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London-19
January 2001
Mr Altaf Hussain, Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement
(MQM) lamenting the 1973 Constitution said that the Constitution
of 1973 is only the protector of the Punjabi establishment,
Punjabi elite, feudal lords and the landed aristocracy while it
does not safeguard the democracy, democratic norms, democratic
institutions and the rights of the people of the smaller
provinces. Challenging those leaders who advocate the sanctity of
the Constitution of 1973 and oppose the MQM’s demand for
framing a new Constitution in accordance with the spirit of the
1940 Resolution, Mr Hussain said that they all could hold an open
debate on this subject, whenever they want. He said that he will
admit defeat if the opposing leaders put forward logical
rationale for their point of view and if his rational and logic
prevailed over them then they should admit their defeat, openly.
Mr Altaf Hussain stated this while addressing the Ladies Wing of
the MQM in Hyderabad over the telephone from London.
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Mr Altaf Hussain stated that the time and event has proved that
the Constitution of 1973 could not safeguard the rights of the
people, particularly the people of the smaller provinces and even
itself. He asked whether the Army could have possibly taken over
mantle of power by sacking democratically elected governments
time and again if the 1973 Constitution was able to protect the
democracy and democratic norms? Whether the plunderers and
pirates of Punjab, including Nawaz Sharif, could have escaped the
accountability process, had the 1973 Constitution being
effective? Whether this Constitution stopped the Martial Law of
General Zia-ul-Huq? Even now, it is being trampled under the
boots of the Army and could it save the democracy this time
round? How could a Constitution democratise the country and
provide rights to the smaller provinces that could not save
itself from being demeaned and desecrated by every ruler. He said
that today Muslim League and the Peoples Party are chanting
slogans of the sanctity of the 1973 Constitution but would they
like to explain that whether their governments could have been
replaced twice had the 1973 Constitution been useful and
effective?
Mr Altaf Hussain stated that the chant of the sanctity of the
1973 Constitution by the Muslim League is comprehensible because
Muslim League is a party of the Punjabi establishment and the
Constitution of 1973 protects the vested interests of the Punjabi
establishment. This is the very reason why the 1973 Constitution
has become the tail of the Punjabi establishment and whenever
steps are put over its tail, it begins to scream. But the Peoples
Party proclaims to be the upholder of rights of the smaller
provinces and particularly that of Sindh province then how it
could create a furore in favour of the 1973 Constitution, which
has not delivered justice, power, and the rights to the smaller
provinces to date. He said that the Peoples Party claims that
there are no defects in the Constitution of 1973 but the
provision of the autonomy provided in the Constitution has not
been implemented. Over this, he posed a question to the Peoples
Party that why it was not implemented and who would implement
these or be instrumental to its imposition in future? Would the
Peoples Party implement this provisions of autonomy provided in
the Constitution that could not protect its Government three
times and its founder during the existence of this Constitution?
Mr Altaf Hussain said that the Constitution that could not save
the democratic institutions, the assemblies and the governments
formed under its patronage, could not save its founder then how
could it either implement the provisions of the autonomy provided
therein or protect the autonomy, in its true essence? He said
that similarly, the Constitution contains that its abrogator will
be hanged. However, its effectiveness is such that the founder of
the 1973 Constitution was hanged, his two sons were murdered, her
daughter is in exile while the abrogator and the one who crushed
the Constitution under the boot of the army ruled the country for
eleven years and their heirs are even enjoying and possesses
properties worth billions of Rupees. The Parliament that framed
this Constitution has been torn into pieces, shattered and
devastated, hence the Constitution that could not protect its
founding constituent assembly, how on earth could it protect the
rights of the people of Pakistan?
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Mr Altaf Hussain asked the Peoples Party whether the Constitution
of 1973 saved its founder Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto? Whether the
abrogators of this Constitution tried in any court of law until
today? He said that Peoples Party could not have done anything
during the rule of Zia-ul-Huq but thereafter, Peoples Party came
twice in power, could it try the abrogator of the 1973
Constitution because the treason cases are not only tried against
the living persons but posthumously as well? Will Peoples Party
explain to its workers and cadres that why it could not try the
abrogators of the 1973 Constitution? Explain to the families of
the martyrs who embraced martyrdom in the name of Zulfiquar Ali
Bhutto that what actions were taken against their murderers
during the reign of the Peoples Party in accordance with the 1973
Constitution? Were the perpetrators brought to book? During the
MRD (Movement for Restoration of Democracy), the army ambushed
Sindhi villages and innocent Sindhis were massacred and as a
result of their sacrifices, Peoples Party came twice in power?
