Mr. ALTAF HUSSAIN’S SPEECH AT THE CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE AND ADVOCACY (CHRAPA) AT 37th UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL SESSION IN GENEVA-ON 16 MARCH 2018
Good afternoon Distinguished Delegates,
I would like to forward my gratitude for allowing me to share my views and opinions,
some may find them harsh, but the reality must prevail, what is right is right and
what is wrong is wrong, it must be on record to form a part of history.
For those who do not know me, I am Altaf Hussain, a Pakistani, born in Karachi,
Pakistan.
I formed my movement as a student in 1978, in Karachi University of Pakistan,
under the name of APMSO (All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation) to attain the
rights for Mohajir students who were persistently denied admissions into
professional and educational institutions for higher education. I then went on to
form a progressive, liberal and democratic political party called the Mohajir Quami
Movement (MQM) in 1984, to raise the voices at all legislative forums, including
Provincial, National assemblies and the Senate of Pakistan to represent all those
who have been and are still oppressed by the Pakistani military controlled regimes.
Unfortunately, there are more than 200 countries in the world but all the countries
have their own Army but, there is only one country in which Army
has the country that is Pakistan. So let me clarify about Mohajirs. What is the
meaning of Mohajirs? Who are Mohajirs?
Mohajirs are those who migrated to Pakistan after the partition of British India in
1947, and they migrated from India to Pakistan in 1947. However the native people
who were being living in Pakistan before the partition never accepted those who
migrated and used terms for those as BHAIYA, MATARWA, TILYAR, MAKAR, very
derogatory words. So Mohajirs never ever accepted as the sons of the soil since the
inception of Pakistan.
I would like to request you, kindly pay attention I, Altaf Hussain is the leader of
70 million Mohajirs and all other oppressed nationalities of Pakistan, it is
amazing that I have been banned to speak to my millions of people, my millions of
followers. The government of Pakistan has placed a total media ban on me, my
voice, my photos, my name cannot appear in any print or electronic medium which
is used to express ones voice, here I want to ask, what was my crime to implement
such a ban?
I raised my voice against all the injustices being meted out against Mohajirs and
other oppressed nations of Pakistan.
However, I am not the only leader who has spoken against the state injustices and
brutalities, many other leaders in Pakistan have criticised the state about these
injustices and brutalities, but not a single action was taken against them, because
they are regarded as sons of the soil, but this is very unfortunate we have not yet
being recognized as sons of the soil since the very inception of Pakistan in 1947 up
till now.
I was forced into exile in 1992, many attempts were made to assassinate me, it is on
record over 22, 000 Mohajir youths, elderly persons, youngsters have been butchered
by the state machinery, but no voice was raised by our fellow citizens, this is very
very painful and unfortunate, silence prevailed. I was the only voice in Pakistan to
speak out to highlight that religious extremism is breeding and if it not stopped. I
would say that it will soon take over whole Pakistan. This will not feel good or liked
by the Pakistani Military because all the Jihadi out fits are formed by the Army, by
the ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) of Pakistan. I was subjected to silence, when I didn’t
stopped they have started every efforts to eliminate me, to finish
me, to crush me, to kill me, to assassinate me.
This is on record, as I told earlier that I was forced into exile in 1992 because many
attempts were made on my life, thousands were brutally killed extra judicially,
thousands are enforcedly disappeared and thousands are incarcerated in different
jails of Pakistan. But none of them, any arrested people or enforce disappeared
people have been produced before any court of law of Pakistan including the
Supreme Court. Those parents who’s loved ones were arrested from their houses in
their presence, went to Supreme Court of Pakistan and beg to the judges of the SC
to recover our loved ones. But this is very unfortunate that even the highest court of
Pakistan SC didn’t pay any attention to reply the crying mothers and fathers and
the family members.
Since 2013, Mohajirs once again have been the subject of an intense military led
crackdown, over 84 extra judicial killings have taken place, over 450 have been the
subjects of enforced disappearances, and thousands are languishing in arbitrary
detention, without access to their due rights, their only crime, allegiance to the MQM
and me, Altaf Hussain.
I am speaking from the United Kingdom a country that respects ones human rights.
Unfortunately, Pakistan being a signatory to the United Nations since its very
inception, has completely disregarded all conventions, resolutions and UN notices,
a complete disregard to humanity.
The United Nations, must ensure that Pakistan is held accountable must for its actions,
pressure must be applied by member states to ensure that Pakistan stops violating
ones rights, which is not only afforded by the United Nations conventions, but
enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.
The atrocities which are being carried out by the state go beyond anyone's
imagination, in fact they amount to war crimes, ethnic cleansing, genocide amounts
to a war crime, those corrupt military generals and personnel who support and
implement must be held accountable as war criminals. They must be tried before the
International Court of Justice (ICJ). I request member states to support me and my
deprived Mohajirs and other oppressed communities. Help us to bring these criminals
to justice, mass murderers must be held accountable.
The United Nations is an independent platform of states, by which all share and
hold those responsible to account. I request the United Nations, to hold an urgent
summit and make those people accountable who are responsible for these crimes
and seek answers from them.
Finally, may I take this opportunity to raise the concern of my fellow Balochs,
Pashtoons and people from FATA, Federally Administered Tribal Areas) I am
steadfast, and I am fully aware of the ethnic cleansing which is being carried out
against them. Till my last breath I will not remain silent. Where I speak for the
Mohajirs I will speak for all those who are oppressed by these tyrants, irrespective
of their ethnic belonging, religious belief, cast, colour or creed. You have me to raise
your plight.
I would like to come to an end, and thank you all for taking a few moments to listen
to the cries of all Mohajirs, all other oppressed Nations and all oppressed people of
Pakistan.
Once again thank you very much.
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