Tag: MQM

The Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has said that the people of the Punjab particularly the younger generation and the students will have to come forward if Pakistan is to be cleansed of corruption, loot and plunder. “Awakening of the Punjab will be the awakening of Pakistan and the day the people of the Punjab rise, Pakistan will start moving ahead in the right direction.”

Mr Altaf Hussain said this while talking to a gathering of members of the Co-ordination Committee, Zonal Committee of MQM Lahore Zone, Provincial Committee, MQM parliamentarians, youngsters, elders and women at the Punjab House, the Central Office of the party in Lahore.

He praised the MQM workers, office-bearers, parliamentarians, students, women, elders and youngsters who have been working continuously for the public meeting being held on the 10^th April. He also congratulated all the workers in advance over the success of the upcoming public meeting.

He said that the younger generation plays a key role in the development and progress of any country and the students of Punjab studying in schools, colleges and universities will have to join in the struggle for making the country free from the taints of corruption and establishing a just and equitable system in the country. He hoped that the youths of the Punjab will work for making the public meeting on the 10^th April the largest in the history of the province.

He said that the role of women in the progress and prosperity of any country is of utmost importance. He praised the efforts being made by the women and girl students in the struggle of the MQM in the Punjab.

He deplored the comments made by an analyst in which he equated the collection of donations for the public meeting to extortion. He asked if there was no political organization in the country that does not collect voluntary donations from the public. He asked if the political parties in the United Kingdom not collect donations at the time of election. He further asked if the presidential candidate in the United States not collect donations for election fund in public meetings and gatherings. He asked if the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) not collect resources from the people in the event of any necessity.

He declared that no revolutionary movement in the world has succeeded without contributions from the public. He warned that it was the chauvinist analyst that spread venomous propaganda in the past and caused the secession of East Pakistan as Bangladesh and now the same prejudiced and myopic elements want to tear apart the remaining Pakistan.

He said that such vitriolic propaganda was made against the MQM in order to create a feeling of strong aversion against the MQM particularly in the Punjab but now the people of the Punjab have witnessed for themselves the struggle being made by the MQM and have understood that the allegations against the MQM are baseless.

He asked the MQM workers not to lose heart in the face of sharp criticism and their poisonous discussions. He said that we may belong to different religions, we may follow different schools of thought but we are linked together by the thread of Pakistan and our thoughts are nothing but Pakistani.

He said that we want to bring in a just and equitable system in the country in which all citizens are equal in the eyes of the law. He said that if there were an MQM government then it will work to end the division between the rich and poor and the menace of corruption, loot, plunder, crimes and flagrant injustices.

He said that the MQM government will ensure legal action against those who forced bonded labour of the bhatta mazdoors (kiln labourers) and women will be protected against inhuman treatment.

Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has said that the MQM wants peace and stability in Afghanistan. He said that the Afghans are our brotherly neighbours and the MQM has complete sympathies with them. He said this while talking on the telephone to a delegation of Afghan journalists and Pashtun students at the International Secretariat of the party in London. The delegation had come to thank Mr Hussain on his article about Afghanistan and the Pashtun people.

Mr Hussain said that the MQM wants peace and stability in Afghanistan so that the Afghan people could live a peaceful life and there is progress in prosperity in the country. The delegation told Mr Hussain that the forceful manner in which he had fought the case of the Pashtun people and had raised his voice against making the Pashtun people a victim of prejudicial treatment had won him the hearts of the Pashtun people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and in other parts of the world.

Mr Hussain told the delegation that he was fiercely against discriminating a nation based on regional bias and language. He said that all nations should be honoured and they must be treated on equal terms. He said that there was an indissoluble bond of friendship and brotherly relation between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The unbreakable relation between the two countries was a reality that could not be denied.

Mr Hussain said that the MQM wants peace and tranquillity in the South Asian region. It not only desires peace in Pakistan but also wants stability in Afghanistan. It was in the interest of the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan that the brotherly relations between the two countries were strengthened. The other countries of the region would also benefit from peaceful relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Mr Hussain said that we want to bring harmony in the relations among various ethnic groups and nationalities in Pakistan. The MQM wanted to bridge the gap between the Urdu-speaking people and the Pashtuns in Pakistan.  The MQM sought to establish unity and brotherly relations between the Urdu-speaking and the Pashtuns by foiling the conspiracies to drive a wedge between the two communities. The members of the delegations fully agreed with the views of Mr Hussain and assured their full co-operation promoting peace, stability and brotherly relations.

Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has said that it was the democratic right of the opposition to disagree and protest with the policies of the government, but the opposition must not take any action that could undermine the democratic process. He said this in a meeting with the Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik in London. Members of the MQM Co-ordination Committee in London Saleem Shahzad, Tariq Mir, Asif Siddiqui and Mustafa Azizabadi were also present in the meeting.

Mr Rehman Malik gave a letter to Mr Hussain containing good will message from President Asif Ali Zardari. He thanked Mr Hussain for his co-operation in strengthening the democratic process in the country. Mr Hussain welcomed the good-will message of the president and expressed his best wishes for him.

Mr Hussain said that the establishment of the rule of law, system of justice, eradication of nepotism, and taking decisions on merit had always been the foremost priorities of the MQM. The MQM believes that the key to the progress and prosperity of the country lies in democracy. He declared that the MQM would continue to work with the PPP and its allied parties for continuation of democracy. The MQM would not grudge any sacrifice for this purpose.

Mr Hussain appealed to the political parties to desist from such protests that could threaten democracy as it would not only derail the democratic process, but also it would bring a bad name to the country internationally. The opposition parties must wait for their turn and contest the scheduled elections vigorously. 

Mr Hussain emphasized upon the government to constitute an Election Commission that enjoyed the trust of all political parties. The election commission should take every possible step for holding free and fair elections in the country.

Mr Hussain also stressed upon effective actions to improve the performance of national institutions and for relieving problems of load shedding and shortage of natural gas. The government should also work sincerely for bringing down inflation and solving other basic problems of the common people.

Mr Hussain praised Mr Malik for his active role in countering terrorism and for bringing peace.

Mr Malik said that the role of Mr Hussain was vital for the promotion of democracy, strengthening of democratic institutions and for bringing peace and tranquillity in Karachi. He said that the PPP government valued the role of the MQM for its role in establishing peace in Karachi.

Mr Malik said that the alliance between the MQM and the PPP was natural. Efforts were made to sabotage this alliance but the foresight of Mr Hussain and President Zardari had foiled all conspiracies.

Mr Malik said that he personally wanted to thank Mr Hussain for his full support to the government for the targeted operation in Karachi against the criminal elements. He said that Mr Hussain had always asked for across the board action against the criminal elements irrespective of their party affiliations and that no political pressure should be tolerated in this regard in order to restore peace in Karachi.

Fateha was offered for the soul of Mrs Nusrat Bhutto and her services for democracy in the country were richly praised.

The Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has appealed to the people of the Punjab to support the cause of truth by participating in the public meeting held by the MQM on the 10^th April. He said that the people of the Punjab should demonstrate through their unity that they want to break the status quo and bring to an end the decaying feudal system and rampant corruption.

In a video message to the people of the Punjab he deplored the dynastic political culture in the country that empowers a few families only while the common people always remain outside watching the game of power. He declared that Pakistan belongs to the 180 million people of the country instead of a coterie of a few families. He said that the people of the Punjab should make it clear by participating in the public meeting at Qaddafi Stadium that they do not end dynastic politics, corruption, loot, unemployment and that they want peace and tranquility.

He appealed to the people of the Punjab to support him not for the MQM but for Pakistan. He expressed his desire to save the country by establishing a just and equitable system in which all people will enjoy equal rights. He said that he wants to lay the foundation of a system in which there is no poverty, unemployment and the law does not discriminate between the rich and the poor.

He particularly addressed the younger generation and said that the youths had been the vanguard of every revolution in the world so the youths of the Punjab particularly the students should strengthen hands of the MQM in its struggle for bringing prosperity and stability in the country.

Addressing the women he said that no revolutionary struggle can succeed without the participation of women and exhorted the women and girl students of the Punjab to come forward and join the MQM in its struggle.

Respected elders, mothers, sisters, youths, students, leaders of various political parties, workers, analysts, columnists, journalists, all the people who are gathered here  and all those who are listening to my voice across the length and breadth of Pakistan on television, to all of them I say Assalam-o-Alaikum.

Do you want to see Pakistan a prosperous country and bring positive changes in the country? Do you want to make Pakistan free from all types of oppression and eradicate corruption? If the answer to these questions is in the affirmative then you should give clear message to the world powers that we are united. The revolution of the poor and middle class people has become the fate of the country and now we will not take dictation from any foreign power.

