A Call for Introspection: The Future of Pakistan Hangs in the Balance Statement on #JaffarExpressAttack
#jaffar_express
March 11, 2025
I implore the ruling authorities of #Pakistan to abandon the path of war and bloodshed and instead initiate purposeful, result-oriented negotiations with the #Baloch resistance fighters. The time for dialogue is now—before more innocent lives are lost and the chasm of conflict deepens beyond repair.
In the landscape of Pakistan’s political history, I stand as a singular anomaly—one who did not inherit power through dynastic privilege, feudal lineage, capitalist wealth, or religious patronage. My journey in politics was not scripted by legacy but shaped by struggle, rooted in the aspirations of the lower-middle class to which I belonged.
I embarked on this arduous path through student activism, striving with an unwavering commitment to give voice to the marginalized. With relentless effort, I laid the foundation of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), which later evolved into the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Through democratic participation, MQM rose to prominence, emerging as the third-largest political force in Pakistan and the second-largest in Sindh.
For someone from an impoverished or middle-class background to attain such political stature in Pakistan was once deemed inconceivable. Yet, by the grace of Almighty Allah, I defied those odds. Successive regimes have unleashed state machinery against me, employing oppressive crackdowns and terrifying military operations, yet they have failed to erase my bond with the people. Today, by divine favor, millions still hold me in their hearts, not merely as a leader but as the embodiment of an ideology, "Realism and Practicalism." My political journey now spans 46 years, and even now, I remain resolute in my ability to contribute towards ending the turmoil that grips our nation.
For years, I have consistently urged both civilian and military rulers to cease the ruthless suppression of Balochistan’s people. The use of brute force to silence their genuine grievances is a perilous miscalculation. History has shown that when oppression crosses its limits, protests evolve into full-fledged resistance, and resistance, when cornered, leads to a "Point of No Return." That moment, which I have long warned against, is now unfolding before our very eyes.
Today, following a series of insurgent attacks, Baloch fighters have seized control of the Jaffar Express, a train bound from Quetta to Peshawar. According to media reports, the majority of passengers onboard are government employees, including military personnel. This is not merely an incident; it is a resounding signal of a crisis that has reached an alarming threshold.
To the people of Pakistan and, more importantly, to those who wield power, I make this final plea—there is still a window of opportunity to choose diplomacy over destruction. There is still time to engage in earnest dialogue with those who resist, rather than escalating a war that will only claim more human lives. If this moment is squandered, the consequences will be irreversible.
For now, all that remains within my reach is prayer—and I continue to pray, day and night, for peace and sanity to prevail.
Altaf Hussain
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