London, May 17, 1998
MQM Founder and Leader, Mr. Altaf Hussain, has
criticised the government and the leading politicians of
Pakistan, for not taking a firm stance on the nuclear test spree
by India. Mr. Hussain demanded of the government to hold a
referendum whether it should go for a test of a nuclear device in
reply to the nuclear tests of India, or not.
He expressed his surprise and dismay over what he claimed lack of
a clear-cut strategy and line of action on the part of government
and senior politicians. Mr. Hussain questioned the newspaper
reports, which suggested that Pakistan should not retaliate
against Indian nuclear blasts in order to have its loans written
off and demand more economic aid from the US.
The MQM leader said the loans from the US had been taken by
governments, not by the people of Pakistan. These loans, he said,
were never utilised for the economic and social uplift of the
people and were, in fact, squandered by the ruling clique and
feudal lords of the country.
He questioned whether an army without any nuclear capability
could counter a force equipped with nuclear weapons.
He said if the rulers were of the view that a counter nuclear
test would not be in the interest of the country then they should
exert pressure on the UN and US to force India to scrap its
nuclear arsenal and seek the solution of all the problems through
dialogue.
Mr. Hussain appealed to the intellectuals of the country and all
the patriotic Pakistanis to send their suggestions on the Nuclear
Issue directly to the MQM International Secretariat in London.
Email: [email protected]
Fax: ++ 44 181 9522755, ++ 44 181 9522892