PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN MUST NOT VOTE FOR RICH PEOPLE IN ELECTION: ALTAF HUSSAIN

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NEW SINDHIS AND OLD SINDHIS SHOULD BE REMOVED

HYDERBAD: 18TH MARCH 2012:

Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has asked the intellectuals, journalists and writers of the province of Sindh to work removing the differences and divisions between the New Sindhis and Old Sindhis. He declared that if Pakistan was to become prosperous and strong, the legitimate rights of the Sindh province would have to be granted.

Mr Hussain was addressing a mammoth gathering in Al-Mustafa Ground Hyderabad on the occasion of the 28th Foundation Day of the MQM. There was a sea of people at the venue of the jalsa. People were even standing on the roofs of the building adjacent to the ground and waving the MQM flags.

A significant importance of the programme was the large number of women. Mr Hussain particularly praised the women for coming out to attend the jalsa in such an enormous number. He also appealed to the women in the Punjab to make the upcoming women jalsa in the Punjab equally successful.

Mr Hussain asked the people of Pakistan to make a firm resolve that they would not vote for any feudal lord, chieftain or “filthy rich” persons who had amassed huge wealth through sleaze and corruption.

Mr Hussain said that he was living in exile for over 20 years because of his refusal to take money from government agencies and sell his conscience. He said that he had sent able and educated people from the poor and middle classed in the assemblies and brought them on the equal footing with the feudal lords.

Mr Hussain said that he was the only leader in the country who did not take money. Ex-ISI officials Brigadier (retired) Imtiaz, Colonel (retired) Akbar and Younus Habib had said that Altaf Hussain was the only leader in the country who had turned down huge amount of money as bribes.

Mr Hussain said that the medieval feudal system had been scrapped throughout the world, but unfortunately, it was in vogue in Pakistan. The MQM wants to liberate the poor peasants and farmers from the oppressive subjugation of the feudal lords and chieftains that looked upon poor people as their slaves. The feudalistic system had weakened the entire society, and the body politic of the country had become the fiefdom of a few “filthy rich” families.

Mr Hussain said that the present-day Pakistan did not belong to the common Pakistanis. The MQM would build a Pakistan of the poor and middle classes people in the true sense of the words.

Mr Hussain stressed upon the parliamentarians to work for giving the status of industrial labour to the peasants and farmers in the country.

Mr Hussain said that the MQM was neither socialist nor communist. The MQM was not against private industries, but it was opposed to uncontrolled capitalism.

Mr Hussain said that the MQM was the only political party that had raised the issue of extortion mafia operating in Karachi. No other political party worth the name had cared to raise this issue that was plaguing the business community in Karachi.

Mr Hussain appealed to President Asif Zardari to rid the people of Karachi was the extortion mafia and the street crimes. He said that the citizens were being looted in broad daylight. He called for stern action against the criminals and said that no leniency should be shown to anyone.

Mr Hussain also congratulated President Zardari on addressing the joint sitting of the parliament for the fifth consecutive time.

Mr Hussain particularly appealed to the people of Sindh not to be misled by the so-called nationalist elements in Sindh. He exhorted them to join the MQM as it wanted to emancipate poor people from the oppression and injustices of the feudal lords.

Mr Hussain said that the MQM was the only political party in the country that was against the spread of sectarianism. The MQM wanted to diffuse sectarian harmony. He said that it was because of the earnest desire of the MQM to promote interfaith harmony that people from different religious backgrounds were joining the MQM in large numbers.

Mr Hussain said that if the MQM came into power, the Christian, Hindus, Sikhs and followers of all other faiths would have equal rights. There would be no minorities in the country as everyone would become equal citizens of Pakistan.

Mr Hussain said that the Last Sermon of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was the immortal charter of equality. The rich and the poor, the slave and the master, and the white and the black were equal before Allah.

Problems in Hyderabad

Mr Hussain particularly spoke about the problems being faced by the people of Hyderabad and stressed upon the government to take steps on an emergency basis to give relief to the people.

Mr Hussain said that there was no university in Hyderabad. Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad had announced the establishing of a university in the city, but the Sindh Assembly had not passed the bill. He said that efforts should be made on an urgent basis to get the bill for the university passed from the Sindh Assembly.

Mr Hussain said that the sewerage system in Latifabad was dilapidated and overflowing sewage was causing immense problems to the people. He said that additional funds should be allocated for improving the sewerage system in Latifabad.

Mr Hussain said that manufacturing of the bangles was an important industry of Hyderabad. He said that the government should support the people affiliated with the bangles industry and help in its revival.

Mr Hussain said that there was no cardiovascular hospital in Hyderabad due to which was a source of hardship and inconvenience to the people. He asked the government to establish a hospital in Hyderabad for curing the patients of heart diseases.

Mr Hussain also called for the building of an information technology (IT) college in Hyderabad. He asked the MQM parliamentarians to utilize their development funds for the setting up of the college.

Mr Hussain asked Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad to take serious notice of the suspension of academic activities in Sindh University. He said that efforts should be made by everyone including the governor and the chief minister to restore academic activities in the university as soon as possible.

Mr Hussain said that the people of Hyderabad were facing considerable difficulties due to load shedding of electricity and natural gas. He appealed to the government to take steps to relieve the problems.

Mr Hussain said that the special local government meant for Hyderabad should be released.

Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF)

Mr Hussain announced the expansion of KKF, the welfare wing of the MQM, operations in Hyderabad. He said that funeral buses and ambulances worth Rs. 25.3 million were being added to the existing KKF system in Hyderabad.

In the end Mr Hussain congratulated the MQM office-bearers, workers and public for making the foundation day jalsa of the MQM in Hyderabad a historic success.