WE WOULD STICK TO OUR HAQ PARASTANA (RIGHTEOUS) STAND REGARDLESS OF CONSEQUENCES

IT IS NO FAVOUR TO RELIGIOUS MINOTIRIES, SECTS AND BELIEF THAT WE HAVE RAISED THE SLOGAN FOR THEIR RIGHTS, IT IS THE HUMAN DUTY TO DO SO

ANY CITIZEN OF PAKISTAN REGARDLESS OF HIS SECT OR RELIGION HAS A RIGHT TO LIVE FREELY IN THE COUNTRY

TELEPHONE CONVERSATION AT NINE ZERO WITH SALEEM KHURSHEED KHOKHAR, PARLIAMENTARY LEADER MINORITY GROUP IN SINDH ASSEMBLY AND MALIK ATA MOHAMMAD ON 13 OCTOBER 1998

MQM Leader, Mr. Altaf Hussain has stated that we consider all the sects, beliefs and religious minorities and groups as equal citizens. We shall stand by our belief regardless of the consequences and we are prepared to pay the price of our stand.

Mr. Altaf Hussain made this statement while talking on the telephone with the Chairman of Pakistan Minority Revolutionary Tehrik, Mr. Saleem Khurhseed Khokhar, MPA and Malik Ata Mohammad, MPA Sindh Assembly who had gathered at the residence of Mr. Altaf Hussain to appreciate his statement about the Shariat Bill. The Members of the MQM Co-ordination Committee were also present over there. Mr. Altaf Hussain reiterated that we are not doing a favour to different sects, beliefs and minority religious groups but we are performing our duty as a Pakistani. All Pakistanis must be treated equally with justice regardless of their sect or religious group and no one should be allowed to be targeted because of his religion, faith and belief, ethnic and linguistic origins. Mr. Altaf Hussain said that the citizens of Pakistan whether they are Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, Budhs, or Ahmadis regardless of their faith and belief, have a right to live freely and enjoy full rights within its boundary and accorded in the Constitution of Pakistan. He reminded that it is not the first time that MQM has stated its point of view but it is clearly contained in its manifesto. He pointed out that all religious parties had provisions in their manifestos about the minority and religious groups but their manifest actions and words conflicts. So far as the MQM is concerned, what it preaches, it practices it too. He pointed out that when religious minorities were targeted and their place of worships were desecrated or destroyed, MQM condemned such discriminatory treatment to the minority groups and raised their voice in protest. He pointed out that no other political party in Pakistan calls a spade a spade like MQM does. Mr. Altaf Hussain reminded them about the address he made in Karachi on 26 July 1997, where hundreds of thousands of people attended and it was clearly stated that all the religious minorities in Pakistan have a right to life and liberty including Ahmadis. No one before this had talked about Ahmadis in such an open manner. He said that when I talked about the rights of Ahmadis and other religious minorities, the "Mullahs" pronounced religious decree (Fatwas) against me and termed me as an infidel and agent of Ahmadis. However, I do not consider such Fatwas and allegations as disgrace but take it as reward upon true revolutionary leaders. We are ready to face all allegations regardless of consequences. In our view all the religious minorities living in Pakistan have equal rights as others. If some one does not like this stand, it is just too bad. Mr. Altaf Hussain said that we realise that to stand for the fundamental rights of different sects and beliefs, particularly the rights of religious minorities, we will have to face all kinds of problems. But we are not prepared to relinquish our stand on these matters. Mr. Altaf Hussain told the religious minority leaders that for speaking the truth we do not want anything in return from you.

Mr. Altaf Hussain told the religious minorities whether they know that MQM has been targeted for the past six and half year and undergoing State terrorism. All attempts are being made to crush us. This is being done because the MQM wants to rid the country of the medieval feudal system and refuses to dissipate in this system. Also it is the first time in the history of the country that it is only the MQM which has stood for the poor and middle class people and has brought forward the leadership from the middle and poor classes. MQM is not in the politics of plots and permits, buying and selling nor does it auction the national and provincial assembly tickets like other political parties. It only stands for the establishment of equitable and just system for the country where people of any sect, faith, ethnolinguistic origin, sex, creed or religion are not targeted because of their religion, beliefs or their ethnicity . Mr. Altaf Hussain asked the leaders of religious minorities, Christians and other to inform Christians and other religious minorities that MQM considers them as their brothers and equal citizens and assure them that it will never let them down under any circumstances, he declared.