the victim of the atrocities of the Punjabi Army and the Establishment for the past fifty-three (53) years, start demanding to forget the event of 1947?
Mr Altaf Hussain said that when we celebrate the Independence Day then why do we not observe the Day of Fall of Dhaka. What message does General Parvez Musharraf wants to convey to the Pakistani nation by expressing his apathetic ideas on the repatriation of the stranded Pakistanis and stating that they will not be repatriated to Pakistan? Is it that if the situation of 1971 repeats itself then the civilians should not support the Pakistan Army? Is it that whosoever supports Pakistan Army – their fate will be the Red Cross Camps, whereas the surrendering Army will be rejoining their families? He said that Pakistan can bear the burden of those who surrendered but when the repatriation of those who supported the army is demanded then it is said that Pakistan cannot bear their burden.