I want to show the discipline of the people of Pakistan to the world powers instead of the Pakistani politicians and the political parties. I want to tell them that the people of Pakistan are honourable and disciplined so that they may not dare to cast an evil eye on our country and carry out drone strikes. Those who say that the MQM will take a long time to establish in the Punjab should see for themselves as to who do the people of the Punjab support. I shall call 1, 2 and 3 and you should maintain complete silence.

(The participants display a deep silence and exemplary discipline after the call of 1, 2 and 3)

You have demonstrated by exhibiting the traditional discipline of the MQM that the MQM and Altaf Hussain have arrived in the Punjab. The public revolution of poor and middle class cannot be stopped by any world power including the Pakistani Establishment. I was always stopped from entering in the politics of the Punjab but today the MQM and Altaf Hussain have taken the Punjab by storm.

The younger generation of the Punjab particularly the students should listen to me attentively so that they are able to inform their fellow students as to what does MQM and Altaf Hussain stand for. You should know that whenever the oppressed and downtrodden segments of a country get united a revolution comes and the students become the vanguard of that revolution.

You should have listened to big leaders but I am not a leader like other traditional leaders. I am one of you. I obtained my primary education in a government school sitting on a worn-out carpet. I did my matriculation from a government school. I used to travel to school, college and university by bus like other ordinary people. I worked hard and collected money for my education.

I know the problems of the poor people because I have myself faced those problems. I have seen poverty with my own eyes. I know that people have to stand in long queues at government hospitals for medication and I know that they have to wait for long period of time in order to get a date for operation in a government hospital.

I know how difficult it becomes for a poor person to provide for all the members of his family. I know this all because I myself was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. It is because of this that I am making practical efforts for the rights of the poor and middle class people of the country.

It was because of my struggle for the rights of the poor people that all sorts of baseless allegations were made against me and the MQM and I was not allowed to come in the Punjab. I was accused of treason and it was said that I was an enemy of Punjabis, Sindhis and Baluchis. I am not an enemy of anyone. I am only against the feudal lords who have robbed the national exchequer and the tribal chiefs who subject their feudaries to cruelty.

I am saddened by the fact that our foreign policies are dictated by foreign powers despite the fact that we are an independent country and free nation. What sort of freedom is this? What type of self-government and autonomy is this? Hundreds of innocent people are killed in drone strikes.

I want to make Pakistan so strong that no one is able to cross our borders without our permission. If a country intervenes on the basis of brute force then we must stand up and say that we are prepared to die an honourable death rather than suffer the loss of honour. We must tell them that we are not prepared to live the life of ignominy any longer. 

Every now and then we have to seek financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other donor agencies. We want to make Pakistan an economically sound country so that we are able to help other countries instead of seeking help ourselves.

I speak straight unlike leaders of other political parties who speak evasively in ambiguous manner. I can assure you that the MQM will translate into actions what it says. If we are stopped from implementing our revolutionary political programme and our path is obstructed from the powers that be in the country, then we will not hesitate even for a single day and come out of power.

The MQM does not want a bloody revolution in the country. We want to bring a peaceful public revolution through democratic means. If the people of Pakistan bring the MQM in power, then the MQM will introduce positive amendments in the constitution that will be beneficial for the people of the country by and large.

Education up to matriculation level will be made compulsory and students will be given books free of cost. Legislation will be done to provide for actions against those parents who will force their children to work instead of sending them to schools. The course of education will be the same for the rich and the poor. Double standards in the education system will be abolished

MQM will make Pakistan a truly democratic country by bringing to an end the decaying feudal system. Amendments will be made in the constitution to check uncontrolled capitalism.

An independent foreign policy of Pakistan will be made that will reflect our sovereignty and autonomy. Drone strikes in the country and foreign intervention in domestic affairs will end. No dictation will be taken from any foreign power.

Practice of taking huge loans from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other donor agencies will discontinue and policies will be made for the economic uplift of the people and the country. Unemployment will be reduced to a minimum level by setting up a network of cottage industries in the country. Small loans will be provided on easy terms in order to setup small industries and factories. Unemployed youths will be given subsistence allowance. Salaries of the government employees will also be increased. Financial resources for all these works will be made available by confiscating the properties that have been made through ill-gotten money by availing huge loans from national exchequer and getting them written-off illegally. All the wealth stashed in foreign bank accounts that has been looted from the national exchequer will be brought back in the country.

