MQM STANDS SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THE MINORITIES
London – 29th July 2005 MQM Founder Leader Mr Altaf Hussain has stated that minorities are equal citizens of Pakistan and when the MQM will come into power in the centre and provinces minorities will not be discriminated because all citizens of Pakistan are equal and have equal rights. He further stated that the MQM will strive to make Pakistan as envisaged by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah where we will promote love and peace and no one will hate each other on the basis of religion. He was addressing the historic Minority Convention attended by thousands of members of minorities organised in Karachi by the MQM.
Mr Hussain said that by attending today’s gathering in such large numbers, the minorities of Pakistan have expressed their wishes in the form of referendum in favour of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM). In the 57 years history of Pakistan never has such a huge congregation of minorities including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis etc, witnessed. After their experiences with other political parties, the minorities have today demonstrated that they consider the MQM as their only sympathiser, which fully comprehends about their rights. The participation of elders, women and children in Muttahida’s convention is a testament that the minorities are united under the banner of the MQM.
Addressing the participants, Mr Hussain said that previously only the rich were able to represent the minorities from the platform of other political parties who were oblivious to the plight and miseries faced by the poor and middle class people. How can they be aware of the predicament faced by the poor and middle class people. All such so-called minority leaders have deceived their constituent and no one struggled for the rights of minorities. MQM is the only political party of the country which for the first time in the 57 year history of Pakistan not only sent the Muslim representatives from the poor and middle class to the parliament but also nominated members of minority groups from the poor and middle class to be elected as honourable members of the parliament. He said that Muttahida is the only party of the poor and middle class people; it has emerged from the people and is for the people. The MQM fulfils the definition of being a true democratic party and the only such political party in Pakistan.
Mr Hussain assured the participants that the MQM is against all sorts of discrimination and will continue to struggle for the rights of the minorities in Pakistan and that we consider them as our brothers, mothers, sisters and daughters. He announced that when the MQM will come into power in the centre and provinces minorities will not be discriminated because all citizens of Pakistan are equal and have equal rights. He also announced that under the MQM rule all those trying to attack the worship places of minorities will be brought to justice. He said that those Muslims who resort to violence and spread hatred against the minorities are not Muslims. Islam not only preaches respect for the worship places of Muslims but it also provides guarantee of protection to the worship places of non-Muslims. The so-called mullahs who spread hatred against the minorities in the name of Islam do not fulfil the criteria of being a devout Muslim. Islam is the religion of peace and does not allow injustices against anyone be it a Muslim or a non-Muslim. He said that these so-called mullahs whether in Pakistan or abroad, they brainwash the youth and preach hatred for personal gains. He reminded that by being in majority if one would preach hatred against the minorities in our country then we are actually inviting the people of other religions throughout the world to treat the Muslims which are in minority in their respective countries in the same manner. These people are not at all serving humanity.
On this occasion Mr Hussain quoted the presidential address of Quaid-e-Azam
Mohammad Ali Jinnah to the first constituent assembly of Pakistan on 11th August
1947 where he said, “Now, I think we should keep that in front of us as our
ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus
and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that
is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens
of the State…
You are free;
you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any
other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion
or caste or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”
However, the so-called mullahs have turned Jinnah’s
Pakistan into
a Pakistan of extremists. He reiterated that with our united struggle we will
strive to make this Jinnah’s Pakistan again where we will promote love and peace
and no one will hate each other on the basis of religion. Where no one will
cause damage to other and everyone will help each other. Mr Hussain said that
his ideology is to respect all religions as no religion preaches for hatred or
bloodshed. Quoting the Holy Quran Mr Hussain said that the Allah Almighty is for
the entire universe and not only for the Muslims and He is the most Gracious and
Merciful. When the Allah Almighty is not discriminating then who are we to
spread hatred and to destroy and damage the worship places of the minorities.
Mr Hussain said that the feudal system is prevalent in the country in collusion with the Establishment of the country. Negative propaganda campaign was launched against the MQM and several attempts on his life were made. Thereafter, my companions decided that it is now time for me to leave the country and guide the party from abroad. He said that he has been living in exile for the past 14 years. Even today I long to return to my country but my companions advise me not to because when even worship places in the country are not safe and even the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan are being attacked then I should remain in exile. He said that a day will come when he will be amongst his people and when he will return he will buy a piece of land and within its boundaries construct a mosque, a temple and a church where people from different religion will be able to pray and also shake hands with each other. He reminded of his time in Pakistan when on the occasion of Christmas, the Christian fraternity used to visit his house, cut the cake and pray. The Hindu fraternity also used to visit his house.
He said that we are struggling for peace and brotherhood amongst all the religious minorities of Pakistan. He announced that if any so-called mullah will attempt to target any religious community then the MQM and its workers will stand as a front wall against all such atrocities. He said that MQM wishes to take the country in the 21st Century by opening more educational institutions, more health institutions and hospitals. He instructed the Haq Parast Ministers and Members of Assemblies to establish educational institutions and hospitals and also to raise their voice against discrimination in the assemblies.
In the end Mr Hussain said that he feels that the spirit of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah will be pleased with today’s show of unity. Today the Muslims, Christians, Hindus and other members of the minorities are united under the banner of the MQM just like members of one big family. Addressing the participants he said, “today we have become member of one family. I assure you all that MQM is and will always stand shoulder to shoulder with the minorities”. He said that we should not be deceived by the rhetoric of the extremists. We should love each other because every religion preaches of love and affection.
On this occasion he praised the workers and volunteers and paid them tribute for organizing such a historic public meeting of minorities.