FREEDOM IS A BLESSING WHEREAS SLAVERY IS A CURSE AND A SIGN OF DISGRACEFUL LIFE – ALTAF HUSSAIN

London – 15 June 2000

Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder and Leader, has said that freedom is a blessing whereas slavery is a curse and a sign of disgraceful life. Birth of a person is a sign of ‘freedom’ and every person learns this lesson immediately after birth. Therefore, ‘freedom’ is the right of every person and any effort to usurp this right is tantamount to slaying the humanity. It is not a sin to raise the slogan of ‘freedom’. The slogan of freedom does not necessarily mean that the people are demanding for a separate state – it could also mean freedom from tyranny, freedom from the tyrannical system of the Establishment, freedom of political activities, etc. Similarly, we too want freedom from the oppression and the tyrannical system of the Establishment.

Mr Hussain expressed these thoughts at the 22^nd anniversary of the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (AMPSO) in Azizabad, Karachi. Expressing his thoughts on ‘freedom’, Mr Hussain said that freedom is a blessing whereas slavery is a curse and a sign of disgraceful life. Birth of a person is a sign of ‘freedom’ and every person learns this lesson immediately after birth. He further elucidated that for nine months the unborn child receives nourishment in the womb of the mother where it receives food and oxygen through the mother. Which means that unborn child is dependent on the mother for its sustenance. If during pregnancy, the mother dies or meets with an accident then the unborn child will also die along with the mother. Sometime it happens that at the time of birth (i.e. during delivery), because of some physical complications the mother gives birth to the child but dies in the process. The child thus born remains alive and does not die with the mother because he gets freedom from body of the mother. As long as the child remains in the womb of the mother, it is dependent on the life of the mother; his life is related to the mother and the body of the mother. However, after nine months, when the child is born its dependency ends and for the first time it breathes without any link to the mother. This process of birth is a ‘freedom’ after captivity of nine months. Mr Hussain said that dependency whether of mother’s body, of the system or any other thing – dependency is always related to someone or something. Therefore, the process of birth teaches us the lesson to be free and not to remain enslaved, do not remain dependent and instead stand on your own feet.

Mr Hussain said that it is not a sin to raise the slogan of ‘freedom’. The slogan of freedom does not necessarily means that the people are demanding for a separate state – it could also mean freedom from tyranny, freedom from the tyrannical system of the Establishment, freedom of political activities, etc. Similarly, we too want freedom from the oppression and the tyrannical system of the Establishment. We want such just system to be established in the country where every person has a right to freely live his life but to compel people to live like prisoners is deplorable. Therefore, ‘freedom’ is the right of every person and any effort to usurp this right is tantamount to slaying the humanity.

Mr Hussain said that geographical boundaries are not the verses of the Holy Quran that cannot be altered. It is, therefore, written in the United Nations Charter that if people (i.e. different cultural, ethnic and religious entities) living within a geographical boundary feel that their rights are not safeguarded then for the purpose of their survival they can demand the ‘right of self determination’. Mr Hussain asserted that we believe in the philosophy of ‘live and let live’, we do not desire to become the masters and neither we would become slaves of anyone. In the past, we never surrendered against the tyranny and oppression and would not do so in the future. Our struggle is for freedom from the shackles of the tyrannical system and the achievement of the rights for Mohajirs including all the oppressed nations.

In his address, Mr Hussain explained in detail the meaning of the word ‘Movement’. He said that ‘Movement’ has been derived from ‘motion’, which means to be active. If a Movement is not active then it cannot be called a ‘Movement’. He said that Movements are not established for individual interests but for collective interest, therefore, after joining a Movement, one should sacrifice his interests along with the interests of his family. Mr Hussain said that it is necessary for the success of a Movement to consciously accept the cause of the Movement and to totally submit oneself to the Movement. When a person totally submits himself then he kills his ego. Mr Hussain said that ‘total submission’ tantamount to devotion and commitment. At this moment Mr Hussain explained the rule, ‘Total Submission + Devotion With Hard Work = Victory’. He further said that where there is total submission then there is no personal friendship and the only friendship is that with the ‘Movement’. If there will be no personal friendship then no groups could ever be formed. He emphasised that all the members of the Movement should kill their ego because in presence of their ego there could never be total submission and groups will be formed. Mr Hussain once again advised to the office bearers and workers to kill their egos and totally submit themselves for the Movement so that your friendship will only be with the Movement and not with any individual of the Movement, which will in turn effectively prevent any formation of a group. He asked them to spread this message to each and every member of the Movement. He also asked every office bearer and worker to analyse in the light of above, if he or she has totally submitted himself or herself to the Movement or not?