The country will be transformed into a truly democratic Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the light of the revolutionary ideals of the Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal where Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, Parsees and other non-Muslim Pakistanis will have equal rights as the Muslim Pakistanis.

Women make up 51 per cent of the population of Pakistan. MQM will abolish all black laws that are the source of discrimination against women. Every type of discrimination against women will be brought to an end. Karo-kari, watta satta, vani, marriage with the Quran and honour-killing will be banned.

Cruelty to kiln labourers (bhatta mazdoors) and forced labour will be eliminated. Child labour will be banned and laws will be enacted against getting hard labours from the children.

Budget of the health sector will be increased considerably in order to provide better healthcare facilities to the poor people. Dispensaries and maternity homes will be built in small villages and town. Funds will be allocated for building big hospitals in villages.

An institution for across the board accountability will be formed that will be composed of persons of unembellished characters. Only the God-fearing people who have been earning their livelihood through honest means will be inducted in this institution. Once this institution is established fierce accountability will be done irrespective of party affiliations. Whether it is the MQM minister or member of the assembly or a public representative of any other political party, all will have to face accountability. Courts will also be made independent and autonomous.

The wishes of the people for formation of new provinces in the country will be decided according to their wishes and aspiration by holding referendums. Grievances of the people of southern Punjab will be removed by carrying out development works. Industries and hospitals will be built in southern Punjab.

The Kashmir dispute will be resolved honourably according to the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir once and for all during the MQM government.

Dynastic political culture will cease to exist and laws will be formulated against those who oppress labourers, peasants, farmers, workers so that no feudal lord could treat poor farmers and tenants with cruelty. Estates of the feudal lords will be brought to an end and a limit will be placed on the maximum landholdings in the country. The extra land available after the reforms will be distributed among poor farmers.

I say to the people of the Punjab to force the present federal and provincial government to solve the Baluchistan issue by dialogue and by embracing the Baluchi people instead of using power. MQM is ready to play its unconditional role for removing the grievances of the people of Baluchistan and for keeping them within Pakistan.

Industries in the country are shut due to the load-shedding of natural gas and electricity. We will make a workable distribution system of energy in order to stop the load-shedding of gas and electricity.

The MQM believes in the freedom of the press and media. The curbs and restrictions against the media must be lifted immediately. The government should lift bans on GEO Super and Aag TV. The MQM will announce the wage board soon after coming in power and will the journalists their due rights.

If the people of the Punjab want to change their fate and the fate of the country then they should grasp the hand of Altaf Hussain.

There are members of assemblies and senators of the MQM but there are no feudal lords in the MQM. If the MQM can bring educated an able people from Sindh in the assemblies then the MQM can send the educated, honest, upright and able people from the Punjab to the corridors of power as well. This can be done of the people of the Punjab promise to help their brother Altaf Hussain.

I want to tell the feudal lords of the Punjab that the followers of Altaf Hussain cannot be cowed down by their oppression and cruelty.

We will eradicate street crimes and legislation will be done at the federal and provincial level to provide harsh punishments against the heinous crimes of kidnappings for ransom and extortions. We will protect the younger generation who are the future of the country by strong action against drugs and narcotics.

I salute to the workers and office-bearers of Lahore and other districts of the Punjab who worked day and night in order to make this public meeting a huge success. I also pay tributes to the members of the Co-ordination Committee, office-bearers of various wings of the MQM, parliamentarians who guided their fellow workers of the Punjab. I also praise the efforts of the women who worked for this public meeting because no revolution can succeed without the participation of women.

The workers and office-bearers of the MQM should play their role in spreading the message of the MQM in the villages of the Punjab with renewed determination and spirit. They should work tirelessly so that at the time of elections when results are announced, the MQM candidates become victorious from every district of the Punjab.

May Allah help us and shower his blessings on us for our noble efforts. May Allah protect Pakistan for ever.

Despite the arrest of target killers by the Sindh Government and the accusation by former Provincial Home Minister Zulfikar Mirza and holding their coalition party largely responsible for the incidents of target killings, the records of the last two years and past three months indicate that it is mostly the workers of the Muttahida Quami Movement who have fallen victim to the incidents of target killings in Karachi. During this period 165 workers and sympathizers of the MQM were made victims of the target killings and after this is the number of Muhajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) whose 96 workers became victim of barbarity. While in the same period 68 PPP workers and 66 workers of ANP fell victim of target killings.

