MORE PROVINCES ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVELS SHOULD BE CREATED IN THE COUNTRY ---- ALTAF HUSSAIN

CREATION OF NEW PROVINCES OR ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS DOES NOT WEAKEN THE COUNTRY BUT STRENGTHENS IT.

IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE INTEGRITY AND STABILITY OF THE COUNTRY THAT REPRESENTATION IN ALL SECTORS AND WALKS OF LIFE ON THE BASIS OF POPULATION BE GIVEN TO ALL ETHNO-LINGUISTIC CULTURAL NATIONALITIES.

THE CONCEPT OF THE PAKISTANI NATIONAL IDENTITY IS WEAKENING AND ETHNO-LINGUISTIC PARTICULARISM IS GAINING STRENGTH AS A RESULT OF DENIAL OF RIGHTS.

THE SITUATION HAS BECOME SERIOUS AS CRISIS DEEPENS WHICH NEEDS IMMEDIATE SOLUTION INSTEAD OF SERMONS AND DECREES.

ALL PATRIOTIC CITIZENS SHOULD COME FORWARD AND PLAY THEIR FULL ROLE

Hyderabad (Pakistan)-- May 3, 1998

The founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), Mr Altaf Hussain while addressing a meeting of the Graduate Forum held at Hyderabad said that for the integrity and stability of the country, it was necessary to create more provinces on administrative basis and they be made fully autonomous.

He said that all ethno-linguistic cultural nationalities be given their Fundamental and Constitutional rights including their participation in the governance of the State and in all sectors and walks of life according to their population ratio.

Mr Hussain emphasised that creation of new provinces or administrative units would not weaken the country but strengthen it, instead. He further stated that it is not a time for sermons and decrees but it is the need of the time that people at the helm of affairs should take notice of this crisis and provide the Fundamental and Constitutional rights to all the ethno-linguistic cultural nationalities and treat them equitably.

Mr Hussain expressed these views in the huge meeting arranged under the auspices of the Graduate Forum which was attended by intellectuals, academics, prominent poets, scholars, Principals and Professors of different colleges and universities and others belonging to different profession and vocation including Senator Jamiluddin Aali, Dr. Farman Fatehpuri, Poet Mohsin Bhopali and others.

Mr Hussain referring to the historical facts and quoting examples of the concept of religion, nations and nationalism stated that any religion can unite or bring people closer living in different geographical boundaries but conversion of religion can not bring about change in the language, civilisation, culture, physical structure and identity of the people living in the same geographical boundaries. He quoted the example that the majority of people living in Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France and other countries belong to the Christian faith but their religious belief could not keep them under one national geography. Despite having the Christian belief, they are distinct nationalities with distinct language and culture, different to each other. He said that similarly the majority of the people living in Arabia, Africa, Asia and different countries converted into Islam as a common religion yet they live in different countries having their own geographical boundaries because their language, civilisation, culture, temperament and way of life are distinctly different to each other.

Mr Hussain said that religion can bring closer different ethno-linguistic cultural units but can not change its individual identity because individual identity does not relate to religion but in fact, individual identity is identified with language, civilisation, culture, temperament, genetic makeup and physical structure. He also said that the geography, environment and surroundings play a key role in the making of the genetic makeup of any ethno-linguistic cultural nationality or groups.

Mr Hussain stated that generally a "Nation" does not consist of singular component but is a combination of different ethno-linguistic cultural nationalities and groups. He further said that if provision of equal rights and treatment is made available to all the ethno-linguistic cultural nationalities and groups in any region, it would strengthen the ethno-linguistic cultural pluralism but, on the contrary, if the identity of any ethno-linguistic cultural group is denied and equal treatment is not meted out to all ethno-linguistic cultural nationalities, then the concept of one nation would become weaker and the concept of ethno-linguistic cultural particularism become stronger. It is no denying the fact, he said, that ethno-linguistic cultural "pluralism" takes deeper roots in those regions and countries where equal rights are provided to all the ethno-linguistic cultural nationalities or groups.

