Altaf Hussain asks ECP to impose ban on religious party for opposing creation of Pakistan
Pictures TandoAllahyar Umerkot
Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain on Monday demanded of Election Commission of Pakistan to ban the extremist religious party that had opposed the creation of Pakistan and had described Pakistan as `NaPakistan’ and Quaid-i-Azam as `Kafir-e-Azam’ from taking part in the elections.
Expressing these views during his telephonic address made at the mammoth election rallies held, simultaneously, at Tando Allahyar, Umer Kot and Thatta (Sujawal), Mr Hussain said that religious extremists not only belonged to Khyber Pakhtnkhwa and Fata but unfortunately those having similar thoughts were also among Sindhi, Urdu, Punjabi, Pushto , Hazarawal, Kashmiri and Seraiki-speaking people. Participants of rallies included Urdu, Sindhi-speaking and other nationalities, youths and people belonging to different religions and different schools of thoughts and a large number of enthusiastic women.
Referring to Saturday’s twin bomb blast that occurred outside the MQM election office, located adjacent to the party’s headquarters Nine Zero, he said that according to information, Urdu-speaking people who were either imparted lessons of extremism by Lashkare-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Taliban or they were bought and brainwashed were used in the blast and hence people belonging to all nationalities must remain alert.
Talking about the coming general elections, he appealed to the people to cast their votes to the Pakistan’s only party that represented poor and middle-class and the MQM would, Insha Allah, not disappoint them.
Terming MQM’s discipline exemplary in the entire world, the MQM chief said that Sindh being the soil of Sufis was a place where people could speak of love and peace but cannot create hatred and divide people on the basis of religion, sect, colour, cast and creed.
Referring to the speech of a leader of an extremist religious party made at an election rally held Karachi on Sunday in which he had said that Pakistan was not created for liberalism and the liberalism meant the slavery of America, Mr Hussain asked who had given him (leader of the religious party) the right of talking about Pakistan when his party had opposed the creation of Pakistan and had describe Pakistan as `Napakistan’ and Quaid-i-Azam as `Kafir-i-Azam’.
Asking the leader of the religious party whether liberalism meant slavery of America, he posed a question whether talking about humanity, religious harmony, religious tolerance, brotherhood, love and affection among provinces and enlightenment amounted to Americans’ slavery.
Referring to Islamic teachings, Mr Hussain said that the Islam is a religion of peace and it was clearly stated in the Holy Quran that whosoever kills a man he kills the entire humanity and, as such, those who have been murdering people with Kalashnikov and wanted to impose their ideology on gun point, were negating the teachings of Islam.
He said that liberal and enlightened personalities such as Quaid-i-Azam, Allama Mohammad Iqbal, G M Syed, always preached peace and love but under a conspiracy efforts were being made to bring right-wing and extremist religious parties, in power.
It was under a calculated move that the election rallies of democratic and progressive parties -- MQM, PPP and the ANP – were being bombed and their office-bearers, candidates, workers, women and innocent children were being killed mercilessly.
He appealed to the people to reject all those in the coming elections who wanted to impose their brand of Sharia.
Declaring that the terrorists through their acts of cowardice won’t be able to cow the MQM’s courage and the party would not withdraw from its democratic, constitutional and legal rights at any cost.
Cautioning the people of tall claims and empty slogans being made by those who had got written off their loans and plundered the national wealth, he hoped that the people would cast their vote in favour of MQM candidates as it was the only party that represented 98 per cent oppressed and suppressed people of the country.
Welcoming the participation of Hindus, Christians in the MQM rallies, Mr Hussain said that his party would continue its struggle for the rights of minorities.
Later, he announced the names of MQM candidates contesting the forthcoming elections from Tando Allahyar, Umer Kot and Thatta.
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