According to the figures separately released by the Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) and Ministry of Interior 31 workers of Muttahida Quami Movement died in the incidents of target killings whereas 16 workers of PPP, 10 of ANP, 4 of Muhajir Quami Movement (Haqiqi), 4 of Sipah-e-Sahaba, 6 of Sunni Tehreek, one of PML – N, 1 of PPI and 1 Shiite, making a total of 83 people became victim of target killings in the months of January, February and March.

Dr Kaleem Shaikh, who is presently posted as the Senior Medico Legal Officer at the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre, has confirmed that the target killers become very ruthless while attacking their victims directly hitting in the head and the face due to which sometimes even the identification process becomes very difficult and looking at the victim is a ghastly sight.

According to the CPLC sources 63 workers of the Muttahida Quami Movement were made victims of target killing in 2009 while 52 workers of Muhajir Qaumi Movement were targeted. While in the same whole year 8 ANP workers and 20 PPP workers became victims of the killers. In 2009 nine workers of Sipah-e-Sahaba, 2 of Sunni Tehreek, Muslim League Nawaz 2, Muslim League Functional 1 and 1 worker of Shaheed Bhutto group were murdered. This figure rose to 269 in the year 2010. In this whole year 31 workers and sympathizers of the Muttahida Quami Movement were killed. After the MQM second number is of ANP whose 48 workers were targeted while 40 workers of Muhajir Qaumi Movement and 32 workers of PPP were killed.

After this the second largest bloodshed occurred between Sipaha-e-Sahaba and Shiite organizations in which 33 workers of Sipah-e-Sahaba and 21 Shiite workers were killed. 8 workers of Sunni Tehreek, 4 of PPI, 1 of Muslim League Functional, 1 of Muslim League Nawaz, 1 of Muslim League (Q), 3 of Shaheed Bhutto group and 3 workers of Jamat-e-Islami also fell victims of the killers.

Likewise 83 people were killed in the incidents of target killings in the first three months of 2011 which includes 31 workers from the Muttahida Quami Movement, 16 from PPP, 10 from ANP and four from Muhajir Qaumi Movement. Aside from this 1 worker of Muslim League Nawaz, 1 Shiite, 4 of Sipah-e-Sahaba, 6 of Sunni Tehreek, and 1 worker of PPI were killed in incidents of target killings.

Year 2003 of Pervez Musharraf rule is said to be the ideal year in terms of general incidents of killings in which only 76 people were killed throughout the year. This figure also includes murders due to personal enmity and incidents of karo-kari. While in the year 1999 when Pervez Musharraf assumed power 85 people were killed, 84 people were killed in the year 2000, 107 people were killed in the year 2001 and 87 people were killed in the year 2002. The incidents of killings started increasing in the year 2004 and 163 people were killed in the entire year. This figure reached 130 in the year 2005, 278 in the year 2006 and 334 in the year 2007.

There was an alarming increase in this figure in 2008 after the Peoples Party came into power and the figure spiked to 777.  In the year 2009 the figure rose to 801 people and in the year 2010 a total of 1339 people were made victims of target killings.

In the second government of the Peoples Party 813 people were killed in the year 1994 and 1742 people in the year 1995 during the operation that started against the Muttahida Quami Movement in Karachi. This includes the extra-judicial murders as well.

The year 2010 was a very difficult year in terms crimes of kidnappings of ransom besides incidents of target killings, murders and mayhem. During the entire year 112 people were kidnapped out of which the police were successful in recovering only 22 victims. The police could arrest or disband only 19 gangs involved in the crime.

In the first three months of the year 2011 so far 26 people have been kidnapped and the police have been successful in recovering only four people and arresting four gangs involved in the crime of kidnapping for ransom. The years 1992, 1996 and 2000 were the ideal for the people of Karachi in which the crimes of kidnappings for ransom were the lowest. According to the figures of the CPLS only 8, 9 and 5 incidents of kidnappings for ransom occurred in each year respectively.

The Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has said that the future in Azad Jammu and Kashmir belongs to the MQM. The time was not far when there would be an MQM government in Kashmir and the Kashmir dispute lying on the backburner for the past 63 years would also be settled. Time had come for the people of Kashmir to reject the political parties that had been tested again and again and to turn down rich politicians indulging in dynastic politics. He was addressing a big election meeting in the capital Muzaffarabad of Azad Kashmir.

He asked the Kashmir people to support the MQM and make its candidates successful in the elections. The present government was putting undemocratic pressure on the MQM regarding the elections but he asserted that the MQM would not submit before the government or any other power. The struggle would continue.

Speaking about the Kashmir dispute Mr Hussain said that it was unfortunate that the Kashmir dispute was divided between India and Pakistan while Kashmiri people were facing problems and hardships. Kashmiri families were torn between Azad Kashmir and Held Kashmir and they did not have facilities to meet with each other.

He said that the nature had endowed Kashmir with an abundant supply of natural resources. Kashmiri people were giving sacrifices for the freedom but it was irony of the fate that they were deprived of full freedom because of callousness of the governments and political parties in India and Pakistan. The rulers of India and Pakistan used the Kashmir people as a political football and did not pay attention towards solving problems of the Kashmiri people.

He said that it was with the grace of Allah that the MQM had come to Kashmir. People were joining the MQM in large numbers. The public meeting in Muzaffarabad was a pointer to the fact the future in Kashmir belonged to the MQM.

He said that the Kashmir dispute would be resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people and not according to the whims of rulers and politicians in India and Pakistan. The decision about the better future for the coming generations of Kashmir people should belong to the Kashmir people alone but this fundamental right had always been denied to them. He made fervent appeal to the rulers and the Establishments of India and Pakistan not to make the Kashmir people a victim of their enmity. The Kashmiri people should be given the right to carve their destiny themselves.

He asked the Indian government to stop military action and desist from using state power in the Held Kashmir. The Indian army should be stopped from killing innocent Kashmir people and from desecrating Kashmiri women. The Kashmiri people should be given the right of self-determination according to the resolutions of the United Nations.

He regretted that the political parties of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir exploited the Kashmir dispute for their personal gains and for promoting dynastic politics and the real problems were not given due attention. He asked the people to tell for themselves as to which political party arrived in Kashmir soon after the catastrophic earthquake in 2005 when bodies were strewn in the streets and people were trapped under the debris. The people replied that it was the MQM.

He lamented that the MQM was portrayed as the enemy of the Kashmiri, Baluchi, Pashtun, and the Punjabi people. But when the earthquake struck Khyber Pakhtoonkhwah and the floods came it was the MQM that arrived there for providing relief. When the famine struck in Baluchistan it was the MQM that arrived for helping the people. Similarly it was the MQM that came to the help of the people of the Punjab after the devastating floods. He asked how can those who cast aside their comfort for helping the people in the time of need be their enemy.

Addressing the Kashmir people he asked them to reject the political parties that had been tested time and again and support the party that stood by them in the hour of need. He asked them to make the MQM candidates successful in the elections.

He said that the MQM was not a party of the feudal lords. It was a party of the poor and middle class people. The MQM did not want to change the borders of the country. It only wanted to change the decayed political system of the country and empower the poor and middle class people. The MQM had not only raised slogans for the rights of the common people but also actually sent them in the assemblies.

He said that the MQM never sold party tickets at the time of election. The tickets were always given to the sacrificing and competent persons. The MQM sent common people in the corridors of power and brought them at par with the big landlords. This was frowned upon by the ruling elite and the Establishment. A worst operation was started by the state against the MQM during which thousands of the MQM workers were martyred and injured and thousands other were arrested, displaced and forced to go in exile.

He said that no one could understand the sufferings of the Kashmir people better than the MQM. We remained steadfast in the face of hardships and unending vitriolic propaganda unleashed against us. It was because of our patience that the MQM had reached Kashmir. He asked the Kashmiri people to spread the message of the MQM if they wanted to bring a change in their fate.

He said that despite the fact that we were coalition partner in the present government at the federal and provincial level yet it was trying to browbeat us in the coming election. He asserted that we would not submit before undemocratic tactics and manoeuvrings. He asked the Kashmir people to rise above divisive tendencies and get united for their rights.

