GOVERNMENT MUST STOP ARMY OPERATION IN BALOCHISTAN BY 13^TH. JANUARY 2006 OR ELSE MUTTAHIDA QUAMI MOVEMENT (MQM) WILL QUIT THE GOVERNMENT IN PROTEST ON 14^TH. JANUARY 2006 – MQM CENTRAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

London – 8th January 2006--The Central Co-ordination Committee (Rabita Committee) of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has after an extraordinary marathon meeting has demanded of the Federal Government to stop the on-going Army Operation in Baluchistan forthwith and if by 13 January 2006 this Army Operation is not stopped then the MQM will have no choice but to quit the Government both in the Centre and province in protest on 14 January 2006. The meeting was held simultaneously at MQM Head Office Nine Zero in Azizabad Karachi and International Secretariat in London. MQM Convenor Dr Imran Farooq chaired the session.

Mr Altaf Hussain, founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has ratified the decision of the Central Co-ordination Committee. Explaining its decision, Members of the Central Co-ordination Committee said that being the coalition partner in the Federal and Provincial Governments, the MQM Founder Leader Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Convenor Dr Imran Farooq and other Members of MQM Central Coordination Committee tried their level best and held dialogues giving reasons and rationale to the concerned authorities including the President and Prime Minister not to launch an Army Operation in Balochistan and not to persist on the construction of the Kalabagh Dam against the will and wish of the people of Sindh but it went in-vain. The Session also confirmed that the MQM has previously announced that if an army operation will be launched in Balochistan then the MQM will quit the Government.

The Members of the Central Co-ordination Committee stated that it is sad that as a result of the bombardment innocent Baloch men, women and children have been massacred. The Session also concluded that like the Balochistan Issue, the MQM Founder Leader Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Convenor Dr Imran Farooq and other Members of Coordination Committee being the coalition partner held dialogues with the President General Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other high officials and tried to convince them not to persist on constructing the Kalabagh Dam against the will and wish of the people of Sindh.

MQM has therefore decided that in this scenario it does not remain feasible for the MQM to remain part of the Government. Keeping in view the entire scenario, the MQM has decided that it will quit the Central and Provincial Government on 14 January 2006 in protest unless the Government stops the army operation in Balochistan by 13 January 2006.

The MQM Central Coordination Committee said that MQM is a party of principles and will continue its struggle for the rights of Sindh and other smaller provinces and will never become part of any process against the safety, integrity of the country or national unity.  The Session expressed total unity with the people of Balochistan and also expressed their heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the family members of those who have been murdered during the ongoing Army Operation.