I stand by the facts presented about the religious creed of the Quaid-i-Azam: Altaf Hussain

Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has said that he had stated historical facts about the religious creed of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah after thorough research, and he stood by what he had said. I would challenge all those people who think that I have presented wrong facts. They should try to disprove me by substantiating their claims with historical facts.

Mr Hussain said that he would accept the challenge willingly and produce additional facts before the national with reasoning as the issue related to the national security and solidarity of Pakistan. He said this while talking to the delegations of Shia Ulema, Zakirin, and office-bearers of various Imam Bargahs in the zonal office of the MQM in Lahore, the Punjab House. The delegations included Shia Ulema from Lahore, Toba Tek Singh, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sialkot, Multan and Islamabad.

The Ulema thanked Mr Hussain for raising a forceful voice against the killings of the people belonging to the Shia community and said that the statements issued by Mr Hussain were based on facts.

Speaking to the Ulema Mr Hussain said that he had always condemned oppression. He said that he believed that it was the height of injustice to kill innocent people by pulling them out of buses after checking their names on the identity cards and ensuring that they were Shias. He said that he was a Sunni Muslim, and he had supported the oppressed people who had been greatly wronged and he had not spoken about the Jafria sect in particular.

Mr Hussain said that his parents had always taught him to support the people on the right and not to go after the majority. Hence he had supported the truth and he would continue to do so without caring about the consequences.

Mr Hussain said that he firmly stood by his statement that the Quaid-i-Azam belonged to the Khoja Twelver Shia sect. Hence killing any innocent citizen merely because he was a Shia was the same as killing the Quaid-i-Azam and the killing of the Quaid-i-Azam meant killing Pakistan itself. He asserted that the true follower of Hazrat Hussain was one who stood by the oppressed and the weak and lent his support to them.

Mr Hussain said that he had prayed for all the people killed in the incidents of targeted killings or bomb blasts in Gilgit-Baltistan, Quetta, Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore or any other city, whether they were Sunnis or Shias. He prayed Allah to give the status of martyrdom to all the people and give patience to their family members.

Mr Hussain said that Pakistan was surrounded by internal as well as external threats. In the present difficult circumstances, the country needed solidarity, stability, unity, and religious and sectarian harmony among the followers all the religions and schools of thoughts. He said that it was his sincere desire to forge unity among the followers of religions, sects and schools of thoughts in the country in order to defeat the nefarious designs of the enemies of the country who were killing innocent people in a heartless manner.

Mr Hussain said that all the leaders should work for this goal but regretted that they were keeping a silent on this important issue. He assured the members of the delegations that each worker of the MQM would continue to work for religious and sectarian harmony.