He said that the people affected by the Mangla Dam Raising Project would be given alternate land. He promised that a transparent audit will be done of the funds collected after the earthquake of 2005. Residential colonies will be made for Kashmiri migrants and they would be given Rs 1500 – 2000 as allowance. Kashmir would also get royalty from the electricity generated at Mangla Dam like Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Roads and infrastructure presently in very bad shape would be improved. He promised the construction of two way roads if the MQM formed government in Azad Kashmir. He said that steps would be taken to generate employment.

Members of provincial assembly of Sindh belonging to Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) have expressed their deep concerns at the closure of offices by Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and the suspension of operations. The MPAs said that the citizens of Karachi were bearing the brunt of the unending dispute between the KESC management and the labour union. In a joint statement the MPAs said that the lives of the common people had already become miserable due to prolonged power outages and unannounced load-shedding. Business activities were also suffering greatly in the absence of normal power supply.

The MPAs said that the installations of the KESC and its staff were not being given protection despite the orders of the Sindh High Court. They said that the criminal negligence of the KESC had worsened the electricity crises to such an extent that people had to go without electricity for long hours at a stretch. Water crisis had also developed in several areas because of unavailability of power at the pumping stations. People had been forced to come out on street because of the agony that they were facing.

The MPAs said that because of the protest of the KESC the faults were also not being removed that has compounded the problem. They demanded of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, and Provincial Home Minister Manzoor Wassan to take immediate notice of the closing of offices by the KESC. The MPAs said that the government should provide security to the KESC and its staff and take concrete steps for the solution of the dispute between the management and labour union.

ADDRESS ON THE 27^TH FOUNDATION DAY OF MQM

The Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement Mr Altaf Hussain has said that the coming time is the time of revolution and MQM will emerge as the largest political party in the days ahead and bring revolution in the country. He was addressing huge gatherings of MQM workers and supporters at 34 different locations including USA and Canada.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that MQM will free the country from IMF and its debts and from the influence of the United States and other foreign powers. He said that MQM will make friendship with foreign countries but it will not allow any country to become our masters. Our friendship will be on the principle of equality.

“MQM will make Pakistan a sovereign and autonomous country where there will be rule of law. It will make Pakistan into a country where there will not be any difference between rich and poor and where no one will have any superiority as enshrined in the Last Sermon of the Holy Prophet.”

Speaking about Raymond Davis and Dr Aafia he said if there were an MQM government, Dr Aafia would not have been in the captivity of the United States. “MQM would not have allowed the release of US spy Raymond Davis who had killed people in Lahore if Dr Afia would not have been released.”

“I say to the US Government that you have given blood money for the release of Raymond Davis. By the same token those innocent people who have been killed in drone strikes in North Waziristan and other parts of the tribal areas must also get compensation. I appeal to you to release Dr Aafia on moral grounds”

Referring to the drone strikes in the tribal areas of the country he said that innocent people are being killed in these drone strikes. “Geographical limits of every country must be protected under the Charter of United Nation. Are the drone strikes according to the UN Charter?”

Speaking about the current political and economic situation in the country he said that our condition was worse than those of beggars. “All this because we continue to elect the same people who did nothing but aggrandize personal wealth through ill-gotten money and emptied the national exchequer. We continue to elect those who availed huge loans and got them written-off.”

“I say to the people to vote for MQM and I can assure that we will sell the properties of those who have taken huge loans and got them written-off. We will recover every single penny and deposit it in the national exchequer.”

“I ask the people of Pakistan why you keep running after the same political parties and leaders who have been tested time and again. If you keep on electing these parties and leaders there would be unemployment, people will be forced to sell their children due to poverty and commit suicide.”

“Do you want honour or servitude? If you want to live with honour then you must elect MQM and people belonging to the 98 per cent poor and middle class. You will have to elect those who qualify on merit. This is the only way to make a turnaround.”

Speaking about the threats and intimidation by foreign powers he asked the government and the armed forces to pluck up courage and be assured that every Pakistani will stand behind you. MQM will raise a force of one million youth if a need arises to confront any super power.

Referring to religious extremism he said the MQM wants harmony and not extremism. “This country belongs to the Sunnis, Shiites, and even minorities. MQM wants every type of moderation in the lights of the teachings of the Holy Quran which says that there is no compulsion in religion. MQM demands equal rights for the minorities in the country. It also wants equal rights for the women.”

Speaking about the shortfall in electricity and gas supply he said that the tariff of gas and electricity have been increased irrationally by the imposition of different types of taxes. He said that the income of the big feudal lords and industrialists should be taxed instead of burdening the people beyond their capacity.

