IF RIGHTS NOT GRANTED, SINDH MAY PUT HER DEMAND FOR RIGHTS IN ACCORDNACE WITH THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS -- ALTAF HUSSAIN

Photographs of Mr. Altaf Hussain's address to Site Association of Industry -- Click here

London-10 September 2002
Mr Altaf Hussain, founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) said that if Sindh was not provided her rights and the establishment did not change its attitude then the people of Sindh would have no alternative but to seek their rights according to the Charter of the United Nations. He appealed to the people at the helm of affairs that for God’s Sake! Provide rights to Sindh province and other minority provinces to save Pakistan .  He said this while addressing a reception over the telephone from London arranged by the SITE Association in Karachi . Besides, the leaders of the MQM, the office bearers of the SITE Association, businessmen and industrialists were present in the reception in  large number.

Mr Altaf Hussain emphasised that the economy and economic stability of any country was dependent on its good governance. He further said that country was being governed on ad hoc basis for the past 55 years and country had been suffering from political instability. It was, therefore, the indigenous industrialists and entrepreneurs are scared to invest in the country and if they were trembling in fear then how on earth could the foreign investors be expected to invest and how could the country become economically stable?

Mr Altaf Hussain claimed that in any country where double standard was in vogue under which the entrepreneurs and industrialists had to overcome complex steps and procedures through bribe and corruption while on the other hand, the smuggling was carried out under the state patronisation then how could there be economic stability and progress in such countries. He further reiterated that wherever dual standards are maintained people suffer from restiveness, frustration and tension and how could the entrepreneurs concentrate on business and trading confronting such conditions. He further asserted that dual standard could be visualised by one example that industries in Karachi were provided electricity at the rate of Rupees 6,500 per kilowatt whereas the same electricity was provided at the rate of Rupees 950 outside Sindh province. He further said that it was the travesty of justice that the province, which provides over 60 per cent to the national exchequer, was provided electricity at the rate of Rupees 6,500 per kilowatt while others contributing only 33 were provided electricity at the rate of Rupees 950 per kilowatt. He further added that if people who raised the voice against this travesty of justice were to be crushed by the state after being labelled as treacherous and anti-state, this act alone would be sufficient to push them to a different path.

Mr Altaf Hussain reiterated that Karachi was deprived of her rights during every successive regime and government while this city contributes over 60 per cent of the total revenue generated by the national exchequer either in the form of sales tax, income tax or other duties. Sufferings have always being inflicted over the entrepreneurs of Karachi. Instead of providing them relief, they have always been treated as criminals and not as noble citizens. He further asserted that total tax is collected from the industrialists and businessmen of Karachi but the required electricity and water was not provided to their industries and enterprises. The trading rules and regulations were deliberately made intricate that its application was impossible and if anyone violates it inadvertently, the state does not even hesitate in registering cases and incarcerating the entrepreneurs. The industrialists and businessmen of Karachi were harassed by the state authorities when sought clearances from different departments and agencies for their imports and exports. The charges of smuggling were framed against the entrepreneurs of Karachi by levying different clauses of the Customs Acts while same acts of the industrialists and businessmen from other provinces were legitimised through legislations. For example, he quoted an act promulgated on 11^th. April 1998 under which an order was issued to legitimise the smuggled cars by paying the duties. He added that how could a rule of law be established in a country where the entrepreneurs would by harassed by instituting dual legal system? He also quoted the in-equitability practiced through carrying out smuggling under the pretext of Afghan Transit Trade.

Mr Altaf Hussain, deliberating on the agricultural taxes, said that taxes after taxes were collected from the industrialists, businessmen and traders but no income taxes were collected from the feudal lords on the income derived from their lands, which were worth trillions of Rupees. If taxes were collected on the produce from the feudal lords, it would amount to 10 billion Rupees. Talking about the Pre-Shipment scheme, he said that it was indeed the lawmakers who benefited from this scheme and not the entrepreneurs while crores of Rupees were collected under the rubric of “Iqra” surcharge but no school or college were established. Continuing his speech, he stated that how could there be stability in the country where widespread manipulations, corruptions and plunder is taking place?

Mr Altaf Hussain proclaimed that if the MQM was given rights and full power to rule Sindh then not only the local investors would investment in abundance but the overseas investors would also flock to Sindh. He said that he knew that the Establishment has enormous powers but awareness in Sindh is also fast approaching, and if the Establishment did not mend its attitude then the oppressed people of Sindh would be justified in choosing any course for themselves. He challenged the audience to mark words that the centre had to give Sindh her rights, end discriminate treatment and atrocities because the differences between the permanent citizens of Sindh were bridging and they are uniting under the banner of “Muttahida”.

Mr Altaf Hussain reminded the Establishment that the United Nations Charter also subscribes to the struggles of the people for their sustenance and provides rights to demand for equal rights. He said that the people are more or less tired of demanding their rights but the people at the helm of affairs are not prepared to grant them their rights. If Sindh was not provided her rights and the Establishment did not change its iniquitous behaviour then the people of Sindh may demand their rights in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and once again, he appealed to the people at the helm of affairs to provide Sindh and other minority provinces their rights to save Pakistan. He desired stability of Pakistan. He further reiterated that Sindh contributes 60 per cent of the total income to the national exchequer and if that 60 per cent was deducted then only 40 per cent was left, could the country be governed from that 40 per cent? He fully supported the points raised by the business community and assured them that policies would be formulated having their points in view should the MQM formed the next government and would also raise their points in the Assemblies and the Senate.                                       

Mr Altaf Hussain reminded the President General Parvez Musharraf that enormous discrimination had been practised against Sindh and demanded of him to grant Sindh at least five years tax moratorium and bring parity in water and electricity rates between Sindh and Punjab, “Heating Tax” be levied on Sui Southern Gas, begin work on the desalination projects, revive Karachi Mass Transit Programme by retrieving it from the governmental cold storage and to resolve the problems faced by the business community of Karachi. There was a question and answer session after the conclusion of the speech.