Pakistan lacks to treat all ethno-cultural entities same; refusing to recognise Mohajirs is tantamount to negating Pakistan: Altaf Hussain
Those who take refuge for a limited time are called as refugees but a migrant is one who leave everything back and lives forever on a new land he discovers – MQM Founder Leader.
“When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) migrated to Medina rom Mecca, the people of Medina were named as Ansar and the companion of prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were called as Mohajirs”, argued Mr. Hussain. “Even the Ansar and Mohajir identities remained everlasting even after Mecca was won – MQM Founder Leader.
LONDON. Jun 12, 2018: Different communities from different cultures in Pakistan do not get uniform and equal treatment and rights from the state of Pakistan and hence the idea of one strong nation is seriously missing in Pakistan. There is no single nation in Pakistan but a consortium of people from different ethnic origins and divided culture. There are Sindhi speaking community in Pakistan and likewise there are Balouchs, Pashtoons and Punjabis. Who always take pride of their ethnic origin and prefer to be called and known as what they do.
Muttahidda Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) founder leader Mr. Altaf Hussain said this in his telephonic-cum-video address to the audience at Canadian City Toronto on the occasion of 40th Foundation Day of the APMSO.
He said that all ethnic communities with entirely different culture should be equally respected and recognised inclusive of Mohajir as a separate nation and in case Mohajirs would be denied of due recognition, it would be tantamount to negating the body of Pakistan.
Everything is identified and called by a unique name and hence people also are identified by their race, nationality, culture and civilization like all Pakistani expatriates are called as Pakistanis abroad ut sadly in Pakistan, people carry their identity based on their provinces such as Punjabis are from province of Punjab, Sindhis are from Sindh, Balouchis are from Balouchistan and Pakhtoons are from Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa and so on.
All communities whether they carry their identity due to their separate provinces or dialect or culture but when it comes of Mohajir, they are not respected as a separate nation having their centuries old civilization, culture, trends, attire, language, etc. They are rather ridiculed in Pakistan and are mocked at by different shameful remarks such as Makkar, Matarway, Tilyar, etc. and even ex-military Dictator Ziiaul Haq even disgracefully termed Mohair Biharis as beggars.
He said that Mohajirs always respected all other ethnic communities, Punjabis, Balouchs, Sindhis, Pakhtoons, Hazrwalls, Gilgit-baltastanis and other but when Mohajir demand they should be called and recognised as Mohajir, a separate nation in Pakistan, they are mocked at and insulted.
There are mindsets in Pakistan that argue that a Mohajir is a refugee, who is destined to go back. They have not spared time in learning about the difference between the refugees and migrants.
He said, “Those who take refuge for a limited time are called as refugees but a migrant is one who leave everything back and lives forever on a new land he discovers.” Like all other ethnic identities in Pakistan, Mohajir is also an established identity of Pakistan but not yet respected.
There are people who argue that people and nations should use their identity per the province they live in and this is a very weak argument. It is against the spirit of Islam.
“When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) migrated to Medina rom Mecca, the people of Medina were named as Ansar and the companion of prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were called as Mohajirs”, argued Mr. Hussain. “Even the Ansar and Mohajir identities remained everlasting even after Mecca was won.” Since Mohajirs live in Sindh in vast majority so they could be from Sindh and not as Sindhi because of totally opposite language, attire, culture and everything. Punjabis, Sindhis, Balouchis, Pakhtoons speak their separate dialects as Punjabi, Sindhi, Balouchi and Pashto and Mohajirs respect them for their own individual identity and everything but why Mohajirs are asked to become Sindh while they have nothing in common with any other ethnic community?
The term Mohajir is a respectful one in history of Islam. Even that the Islamic calendar was started after Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him_ along with his companions (R.A) migrated to Medina. Henceforth, those who show no respect to Mohajirs are in fact showing no respect for Islam and the history of Islam.
Not a single country is found on planet Earth without an amalgamation of variety of different languages, attires, cultures and civilisations. Each of world’s country is comprised of many ethno-linguistic cultural groups an hence they are treated like one except in Pakistan. Treating all different ethno-linguistic groups would be called ethno-linguistic cultural pluralism while negating it would become ethno-linguistic particularism meaning that each different ethnic community would raise its own colours. This would culminate in oneness of nation then.
Mr. Hussain said that it is imperative to recognise and respect Mohajirs as separate and unique nation so that a strong sense of one nation in Pakistan should start prevailing ahead, failing which would be tantamount to negating the sense of being Pakistani.
The MQM leader asked Mohajirs to take pride of their unique identity as Mohajir and always respect the other ethno-cultural entities. Never lose your identity as Mohajir and never criticise others for being non-Mohajir.
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