ALTAF HUSSAIN CATEGORICALLY REJECTS THE MANUFACTURED ELECTION RESULTS OF THE TOTALLY RIGGED ELECTIONS 2002

Karachi – 12 October 2002
Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder & Leader, has categorically rejected the manufactured election results of the totally rigged Elections 2002.  He declared that the political opponents would loose their security deposits if within a week elections are re-held under the UN Monitoring Team.  He was speaking to MQM workers and supporters gathered at the Nine Zero, the MQM Head Office in Karachi.

Mr Hussain said that the election results are bogus, engineered and prepared by the Establishment with a view to award the seats of Karachi to the so-called religious organisations so as to portray Karachi as the city of religious extremists.  He said that the Establishment for a long time has been conspiring to “Talibanise” Karachi.  When they failed in their conspiracies then they decided to rig the election results and through manipulation it is portraying that the cities of Sindh, particularly Karachi, belong to the supporters of Taliban.  Whereas, it is a fact that not only Karachi but the entire Sindh belongs to liberal and moderate minded people. He said that similar to the No Go Areas of Landhi, Korangi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony and Lines Area, the Establishment through rigging and manipulation is now conspiring to turn the remaining areas of the city into No Go Areas through religious extremists supporters of Taliban.  Addressing the Establishment Mr Hussain said, “with the use of State force and gunpoint you could do everything but you could never win the hearts of the people of Karachi, Hyderabad and the entire Sindh.”

Mr Hussain said that the people of Sindh are aware of the election rigging and heinous conspiracies of the Establishment.  He said that millions of people of Sindh had informed the world by attending the MQM Election Rallies throughout Sindh that the majority had voted in favour of MQM.  How the Taliban supporters religious extremists organisations could “genuinely” win the elections when only a very few people attended their diminutive rallies?

Mr Hussain said that the elections has been blatantly rigged, election results manipulated, therefore, we do not accept such bogus and manufactured election results. He challenged that if within a week, elections are re-held then we would not only win with huge majority but also the political opponents would not be able to save their security deposits.

Mr Hussain said that in 1970, the Establishment refused to accept the public mandate of Awami League and instead of transferring power to Awami League, commenced an army operation against them and the outcome is known to all.  Despite the repeated victories of the MQM in consecutive general elections with huge majority, the Establishment has refused to accept MQM’s public mandate and have used oppressive means to crush the MQM.  When they failed in their conspiracy, they then adopted the path of rigging the elections. But they should be aware that such misdemeanours would never last and in the end truth would emerge victorious.

Mr Hussain announced that soon the MQM candidates would prepare their case against this blatant rigging and present it to the Election Commission, courts and other relevant institutions and challenge this Election results.  He also assured that we would continue with peaceful protest until justice is served.  He said that on polling day, dozens of our polling agents in interior Sindh were kidnapped by the waderas (feudal lords) and their terrorists.  He paid tributes to those workers on their determination and resolve.  Mr Hussain said that our aim is not to form government but to attain the rights of deprived people, an equal and just system and we would continue our struggle despite all the riggings and oppression. He paid tributes to all the workers who participated in the election campaign including workers of units, sectors, zones, Sindh Organising Committee, Punjabi Pakhtoon Organising Committee, Labour Division, APMSO, Ladies Wing, Elders Wing, Legal Aid, Medical Aid, Election Cell, Tanzeemi Committee, Coordination Committee and every worker of all the departments at Nine Zero.