ALL SMALLER NATIONS AND ETHNO-LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL GROUPS BE PROVIDED EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, REPRESENTATION AND TREATMENT – ALTAF HUSSAIN

London – 13 November 2001
Mr Altaf Hussain, Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), has said that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said in clear words that before pleading or preaching others one should first act or practice himself or herself, what he or she is preaching or pleading. Keeping this Hadith in mind, one should act himself first before preaching others.

Mr Hussain was commenting on the remarks of General Parvez Musharraf in a Press Conference in Turkey, in which he stated that Afghanistan is a multi-ethnic country.  General Parvez Musharraf further said that now, the Northern Alliance has captured many important cities including Kabul and, therefore, there is no Pashtun representation at present.  General Parvez Musharraf pleading the case of Pashtun stated that the Forces of the United Nations in collaboration with OIC countries should be stationed in Afghanistan to ensure proper representation to each and every ethnic group including the Pashtun.

Mr Hussain said that he was delighted that General Parvez Musharraf has not only accepted the existence of multi-ethnic groups in Afghanistan but also strongly advocated the representation of each and every ethnic group in Afghanistan.  Referring to the views of General Parvez Musharraf, Mr Hussain asked that does he believe that Pakistan is also a country of multi-ethnic groups having different cultures and languages.  Does he believe that all the ethnic groups and smaller ethno-linguistic nations be also provided equal treatment, representation and share in the affairs of the Government, national wealth and resources according to the spirit of the United Nations Charter?  If General Parvez Musharraf cannot do so in his own country what he is preaching or pleading for Afghanistan then how could he preach what he himself is not practising?  He asked General Parvez Musharraf would he ask the United Nations and OIC countries to station its forces in Pakistan to ensure equal representation of all the ethno-linguistic groups in Pakistan.

He said that he would be waiting for the reply of his questions raised in this statement and it is the moral obligation of the President of Pakistan to respond to his questions. If General Parvez Musharraf responds to foreign journalists then why could he not respond to his fellow countrymen? Finally, he said that the resolution of the multi ethnic problems in Pakistan has been pending for the past fifty-four years.