Mr Hussain emphasised that Pakistan came into existence in the name of Islam but unfortunately, the peoples belonging to different ethno-linguistic cultural groups were deprived of their Fundamental and Constitutional rights and equal treatment was not meted out to them. As a result to all this, he said, the concept of Pakistani national identity gradually became weaker and concept of ethno-linguistic cultural particularism became stronger.

Mr Hussain said that at the time of creation, Pakistan constituted of two parts, West and East. The population of Bengalis in East Pakistan was fifty-six per cent of the total population of the country. But the power barons of that time adopted the theory of "Parity" for eliminating the differences between the two wings. The Bengali people, being in majority, displayed magnanimity and generosity and accepted the principle of "Parity". The Bengalis agreed to provide equal rights to the minority but it is statistically evident that the Bengalis were not provided even fifty per cent share in the governance of the State, bureaucracy or any other walks of life.

Mr Altaf Hussain stressed that it is an accepted principle that persistent and systematic denial of rights and discrimination begets and promotes individualism and the concept of ethno-linguistic cultural particularism. Therefore, he said, that persistent discrimination against Bengali people cemented the concept of Bengali identity and nationalism. It is because of this that the concept of Pakistani national identity weakened and that of ethno-linguistic cultural particularism grew stronger.

Mr Hussain said that when the Bengali people started the struggle to realise their usurped rights, then the rulers, instead of giving their rights, commenced worst Military Operation against them. The world is aware of the fact that the Bengali people having being deprived of their rights became a "Nation" from a sub-nationality and a country created on the basis of the "Two Nation Theory" stood fragmented into two parts.

Mr Hussain further said that whenever the ethno-linguistic cultural groups in any country are deprived of their Fundamental and Constitutional rights and attempts are made to suppress their voice, then in such situations, struggle for rights does not end but in consequence of it, the geography of that country undergoes a tragic change. He added, Pakistan came into existence because of the sacrifices of millions of lives and despite the dismemberment of the country, the rulers did not bring about any change in their attitude and, instead of learning lessons from their past mistakes, have continued to repeat the same mistakes.

Mr Hussain said that persistent injustice to the ethno-linguistic cultural minorities was being doled out and the State power was used everywhere against those who raised voice for their rights and State machinery was used to crush them. As a result of that the concept of Pakistani national identity is becoming weaker with every passing day and the concept of ethno-linguistic cultural particularism is getting stronger. And this problem has reached an alarming stage, creating a situation in which there is no time for sermons and decrees but for immediate solution of this crisis.

Mr Hussain said that it has become inevitable for the integrity and stability of the country that the rulers should not cling on to the past mistakes and provide the Fundamental and Constitutional rights to all the ethno-linguistic cultural groups and nationalities. He further said that they be provided their share in the governance of the State, Bureaucracy, Armed Forces, Administration and in all other sectors according to their population ratio. He said that everyone should be treated equally and more autonomous provinces or administrative units be created to run the affairs of the country efficiently. He said that creation of new provinces would not weaken the country but strengthen it, instead. He quoted examples that initially Great Britain, U S A, India and other countries had lesser units but their numbers were increased later on and they are not only in existence but are rapidly progressing.

Mr Hussain warned that if the people at the helms of the affairs did not provide the Fundamental and Constitutional rights to all the ethno-linguistic cultural nationalities and are not equally treated, then it would tantamount to threaten the integrity of the country. He said that this is the time for "recognition of all and equal rights of all".

Mr Altaf Hussain said every where, the political awareness and awakening amongst the people are taking place and now the voice of the people can not be suppressed by the use of force. He said that with the use of force, ideological man can be eliminated but his ideological rays can not be eliminated by any force of the earth because body may be eliminated but the rays radiating out of the body always galvanise the surrounding into their ideological rays, and likewise, "lamp" continues to illuminate other lamps and the hand that rushes to extinguish it gets itself burnt in the flames.

Mr Altaf Hussain appealed to the intellectuals, poets, writers, journalists, columnists, academics, businessmen, industrialists, doctors, engineers and people of all other sectors and professions to come forward and play their full role for the integrity and stability of the country.