People of Sindh have to unite- Altaf Hussain

MQM is a political reality that cannot be ignored-Asif Zardari

Telephonic conversation between Altaf Hussain and Asif Ali Zardari

London. 22 February 2008

The MQM leader Mr. Altaf Hussain and Pakistan Peoples Party’s Co-chairman Mr. Asif Ali Zardari congratulated each
other over the telephone on the successes of their representative parties in the General Elections.

In the 25 minutes conversation both the leaders pledged unconditional cooperation between the two parties. Mr. Zardari acknowledged that MQM is a political reality that cannot be ignored. They both want to serve the people of Pakistan collectively. He also praised the leadership of Mr. Altaf Hussain and the manner in which he progressed his party while living in exile for over 17 years, for this there is no parallel example in the region. He also reminded the sufferings of the workers of MQM and PPP in the past and vowed not to repeat the past mistakes. If a third party contrives to create dissent among us we must firmly tell them off, Mr. Zardari declared. Mr. Zardari reiterated that we must jointly solve the problems of the people of Sindh and Pakistan as a whole and rectify the past mistakes.

Mr. Altaf Hussain prayed for the soul of Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto and congratulated Mr Zardari on the successes of People’s Party. He said that after 18 October 2007 attack on Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto I had a detailed conversation with her the following day when we also discussed that past, the solidarity of Pakistan and the sorry state of Sindh.  Mr. Altaf Hussain pointed out that in the past a policy of divide and rule had been applied to Sindh Province. If we continue to make the same mistakes then the dispute will never end. He emphasised that the Urdu speaking Sindhi’s are now permanent citizens of Sindh and they are not going anywhere else. The people of Sindh have to unite. Through unity and working together I assure you that no one will be able to cast at an evil eye upon us. Through unity we will not only solve the problems of the people of Sindh but of entire Pakistan, that will undoubtedly bring peace to the soul of Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto. Both the leaders agreed on unconditional cooperation and communication in the future.