Pakistan belongs to the adherents of all faiths, creeds and schools of thought
Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has said that Pakistan does not belong to the followers of a single school of thought. Pakistan belongs to the adherents of all faiths and religious persuasions. He said that he was not supporting any particular jurisprudence or school of thought rather he was raising his voice against injustices. He declared that he was striving to foil the conspiracies to disintegrate Pakistan.
Mr Husain expressed these views while talking over the telephone to a delegation of Shia scholars and curators of various shrines of Multan and office-bearers of different organizations at the MQM Zone Office in Multan. The delegation had arrived to thank Mr Hussain for raising a strong voice against the brutal killings of the people belonging to the Shia community and for forging unity among the Muslims.
Mr Hussain said that he had always striven for building unity between the Shias and the Sunnis and had worked for sectarian harmony. When he was in Karachi, he used to visit every area during the month of Moharram in order to put an end to sectarian tensions. It was because of his ceaseless efforts spanning over many years that the Shia-Sunni strife in Karachi and Hyderabad had ceased to exist. This could be verified from the Ulema belonging to both the sects.
Mr Hussain said that he had consistently spoken forcefully against the killings of innocent people whenever there was bloodshed on the basis of sectarian differences. He further said that he had always struggled against the forces of evil and talked about unity among the Muslims. He said that his parents had advised him to stand behind the truth instead of getting influenced by the majority.
Mr Hussain said that it was because of the guidance from his parents that he started raising voice against the heartless massacre of the people belonging to the Shia community in Gilgit-Baltistan and Quetta after being pulled off from buses. He said that he had been speaking about it constantly without caring about the consequences, although he was himself a Sunni Muslim.
Mr Hussain asserted that he had proven by dint of historical facts that the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah belonged to the Khoja Twelver Shia sect and hence killing any Pakistani citizen on his being Shia was, in fact, killing the Quaid-i-Azam. He added that the killing of the Quaid-i-Azam was equal to killing Pakistan itself.
Mr Hussain declared that he was ready to be hanged if anyone could disprove the facts presented by him regarding the religious creed of the father of the nation. He stated that he would like to ensure all oppressed people in Pakistan that Altaf Hussain would raise his voice in their support whenever and wherever any act of injustice is done against them.
Mr Hussain said it was his foremost desire to infuse unity and solidarity among the Shias, the Sunnis and followers of different sects and creeds. Everyone should show tolerance to each other. Respect should be shown to the followers of other religions as well because Pakistan belongs to everyone.
Mr Hussain asked the Ulema to support the MQM for sectarian harmony and for the national security and integrity. He said that a gathering of religious scholars would be held at Nine Zero for promoting unity among Muslims. The worthy Ulema appreciated that efforts being made by Mr Hussain for bringing sectarian harmony and assured their full support.