ONLY AN HONEST WORKING CLASS CAN SAVE THE COUNTRY: ALTAF HUSSAIN

POISONOUS PROPAGANDA IS BEING DONE AGAINST THE MQM TO DISENCHANT THE PEOPLE OF PUNJAB

MULTAN: 26^TH OCTOBER 2011:

Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has said that the people at the helm of affairs in the country should take heed and adopt practicable strategies for meeting the challenges facing the country. The army alone cannot save the country, but the entire country would have to exhibit unity and solidarity in order to save the country. He said that he was ready to render any services for the saving the country. He said this while talking to the office-bearers and workers of the Multan Zone of the MQM.

Mr Hussain said that the hardships and miseries of the people of Punjab did not alleviate even after the creation of Pakistan as they were in the clutches of the same landlords and feudalist forces ever since the independence of the country. They had been voting for the same forces constantly and were not ready to adopt the new philosophy and taking the road for change.  

Mr Hussain said that the MQM raised the voice to end the rule of the privileged class and the feudal system from the country. Its path was hindered, and a military operation was started on 19^th June 1992 because of its message to the people of Punjab to elect leadership from the poor and middle class for the assemblies.  

Mr Hussain said that the MQM was accused of being an enemy to the country, treason, and terrorism and many other crimes in order to malign it in the country, particularly in the eye of the people of Punjab. In order to prove MQM as a party traitor to the country the Jinnahpur conspiracy was hatched, and it was said that the MQM wanted to create a separate state by the name of Jinnahpur. People were told that the army had discovered maps of the alleged Jinnahpur.

Mr Hussain said that it was only when he challenged to run the case of the Jinnahpur in the Supreme Court and hang him on Minar-e-Pakistan if the allegation was found to be true that the army denied about the maps of the alleged Jinnahpur. The allegation of the Jinnahpur was splashed in the newspapers in main headings, but the denial by the army was published as single column news.  

Mr Hussain said that it was highly unfortunate that the people whose forefathers had given their lives for creating Pakistan and saving it, and sacrificed everything for Pakistan, were accused of being the enemy of the country. Once again, poisonous propaganda was being done against the MQM just as was done in 1992 in order to create mistrust in the minds of the people of Pakistan particularly the people of Punjab about the MQM. He said that he was being called Indian agent, US agent and what not.

Mr Hussain said that his only crime was that he had raised the voice against the timeworn and corrupt feudal system and refused to become a part in spite of all the oppressions, injustices and conspiracies and allurements. If he had also become a part of the corrupt system, he would also have palaces and landed estates in the country.

Mr Hussain said that the leaders of other political parties amassed wealth, bought palaces in Pakistan and outside Pakistan, and accumulated huge bank balances, but he never obtained anything either for himself or for any other member of his family. He said that his life was like an open book.

Mr Hussain said that the MQM had come in the provincial and federal governments many times and many prime ministers, including Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif had come to his houses on a number of occasions, but he had never asked for even one square yard of land for himself or any of his family members.  

Mr Hussain said that he had always opposed the culture of dynastic politics in the country. He declared that he did not become a member of the assembly and likewise, did not award party tickets to any of his family members. Instead, the tickets were given to those workers who had sacrificed for the party. This was his only crime.

Mr Hussain said that he would continue to struggle against the corrupt and oppressive feudal system in the country and would never give up the struggle. He said that only the middle-class people can bring the country out of the present crises facing the country.  

Mr Hussain said that the honest people who had themselves suffered and faced poverty and hunger, suffered hardships and obtained education in straitened circumstances can save the country. The corrupt feudal class cannot do anything for the country.

Mr Hussain congratulated the office-bearers and workers of the Lahore Zone for continuing their struggle even in the face of bitter propaganda and hardships. He praised them for working with perseverance and steadfastness.