Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain has said that a majority of the people of Pakistan do not have feelings of hatred and animosity towards India.
“They love the people of India and want friendship, peace and trade between the two countries to grow instead of pursuing hostilities,” he said while talking by phone at the Governor’s House in Karachi to Sampa Arya and Madhu Sharma, wives of two Indian hostages on the ship MV Suez, who were released from the captivity of Somali pirates.
Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Senior Minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haque, Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuro, human rights activist Ansar Burney, Citizens-Police Liaison Committee chief Ahmed Chinoy, ship captain Wasi’s daughter Laila, and provincial minister Dr Muhammad Ali Shah were present on the occasion.
Mr Altaf Hussain welcomed Arya and Sharma in Pakistan and congratulated them on the release of their husbands. He said that they had opened the doors of peace and love by coming to Pakistan.
The two Indian women thanked the MQM chief and the government of Pakistan for making untiring efforts for the release of the hostages on the ship. They described Hussain’s views as positive and said that efforts should be made for bringing the two countries closer. Mr Altaf Hussain said that it was his message for the people of India that Pakistan and India should be friends. “We should try to understand the problems of each other and help each other in mitigating those problems.”
He thanked President Asif Zardari, Governor Sindh Ebad, Burney and Chinoy for making efforts in getting the hostages freed from the captivity of the pirates. Senior Minister Pir Mazhar and Speaker Sindh Assembly Khuro also supported the views expressed by Hussain. They also congratulated Governor Ebad on playing a leading role in getting the hostages released. Governor Ebad and Chinoy thanked the MQM founder for encouragement and guidance.