Nawabshah:
22 January 2001
MQM
leader Mr. Altaf Hussain has demanded for an immediate release of Sindh’s share
of water supply and in the NFC Award, he was talking to Sindhi journalists and
people of all ages after his address in Nawabshah. On the question about Sindho Desh he remarked that JSQM considers
independence is the only solution to the problems of Sindh whereas we seek
complete provincial autonomy within the Federation of Pakistan, according to
the spirit of 1940 resolution – provinces should be free of Federal
interference and run their affairs independently. But if the establishment
continues to usurp the rights of Sindh by force like they did in 1971, then no
one will pay heed to Altaf Hussain and everyone may raise the same slogan as
raised by the JSQM.
While
commenting about ARD’s plan to launch a campaign against military rule Mr.
Altaf Hussain said that MQM is a democratic party and never in favour of
military government. If ARD is sincere
to the people it must talk about the provincial autonomy in accordance with the
spirit of 1940 resolution. We will
never accept the hegemony of Punjabi establishment in the guise of so called
democracy that ARD is propagating and instead of restoring democracy, martial
law is imposed as has happened in the past, he declared.
One
Sindhi elder informed Mr. Altaf Hussain that water supply in Sindh had been
discontinued for the last three months and it is not likely to start for
another two months. Even the IRSA
officials are protecting the interests of Punjab -- the crops are ruined -- you
should lodge a protest with the establishment.
Mr Altaf Hussain responding the issue raised said that we demand for the
rightful share of water in Sindh and in the NFC award, and the supply of water
should commence immediately. Actually Sindh is no longer an autonomous province
but the colony of Punjabi establishment and colonial subjects do not have any rights.
Until and unless we rid ourselves of Punjabi establishment’s hegemony, we shall
continue to be deprived of our fundamentals rights, he declared. While replying to another question Mr. Altaf
Hussain stated that our delegates are already active in the rural areas of
Sindh. We shall reorganise MQM from
Karachi to Kashmore where Sindhi speaking will join hands with their
Urdu-speaking brothers. Mr. Hussain thanked the Sindhi journalists present in
the gathering for their participation.
END