JAFFAR EXPRESS HIJACKING SPARKS NATIONAL DEBATE: ALTAF HUSSAIN URGES ACTION
LONDON. [UK]. (PR) - March 11: The recent hijacking of the Jaffar Express by Baloch insurgents has once again brought the longstanding conflict in Balochistan into the spotlight.
Addressing the incident in his 221st speech via TikTok, MQM founder & leader Altaf Hussain called it a wake-up call for the ruling establishment and the people of Punjab, urging them to acknowledge the crisis before it was too late.
Hussain emphasised that the hijacking was not an isolated event but a direct consequence of decades of oppression and injustices faced by the Baloch people.
He warned that the armed resistance has now extended beyond Baloch men, with Baloch women actively joining the struggle, signaling a critical turning point in the conflict.
Tbe MQM Supremo Altaf Hussain argued that military force has never been an effective solution to suppress resistance movements.
He cited examples such as the Vietnam War and the fall of the Soviet Union, asserting that brute force only fuels further unrest rather than resolving deep-seated issues.
Addressing the people of Punjab, Hussain warned them of the dire consequences of remaining silent. "Time is running out," he said. "If you do not act now, soon you will have nothing left but prayers for the departed."
He criticised the Pakistani government’s handling of the crisis, accusing authorities of focusing on arrests, enforced disappearances, and election rigging rather than addressing the real grievances of the Baloch people.
Raising a thought-provoking question, he asked, "How would you feel if your loved ones were arrested simply because authorities couldn’t find the actual suspect? If your family members were tortured for crimes they didn’t commit?"
He alleged that, just like in 1971, when misleading narratives were spread in West Pakistan while the military surrendered in East Pakistan, a similar misinformation campaign is being run today.
He claimed that Baloch insurgents did not harm civilians and had actually released the hostages, but the media was distorting the truth to mislead the public.
In a strong statement, Hussain reiterated that Balochistan was never originally part of Pakistan and was forcibly annexed. He pointed out that before 1947, Balochistan had its own government, assembly, and currency. However, after being forcefully merged, it has been systematically deprived of its resources, rights, and autonomy, fueling the ongoing separatist movement.
"When I speak the truth, I am labeled a traitor and a threat to the state," he said, adding that his attempts to mediate peace through discussions with Pakistan’s military generals were ignored.
He recalled his strong ties with Nawab Akbar Bugti and his meetings with Sardar Ataullah Mengal and Mahmood Khan Achakzai, where they discussed peaceful solutions for Balochistan.
However, he lamented that military operations were prioritized over dialogue, leading to the current state of turmoil.
In his concluding remarks, he addressed Pakistan’s youth, urging them to take charge of the country’s future. "This is your time to stand up, take responsibility, and fight for justice," he declared.
He also asked the people to read his book, "The Balochistan Issue – In the Mirror of History" which is now available in PDF format, to gain a deeper understanding of the region's history and struggle.
As tensions in Balochistan continue to escalate, Hussain’s speech adds to the growing debate on Pakistan’s internal conflicts. With insurgents gaining ground and government crackdowns increasing, the situation remains highly volatile.