Altaf seeks new constitution
The Dawn
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, April 19: The chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, has
said a new constitution should be framed in accordance with the spirit of 1940
resolution, in which provincial autonomy should be granted to all the federating
units within the framework of the federation.
Speaking at a "Sindh Solidarity Convention" at Nishtar Park here on
Friday, which turned out to be the largest-ever meeting held at the venue, Mr
Hussain warned that if instead of paying attention to the resolutions adopted in
this regard at the convention, the establishment opted for launching another
operation, the people of Sindh would be justified in demanding the right of
self-determination.
Referring to the issue of presidential referendum, the MQM chief said the
coordination committee had left the decision to vote or otherwise to the people.
He, however, added that if Gen Pervez Musharraf announced that provinces would
be granted autonomy in accordance with the 1940 resolution, his vote would be
for Gen Pervez Musharraf.
"Smaller provinces, particularly Sindh, have been facing exploitation since
the last 54 years. Population of Sindh according to the census report is 23.28
per cent of the total population of the country but Sindh's share to the
national exchequer is 63 per cent as against the population of Punjab, which is
57 per cent of the total population while its share in the national revenue is
only 27 per cent. The share of Punjab in the federal divisible pool is 57 per
cent, while that of Sindh it is only 23.28 per cent. Even this 23 per cent share
is not being given to Sindh honestly," he claimed and pointed out that not
only that Sindh was not being paid its share, the province was also being
deprived of its due water share, which was turning the fields into arid zones.
Mr Hussain asked how would the federation function in case Sindh stopped
contributing its 63 per cent share and the country had only the shares of
Punjab, NWFP and Balochistan. "That is why I raised the slogan of Jiye
Sindh as Sindh alone is meeting most of the expenses of the army, rangers and
federation as the country could not function on the basis of 37 per cent revenue
from the rest of the three provinces," he added.
Waving to a section of the crowd raising slogan of "Azadi, Azadi" on
this occasion, the MQM leader said despite this "we want Pakistan to grow
stronger and prosper. We are neither enemy of the Punjab nor do we have hatred
for our oppressed brothers in Punjab but we are opposed to the Punjabi
establishment, feudals and Waderas. We want that a constitution assembly be set
up to frame a new constitution in accordance with the 1940 resolution, ensuring
full autonomy to the provinces as the massacre of Sindhis and Urdu-speaking
people could not be allowed to continue."
Referring to the Quaid-i-Azam's speech of Aug 11, 1947, in the Constituent
Assembly in which he had said that now when Pakistan had come into being all
citizens would have full freedom of religion and have equal rights, Mr Hussain
said if the MQM came into power all citizens would be treated equally and they
would enjoy equal rights as Pakistani.
The MQM leader said the establishment should see reason and stop committing
excesses against Sindh, give its due share of water and the NFC award and stop
all projects against the interests of people of Sindh.
He said this convention had also negated the assessment of agencies which were
of the opinion that the MQM had been eliminated by the operation and warned that
in case another operation was launched against the party, they would take refuge
in forests in Sindh where they could not pursue them.
The MQM chief said that the MQM was against terrorism, religious extremism and
support the government policy against terrorism and its action against religious
parties.
Pleading a policy of negotiation instead of seeking confrontation, he said that
all issues, including Kashmir issue, could be resolved through peaceful means.
He said the MQM would also like to have a European Union like grouping of the
countries in the region including, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China, after the
resolution of all bilateral issues peacefully as war was not the solution to any
problem.
Mr Hussain also criticized the opposition parties and their role in the
country's politics.
Earlier, intellectual Ali Ahmad Brohi asked all the people living in Sindh to
forget their differences and strive for the rights of Sindh. He said Sindh had
been facing exploitation during the last 54 years and was being ruled from the
Centre.
Syed Imdad Mohammed Shah said that we were not against the people of Punjab but
the bureaucracy and the army which had taken over control of Sindh's resources
and deprived the people of their due share even in water.
Other speakers included Bhagat Arjundas, Bishop Dr Bashir R. Mal and Shafi
Karnani, acting chairman of the Jiye Sindh Qaumi Mahaz.