SURVIVAL OF PAKISTAN DEPENDS ON AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES AMONG ALL PROVINCES: ALTAF HUSSAIN

27 August 2003
The MQM leader Mr. Altaf Hussain stated that it is about time that the federal government adopts a policy of equitable distribution of resources among all the provinces.  It is essential for the survival of Pakistan that the sense of alienation is removed and years of injustices come to a stop.  He was addressing a rally from London over the telephone at Ghotki, that was attended by workers from Sarhad Khan Ghar, Mirpur Bathelo, Rowanti in interior Sindh.  He also announced the names of members of Ghotki Zonal Committee and Unit Committees of all the areas.  Mr. Altaf Hussain pointed out that the people East Bengal (For East Pakistan, now Bangladesh) and Sindh province raised their voices and struggled for the creation of Pakistan.  But after independence, Bengalis were pronounced as traitors and loyalty of the people of Sindh is looked upon with suspicion.  Whereas, those who always sided with the colonial rulers are looked upon as patriots.  Sindh is the only province that contributes 70% revenue to the national exchequer.  But it does not get its fair share in return and is deprived of even clean drinking water and other basic needs of life.  Unemployment is rampant in Sindh and even the multinational companies are not providing jobs to the locals.  On the one hand, people of Sindh are denied their fundamental rights while they are also branded as traitors when they demand their rights.  This injustice has to stop.  Steps have to be taken to alleviate the sense of deprivation among smaller provinces.  Sindh must get at least half of 70% that it provides to the Centre.  Punjab province is receiving 56% of the total revenue generated in the country according to its population ratio and, therefore, Punjab should also contribute at least twice what it receives from the centre.

Alternatively we should adopt a basis to provide 25% to the centre from each of the four provinces.  Mr Altaf Hussain pointed out to the workers present that many Prime Ministers were chosen from the Sindh province but to date Sindh is deprived of its fundamental rights.  Unfortunately all those Prime Ministers came from feudal background who had little in common with Sindhi masses nor did they have any sympathy with them.  They considered ordinary people as their serfs.  Feudal are averse to education and do not allow schools to be established in their domain so that the public would not become conscious of their rights.  In order to usurp the property they (feudal) commit murders and also keep their women as spinsters.  It is now upon the shoulders of young Sindhis to take the message to every nook and corner of Sindh and fight for the rights of the masses of Sindh.  The day all the people of Sindh from Karachi to Kashmoor join their hands for united struggle; a revolutionary change will become inevitable.  You have to sacrifice for your coming generations.  But you must struggle sincerely without fear or favour and clear your minds of gains and rewards.  A true struggle is always without the quest for reward, he declared.  Mr Altaf Hussain also pointed out various problems faced by the people of Ghotki and asked the elected MQM representatives to visit District Ghotki, enquire and solve the problems faced by its people and raise the issues in the Provincial Assembly.  Every effort must be made to resolve the problems faced by the people.