Mr Altaf Hussain, founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) said that the permanent citizens of Sindh should now resolve to wage a joint struggle for the rights of their motherland Sindh and also not to betray her, having learnt from the mistakes of the past and emotional decisions. He said this addressing a General Workers Meeting of the Elders Wing of the MQM in Karachi from London over the telephone.

Mr Altaf Hussain held that usually the facts are extremely bitter and it is a part of human nature that instead of facing the truth, human seeks escapism. For example, if a young death occurs in any family, the reality is not readily acceptable by the family members because of their mental unpreparedness but however, non-acceptance does not alter the reality. Consequently, putting the facts before us on the occasion of the independence day of Pakistan, we should decide whether in reality, have we truly gained independence or not after the creation of the country? The raison de etre’ propagated for the creation of Pakistan was that the Muslims and Hindus were two distinct nations whose culture, traditions and way of life were distinctly different from each other. The concept was that after the end of the British Raj, the Muslims being a minority would be left on the mercy of the majority Hindus in the undivided India, hence the demand for a separate country. The belief was that a country should be created for hundred million Muslims of the undivided India where they could live in peace, honour and dignity in accordance with their religion, tradition and culture. He further added that often, it is being said that Muslims are being killed in Gujarat but no one bothers to respond as to why are they being killed? He emphasised that Pakistan was created for the entire Muslims of the undivided India but shutting the Pakistani borders upon the Indian Muslims in 1951 negated the basis for its creation. He exhorted that those shedding crocodile’s tears on the killings of the Muslims in Gujarat had in fact, left them in India to die by shutting the Pakistani borders upon them. 

He stated that the Muslims of the Muslim minority provinces sacrificed most for the creation of a separate homeland, sacrificed their children, sacrificed their honour, sacrificed their hearth and heritage and their land, houses and worldly possessions for the creation of a separate homeland but today, they are considered security risk, a traitor and their loyalty is suspicious, were and are being massacred by launching an army operation against them.

Mr Altaf Hussain emphasised that Bengal was the only Muslim majority province that had caste its hundred per cent vote for the creation of Pakistan but Bengalis were also termed as traitors and their genocide was committed. Sindh was the only province in the present Pakistan whose Assembly had passed a resolution with the tireless efforts of Mr (Saeen) G M Syed but he was also declared a traitor. He said that those who immigrated to Pakistan are faced with the brutal state oppression and those who are stranded in Bangladesh are languishing in the Red-Cross Camps while those left in India are not in peace either, then has the creation of an homeland provided peace? 

Mr Altaf Hussain stated that indeed, who opposed the creation of Pakistan until the last minute woke up one morning and saw the green flag fluttering, occupied the country. He added, however, that it is also a bitter reality that if the life of the creators of the country, who shed their blood for its creation, is made miserable, such countries are effaced from the global map, sooner or later. He said that when he describes these bitter facts then Altaf Hussain is termed as a traitor and claimed that he spurts poison, incites hatred but he is not a traitor because one, who struggles to dismantle an antiquated system can not be a traitor but a rebellious against the brutal and barbaric system. The irony is that the creators are termed as traitors while those who dismembered the country and surrendered are adorned with medals and bestowed prizes.

Is this a return for supporting Pakistan? Today, an Army General is apologising for the excesses and mistakes committed in the past but what would transpire of those hundred of thousands of the stranded Pakistan languishing in the Red-Cross Camps as result of the past mistakes of the Pakistani Army?  He said that the Army Generals demand fixation of a permanent role of the army in the polity of the country while their primary demand should have been to bring back the stranded Pakistanis and rehabilitate them in Punjab. He further said that now, the Generals are ruling themselves then they should bring the stranded Pakistanis back and settle them in the GHQ (General Head Quarters).

Mr Altaf Hussain stated that he has pondered hard that our ancestors had sacrificed for Pakistan with their utmost sincerity then why the nature does not shower its mercy on us? Analysing further, he said that our ancestress decision was not based on intellect but emotions and they left their homeland, in passion. He said that whatever had to happen have happened and now we have come to Sindh. Our birth and death is now, associated with this land like our Sindhi-speaking brethren and therefore, forgetting and learning from the past mistakes and emotional decisions, we have to struggle hand in hand with our permanent citizens of Sindh. He appealed that Punjabis and Pashtuns permanently settled in Sindh and being the sons of the soil should join hands in the struggle with the peoples of Sindh and paid tributes to those who are already doing this. Addressing the people at the helm of affairs, he said that despite brutalities, people are still talking of Pakistan; cease terming the advocacy of rights as treason and we should be given our proper rights, powers and share in the wealth and resources of the country.

Praising the role of the elders in the Movement, he said that they had proved their worth in supporting along with the youths in the testing and difficult times and if resolve and determination remains unwavering then the age factors become secondary. He said that, he was sure that elders would not disappoint him in the future testing times and advised the youth to respect the elders with the core of their heart.