Karachi -- 10 December 2000
The Central Coordination Committee of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) while commenting on the deal to release of the deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by the present Military Government has stated that we still do not know why and how the Government made this deal. We have not been able to understand why the Government started a very long and expensive exercise, which was carried out to punish those who were blamed for involvement in looting the national exchequer through the misuse of their authority, power and position.
Here the question arises does Pakistan has double standard where the Constitution and the law of the land is concerned, i.e. one standard for the elite of the society and the other for the poor masses. Is the release of Nawaz Sharif in accordance with the teachings and preaching of Islam? Nawaz Sharif and his family members being an elite, holding higher offices, wealthy and belonging to the Punjab has the opportunity to be released or to get amnesty, no matter how serious their crimes may be. No matter how they looted the country’s national exchequer, and abused their power and position.
On the basis of political victimisation, innocent people belonging to the MQM and other political parties have been rewarded capital punishment, whereas thugs and plunderer of the country go scot-free. Whereas those who are not wealthy, rich and have no relationship or friendship with the princes or princesses remain in jails. Why this double standard? What does it indicate? That the law of Pakistan is only applicable to those who are either poor or having middle class background. Is this the Nazaria -e- Pakistan or the ideology of Pakistan? How can Pakistan remain existent in this scenario? One can cheat and deceive the people, but one cannot cheat the Almighty Allah.
The people of Pakistan, intellectuals, politicians and religious clerics should think over it and find a true solution to all the problems where citizens are treated equally regardless of the position they hold. It is our request to all to save Pakistan or be ready to face all sorts of debacle or the ultimate conclusion as happened in 1971 because of the unjust rule and treatment.
The release of Nawaz Sharif is itself a negation of the decision of the court as well as no confidence in the judges who took the oath of allegiance to the present military government. We ask the Government whether the decision of the court was wrong or the release of Nawaz Sharif is wrong?
The release of Nawaz Sharif has given rise to many questions in the minds of oppressed and smaller nations and provinces that what would have happened if the same sentence would have been given to the Prime Minister from the smaller provinces of Sindh, Balochistan or the NWFP. Would he or she would have been treated in the similar manner?
Note: The policy statement of the MQM will issued after examining the legal, constitutional, moral and the political issues involved for which the MQM Coordination Committee is holding an emergency session on 11 December 2000 at 7 p.m., at the MQM Head Office in Karachi.