STOPPING WOMEN TO CAST VOTE IS UTTER VIOLATION OF THEIR RIGHTS

Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has decried the act of stopping women from exercise their right to vote and termed it as abhorrent to the spirit of democracy. He said that it was utter violation of women rights. He said that certain feudal lords and chieftains had prevented women from casting their votes in the by-elections which was highly reprehensible. He said that the vote was a national trust and the elements betraying this trust should be dealt with strongly in accordance with law. He demanded of President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, and Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik to take stern notice of forcefully depriving the women of their right to cast vote in the by-elections. He said that the elements responsible for usurping the rights of the women should be arrested and reo-polling should be held in those areas where women were not allowed to vote. Restraining women from taking part in the democratic process should be condemned at all levels.

Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has offered condolence on the brutal murder of Umar Muhammad Khan, member of MQM Pukhtun Organizing Committee.

Mr Hussain sympathized with the bereaved family and said that he and the workers of the MQM shared the grief equally. He prayed for the divine forgiveness and eternal peace of the departed soul. He also prayed Almighty Allah to give courage and patience to the family members to bear the loss.

Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has said that women were the integral part of the society, and the MQM gave utmost importance to the restoration of their rights and deserving status in the society. He said this while talking to famous TV artists Samina Pirzada and Faizan Pirzada on the telephone.

Samina Pirzada and Faizan Pirzada called Mr Hussain to congratulate him on the historic public meeting of women held on 19^th February in Bagh-i-Quaid-i-Azam. The artists said that the public meeting of women was the breath of fresh air in the suffocated atmosphere of the country. They said that the MQM deserved commendation on bringing about this change in the country.

They urged upon Mr Hussain to continue making efforts for uniting women and mobilizing them. Mr Hussain agreed with the views expressed by Samina Pirzada and Faizan Pirzada and said that the MQM would keep on striving for eliminating injustices against women and giving them their rightful status in the society even if it had to face stiff opposition.