“We sided with the United States in the cold war between the United States and the Russia. I say to the US Government that you should support Pakistan in every possible manner because we stood by you when you needed us.”

He said that if MQM forms government then it will make friends with India, China and Afghanistan and the Kashmir dispute will be resolved according to the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir. “We do not want war with India. I want to say to the Indian government that we recognize you. You should likewise accept Pakistan with an open heart.”

Referring to the demand or provinces by the people of Hazard and Southern Punjab he said that MQM supports that the demand of the majority of the people. “When I spoke about the formation of provinces earlier some nationalists said that Altaf Hussain wanted to divide Sindh. I want to make it clear that MQM wants to keep Sindh intact. We do not want to create any division. We want to live like brothers.”

Referring to the situation in Baluchistan he said, “I appeal to the government, military and other agencies to solve the Baluchistan issue through negotiations and give rights to the people of Baluchistan. Embrace the Baluchi people and stop all kinds of military operations.”

Referring about the jails being operated by the feudal lords he said, “I say to the farmers and peasants of the Sindh and Punjab that these feudal lords imprison you in their personal jails and abuse your women. Support MQM and these feudal lords will be given such punishment that they will become admonishment for others.”

Speaking about judiciary he requested the honourable judges of the sessions court, high courts and the Supreme Court to pursue the cases of poor and helpless people as well besides deciding the cases of the rich people quickly. People are languishing in jail and have spent even more time behind the bars then they could have possibly been sentenced.

Referring about karo-kari and killing of innocent women in the name of honour, he said that MQM will make laws to given exemplary punishment to these heinous crimes.

He asked the people to work with dedication and honesty and learn from the progress made by China.

Earlier reminiscing about the long history of MQM took off as Muhajir Quami Movement 27 years ago on 18^th March 1984. “No one could have imagined that the organization that originated in the student organization APMSO would transform into a public organization and would spread even in the far flung corners of the country.

Mr Altaf Hussain congratulated members of the Co-ordination Committee, office bearers of all the wings of MQM, workers and general public on the happy occasion of the 27^th Foundation Day of the party.

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The Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement Mr Altaf Hussain has said that the responsibility for releasing the American spy Raymond Davis rests with the Punjab Government because Raymond Davis killed Pakistanis in Lahore and hence the prosecution belonged to the Punjab Government. He said that if Raymond Davis could be released under the Sharia law of Diyat by paying blood money and the court orders then the US Government should pay the blood money to the family members of the people killed in the drone strikes in North Waziristan. He was addressing a large number of MQM workers who had gathered in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Nawab Shah, Tando Allahyar, Sanghar, and Jamshoro for renewing their pledge on the 27^th Foundation Day of MQM.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that the MQM was founded on the 18^th March and the sum of 1 and 8 is 9 which is the largest number in numerology. He said that the MQM will emerge as the largest political party in the coming days as today is the 27^th Foundation Day and the sum of 2 and 7 is also 9.

Referring to Dr Aafia Siddiqui Mr Altaf Hussain said that she did not murder anyone but if the US Government needs blood money under the law of Diyat for her release then the 180 million people of Pakistan would contribute whatever they can and give 180 million rupees for the her release.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that the ruling party of the Punjab levels criticism at me as to why I live out of the country. He said that he has never said anything to discredit the national honour and self-esteem of the country but whether it is the issue of Raymond Davis or any other important issue the rulers of the Punjab always flee the country in order to elude their responsibility.

Mr Altaf Hussain asked why the responsible people in the Punjab Government did not lead the case to effective conclusion. He asked why the Chief Minister of the Punjab left the country for meeting his elder brother the very day the case was decided.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that is the responsibility of every Pakistani to think deeply as to why our rulers are weak and subservient to the US Government instead of foisting the responsibility for the release of Raymond Davis on the ISI, the Judiciary and the Government. He said that the government is weak because we have been voting for these rulers time and again. He said that every Pakistani must decide about voting for the MQM instead of bringing to power the tested politicians.

He said that tfoisthe United States should take heed that that the time those who have been returning to power by the game of musical chairs is coming to an end and the coming time belonged to the honourable Pakistanis of unimpeachable integrity. He paid homage to the martyrs and prayed Allah to give courage and determination to MQM workers.