ALTAF HUSSAIN REJECTS 1998 PAKISTAN CENSUS RESULTS
London: July 9, 1998
Altaf Hussain, founder & leader of the MQM has categorically rejected the Census results announced yesterday by the Pakistani Finance Minister. He said that it is quite evident from the results of the Census that entire exercise was pre-fixed. He said that the results were manufactured to maintain the status quo in the distribution of national resources, representation in the legislative bodies and electoral boundaries. He said that the results were not based on facts but were concocted in the wake of tunnel vision and political malafide intentions. He emphasised that census figures would lead every patriotic Pakistani to conclude that the establishment for their vested interests wanted to forcibly impose their pre-fixed results upon the entire nation. He added that this negative attitude would maintain and strengthen the already prevalent uncertainty prevailing throughout the country. Especially, it would further aggravate the feeling of deprivation and unrest among the people of smaller provinces.
Mr Hussain further added that according to facts and figures published in the national press, the rate of increase in population of Punjab was down by 7% in past 10 years. While in Sindh, during the same period, that reduction has been shown to be 24%. Such engineered results would not be acceptable to any sensible person. The question arises in every mind that what calamity had fallen upon Sindh that has resulted in such a manifest reduction of population growth. Mr Hussain pointed out that it was repeatedly expressed by many independent observers that the migration from other provinces to Sindh, specially Karachi had resulted in enormous increase in its population. It is conceivable that the population of Sindh was not more than Punjab but in any case it would not be far less than Punjab he declared. Like previous Census, this time also the figures have been rigged. An increase of 25.53 million in Punjab province has been shown while for Sindh it is only ten million. Mr Hussain emphasised that this rigging and fabrication clearly showed that under a well planned conspiracy the population of Sindh had been understated. That is not only an open discrimination and victimisation of smaller provinces but also an attempt by the Federal Government to colonise Sindh Province.
Mr Hussain strongly condemned and totally rejected the results of Census in which the population of Karachi has been shown as 92 laks. While pointing out that the population of other cities of Sindh has also been understated, he said that through these results the people at the helm of affairs had expressed their hatred and prejudice against Sindh. He said that it is common knowledge that the population of Karachi was, in any case, not less than 1.5 Crore but despite the fact that the population of Karachi was fast increasing, the growth rate was shown as only 3.3% compared to the government's own earlier publication which showed the Karachi growth rate at 4.9%. Mr Hussain, while comparing the figures of previous decades said that if the ratio of population increase between 1951 and 1981 was taken as the base which was 6%, then the population of Karachi in 1998 would have been around 1.5 Crore. He said that in 1991 Census, which was later declared as null and void, despite all the rigging the population of Karachi was being estimated at 95 Laks. He said that the recent Census had broken all the records of rigging since it has shown population of Karachi at only 92 Laks! He said that according to facts and figures published earlier a total of 1.7 Crore Census Forms were distributed in Karachi for 1998 Census, how was it possible that the population turned out to be 92 Laks? He said that along with Karachi, the population of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawab Shah, Sukkur and other urban parts of Sindh has also been shown less than what it is. This was an open discrimination and intrigue against Sindh, he added. Mr Hussain asked all the nationalities residing in Sindh particularly the Sindhi politicians and intellectuals to raise their voice against obvious discrimination and intrigues against Sindh. He said that the population of NWFP and Balochistan too, has been shown less than their actual population. He appealed to the leaders and intellectuals of Baluchistan and NWFP to sit together with the leaders of Sindh and raise their voice of protest against the discrimination and injustices and work out a plan of action. Mr Altaf Hussain while quoting the census figures said that these figures were doctored to maintain the 27 years population ratio, in view of such a manifest rigging it was natural and justified to demand that the latest Census results be declared null and void. A fresh Census should be conducted under the supervision of international monitoring teams. He asked that when to observe the General Elections international monitoring teams could be invited, then why the exercise could not be repeated for census, which is far more sensitive and important issue. Invitations to international monitoring teams would be in the country's best interest. Mr Hussain appealed to all the patriotic Pakistanis to reject the fabricated and rigged figures of recent Census and raise their voice against this vile discrimination and victimisation.
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Census
Results -- The Nation -- Editorial
The Census Results -- The Frontier Post -- Editorial
A Nation of
130 million -- The Daily DAWN -- Editorial