PRESS CONFERENCE
MQM ANNOUNCES BOYCOTT OF ELECTIONS TO LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF AZAD JAMMU & KASHMIR
UNDEMOCRATIC AND AUTOCRATIC STEPS FROM A PARTY
THAT
CLAIMS TO BE CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY ARE REPREHENSIBLE
KARACHI: 25TH JUNE 2011:
Respected Journalists
First of all we would like to thank all the journalists and media persons for coming to attend this urgent Press Conference. The purpose of this press conference is to inform you and through you to the people of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir about the partisan attitude of the present government and election commissions of Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir and their dictatorial steps for depriving a sizeable population of Kashmiri people from their right to vote.
As you know it very well that election for the legislative assembly of Azad Jammu & Kashmir is being held tomorrow on 26th June 2011 in which the Kashmir people and the migrants throughout Pakistan will exercise their right to vote for electing their representatives. You are also aware that the Kashmiri people had voted for the MQM in the previous elections for the legislative assembly inspired by its selfless relief work after the devastating earthquake of 2005. The MQM candidates were elected on two seats. The MQM was gaining wide popular acceptance in Kashmir like other parts of the country. It was emerging as a third option for the oppressed and downtrodden people of the country. Keeping in view the popular support of the MQM it was expected that the MQM would gain additional seats in the coming assembly elections. Fearing public support for the MQM in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, undemocratic tactics are being employed against the MQM to create hindrances in its way. The undemocratic, unconstitutional and unethical postponement of election on the constituencies LA-30 Karachi Jammu 1, LA-36 Karachi Valley 1 and LA-41 Abbottabad is a part of the nefarious plot to stop the MQM. We understand that stopping the people of Kashmir from their right to vote by a political party that claims to be the champion of public and democracy is not only worthy of strong condemnation but dishonourable.
Respected Journalists
We were aware about the bad intentions of the government because the Pakistan Peoples Party was exerting pressure on the MQM and using undemocratic tactics to withdraw one candidate from these constituencies. At first the polling stations were shifted in such sensitive areas where not only the MQM candidates and workers could go easily but also it would have been impossible for the voters to exercise their right to vote freely with a view to rigging the election process on large scale. Pressure was also exerted on the returning officers to shift the polling stations. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and other important personalities also tried to compel the MQM to withdraw its candidates from at least one constituency in favour of the PPP candidate.
We kept on informing President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani about the entire situation and registered our protest over undemocratic pressure being exerted on the MQM in order to deprive it of its democratic right. We regret to say that the pressure tactics continued and when the MQM refused to withdraw its candidates even in the face of pressure tactics, the elections were postponed on the seats in Karachi and Abbottabad on the pretext of security considerations. Despite the fact that Chief Minister Sindh had himself accepted on the floor of the house that the law and order situation had improved, I G P Sindh Wajid Durrani was asked to make a fictitious report highlighting security concerns.
We understand that postponement of election on LA-30, LA-36 and LA-41 is unconstitutional and undemocratic. We understand that this dictatorial step amounts to robbing the Kashmiri migrants living in Karachi, the Punjab, Baluchistan and Abbottabad of their mandate and we will not accept it at any cost. If dictatorial steps are taken in a society that claims to be democratic then what difference would be left between democracy and dictatorship.
Respected Journalists
Today we have boycotted the proceedings of the Sindh Assembly against this undemocratic and unconstitutional step and we will adopt all democratic means besides boycotting the sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate as well. We understand that the unwarranted and unjustified postponement of elections would be equal to robbing the people of Kashmir of their democratic right and it could also hurt the Kashmir cause. We understand that those elements who are not ready to even give the people of Kashmir the right to elect their representatives by casting votes will not give them their other legitimate rights as well.
We announce to boycott the elections for the legislative assembly of Kashmir in view of the partisan and prejudiced attitude of the government and election commissions of Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. We will exercise our democratic right and highlight this undemocratic step at every level. We want to make it very clear that if the government persisted in its dictatorial actions and refused to give the people their democratic right to vote, then the MQM would be free to adopt any line of action in future and important decisions will be taken in the light of public sentiments. Similar demands of relinquishing some seats of the National Assembly were made before the general elections of 1993 and the MQM was left with no option but to boycott the elections.
We will also appeal to the haq parast Kashmiri people to protest against this undemocratic and unconstitutional action of the government and boycott the elections completely. We will appeal to them to display unity and solidarity with the MQM. We will also appeal to the national and international democratic institutions and human rights organizations to take serious notice of the undemocratic and unconstitutional postponement of election and raise their voice in support of the people of Kashmir.
In the end we thank you for coming to attend this press conference
Dr. Farooq Sattar , Deputy Convenor & MEMEBRS of Central
CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE of MQM
MUTTAHIDA QUAMI MOVEMENT (PAKISTAN)
JAPANESE AMBASSADOR VISITS NINE ZERO
KARACHI: 25TH JUNE 2011:
The newly appointed ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Mr Hiroshi Oe visited the head office of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Nine Zero along with Deputy Consul General Mr Toshikazu Isomura, Second Secretary Mr Takashi Shimokyoda and Vice Consul Mr Tsuyoshi Hikita. The honourable guests were received at Nine Zero by Deputy Convener of the Co-ordination Committee of the MQM Dr Farooq Sattar and members Mrs Nasrin Jalil and Kunwar Khalid Yunus. The guests were informed about the MQM and the current political situation in the country particularly in Sindh and Karachi. They were also informed about the investment opportunities in the country. They were particularly interested in knowing about the security issues in Pakistan with reference to foreign investment. Mr Oe presented a shield for Mr Altaf Hussain at the end of the meeting.