Altaf Hussain offers to step down from leadership

London – 1 November 2000

Mr Altaf Hussain, founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has sought guidance on “what he ought to do”, from the Mohajir dignitaries, intellectuals, journalists, poets, authors, writers, columnists, academics, doctors, engineers, scientists, professors, lawyers, religious scholars, mothers, sisters, youths, elders in particular, the righteous segments of the oppressed nations belonging to the middle class and downtrodden people in general in an appeal issued from London.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that after the commencement of the Army Operation on 19 June 1992, the Army offered that if Altaf Hussain announces to step down from the leadership then they would not only end the operation against the Mohajir but also all the detainees will be freed within 48 hours. Mr Hussain said that on the assurances that the legitimate demands of the Mohajirs would be fulfilled; he announced his retirement from politics. However, despite making this announcement, the Army Generals at the helm of affairs did not fulfil their pledge. Thereafter, on the demand of the Mohajirs and the MQM workers he once again took charge of the leadership.

Mr Altaf Hussain stated that during his twenty-two years of struggle he has not experienced anything else but despair, sufferings and tears. He said that he suppressed all the desires that are cherished by the people between the age bracket of twenty-two and forty-seven years. Having been continually engrossed in the struggle, he was unable to see the important tourists spot of his country. He posed the question, would they believe that he had not even seen the famous spots like Murree, Swat, beautiful valleys of Kashmir and Baluchistan. He reiterated that his colleagues in London stand witness that he had not even seen the important tourists and beauty spots of London despite living there for the past nine years. He said that he had all the offers and privileges presented by the State intelligence agencies to lead a luxurious life but he did not compromise with his cause, conscience and principles. He further stated that everyone is well aware that he neither contested for the Provincial and National Assembly or the Senate elections nor he has any desire of becoming the Prime Minister or the President. He stated that he had been and would continue to struggle for the abolition of the medieval feudal system from the country and the attainment of the rights of the downtrodden people of Pakistan, including the Mohajirs. He further said that in the aftermath of the facts unravelled by him, the chauvinists of the country at the helm of affairs have stooped to abusive and obscene utterances instead of responding with logic and rationale. They are levelling charges of anti-state and sedition against him, giving him the title of Rushdie and terming the patriotic Mohajirs as Indian agents. The Establishment, writers and intellectuals from Punjab and certain Mohajir dignitaries and intellectuals were busy creating a perception over the downtrodden peoples in general and Mohajirs in particular that the cause for their sufferings was his leadership.

Mr Hussain questioned the people whether they also had similar beliefs. Mr Hussain asked that if the Mohajir dignitaries, intellectuals, the downtrodden people and Mohajirs hold him responsible for all the difficulties then he is ready to voluntarily step-down from the leadership of the struggle. And in such situation, the Mohajir dignitaries, intellectuals, the downtrodden people and the Mohajirs have the right to handover the leadership of the struggle to whosoever they deem fit. He further added that he would continue to participate as a worker in the struggle for the rights in the light of the policies of the new leader.

Mr Hussain said that please send your comments in this regard to the following addresses and contact numbers as soon as possible so that he could make a decision under the light of these comments about “what he ought to do”.

1. MQM International Secretariat

70 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5ES

Phone: ++442083589000

Fax: ++442089059527

Email: [email protected]

2. MQM Head Office -- Nine Zero

494/8 Azizabad, Federal B Area, Karachi

Phone: ++9221 6313690, ++9221 6329900

Fax: ++9221 6329955

Urdu Version