What punishments were awarded by the Peoples Party to the
murderers of those innocent Sindhis during its reigns? Peoples
Party should explain to the bereaved families as to what
punishment were awarded to the perpetrators in accordance with
the Constitution of 1973 during its rules and if failed to do so
then what were the constraints that prevailed over the
Constitution of 1973?
Mr Altaf Hussain said that the playing of the trumpet of the 1973
Constitution by the Peoples Party in fact, are putting the seal
of legitimacy over the hanging of Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto since the
1973 Constitution could not save Bhutto from the gallows. He said
by favouring the 1973 Constitution, the leaders of the Peoples
Party are actually playing the games of the Punjabi establishment
and contemplating on sending more of their poor workers to jail
and in the gallows, in the very near future.
Mr Altaf Hussain said that twenty-eight years have elapsed since
the framing of the 1973 Constitution but has it provided the
rights and the powers to the people of the smaller provinces,
even for one day, during its past twenty-eight years span? Has it
safeguarded the interests of the people of the smaller provinces
until today? He said that decisions concerning Sindh and
Balochistan are being taken in Punjab. These provinces are being
controlled from Punjab. The IGs (Inspector Generals), DIGs (Deputy
Inspector Generals), Chief Secretary, Home Secretary,
Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the smaller provinces are
appointed from Punjab, the administration and police of the
smaller provinces are imported from Punjab, these provinces are
being controlled from Punjab, rangers and the army is from Punjab.
Could the 1973 Constitution redeem the people of Sindh and
Balochistan from these exploitative situations? Could the 1973
Constitution prevent these provinces from becoming the colony of
the Punjabi Establishment? Could it provide provincial autonomy
to these provinces? No matter how good a Constitution is
formulated, if it does not reorganises the army in such a way
that all the provinces have equal representation then until such
time none of the issues could be resolved. It is, therefore, we
demand that according to the spirit of 1940 Lahore Resolution, a
new liberal and democratic Constitution based on equality of
provinces and nations be formulated for the people of Pakistan.
This Constitution shall provide equal and democratic rights to
all the citizens, and shall honour democracy and fundamental
rights. Wherein all the institutions of the country, including
the army, shall be recomposed, having equal representation of all
nations and provinces. Mr Hussain said that when we speak of the
1940 Resolution, accusations are levelled against us and it is
said that the 1940 Resolution demands for independent States. Mr
Hussain said that we are not advocating for independent states,
it is our stand that while remaining within the Federation, all
the provinces must be provided full provincial autonomy according
to the spirit of the 1940 Resolution. All the present functions
of the Federation with the exception of Defence, Foreign Affairs
and Currency shall be transferred to the provinces. When the Army
would be composed of equal representation of all the nations and
provinces, only then it can effectively and practically be
presented as the National Army of Pakistan. As a result, on the
basis of the majority of a province, the army could never invade
other provinces and neither it could impose martial law. All the
provinces shall have their own Administration, Police and the
Supreme Court.
Explaining to those who are unable to conceive the demand for
provincial autonomy according to the spirit of 1940 Resolution,
Mr Hussain said that the provincial autonomy we demand is like
that enjoyed by the provinces or states in the United States of
America, the United Kingdom and other European countries. Within
United Kingdom, Scotland has its own flag, currency and its own
parliament. Has it disintegrated the United Kingdom? Within the
United States of America, every State has its own Assembly, flag,
supreme court and laws but has not weaken the USA, in fact, it
has strengthen the country. How then providing provincial
autonomy would weaken Pakistan? Addressing those who are accusing
for speaking of 1940 Resolution, Mr Hussain said that if the
Pakistan Resolution of 23 March 1940 was wrong or was later
changed then why the same people celebrate Pakistan Day on 23
March – they should stop celebrating Pakistan Day on 23
March. If according to those people, Quaid-e-Azam changed the
Resolution of 23 March, then celebrating Pakistan Day on 23 March
is tantamount to insulting the Pakistan, Pakistan Resolution and
the decision of Quaid-e-Azam. He said that those who oppose the
Pakistan Resolution of 1940 should first demolish the Minar-e-Pakistan
in Lahore, which is not only the monument of this Resolution but
also the entire Resolution is scripted upon it even today. He
said that when we demand of provincial autonomy according to the
1940 Resolution, then accusations are levelled against us that we
are speaking of disintegrating Pakistan. Mr Hussain assured that
we are not speaking for the disintegration of the country; in
fact, we want to save the country. By providing full powers to
the provinces, the Federation and the country will strengthen.
However, if the policies adopted in 1971 in the East Pakistan
will continue then one could not save the remainder of Pakistan.
Mr Hussain said that for the sake of Allah Almighty, and for the
betterment of the country, please do not term our demand as
“treachery”, listen to us, understand our demands and
have meaningful dialogue in the light of reasoning.
