London
– 6 September 2001
Mr Altaf Hussain,
Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), has stated
that refusing to return the deposits of the National Development
Finance Corporation (NDFC) account holders is tantamount to naked
oppression and robbery. He stated that if the security
deposits of the account holders were not immediately returned
then the MQM would call for a countrywide general strike to
protest against this Government oppression. He said that
thousands of account holders have deposited their lifesavings in
the NDFC but the Government, with a single stroke of pen, has
merged the NDFC into a new institution, with no consideration for
returning the deposit money to the account holders. Instead
the account holders, who deposited their lifesavings, are being
degraded and tormented when they demand for the return of their
deposit. He said that the Government itself is involved in
plundering the security deposits of the public and calling it
legitimate then it should release all the dacoits and robbers
from the prisons of the country. How could the Government
justifiably keep them incarcerated when the Government itself is
doing the same, he asked
Mr Hussain asked
what kind of justice is it that the feudal lords and jaagirdars
involved in looting and plundering billions of rupees from the
national exchequer have been pardoned but the poor people are
being denied the refund of their own deposited funds. Mr
Hussain demanded of the establishment to end the government
lavishness, auction the properties of those who have looted and
plundered the national wealth and use these funds to fully
compensate the NDFC account holders. He reiterated that
every single penny of the NDFC account holders must be returned;
otherwise the MQM would call for a countrywide general strike.
Mr Hussain also
appealed to the political and religious parties, who claim to be
the sympathisers of the public, to call for a general strike on
this one-point; and the MQM will support their strike call.
Mr Hussain said that on one hand the Government appeals to the
overseas Pakistanis to send foreign exchange into the country and
deposit their wealth in government banks, whereas on the other
hand the Government is refusing to refund the deposits of the
account holders, which is tantamount to coercion.
Mr Altaf Hussain appealed to the overseas Pakistanis that in such state of affairs they should refrain from investing in Pakistani banks. Addressing the NDFC account holders, Mr Hussain said that the MQM fully sympathise with them and would raise its voice on every available platform.