The group that had opposed the creation of Pakistan usurped power and cast off the vision of the Quaid-i-Azam
The Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has said that the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had wanted to establish a system in Pakistan in which everyone had equal rights irrespective of their religion, faith and sect. The Quaid-i-Azam had wanted every Pakistani to have equal status in the country but the group that was opposed to the creation of Pakistan and the Pakistan movement usurped power in by casting off the vision and ideology of the Quaid-i-Azam.
Mr Hussain expressed these views in a meeting held at the home of the in-charge of the women wing of the MQM and MNA Ms Kishwar Zehra. The meeting was held on the issues of rising wave of extremism, religious bigotry, lawlessness, and high incidence of intolerance and the ways and means to control these factors.
Prominent political figures, intellectuals, poets, writers, columnists, senior teachers of colleges and universities, senior lawyers, retired bureaucrats, economists, educationists and people belonging to different other spheres of life attended the meeting.
Veteran political leader Mairaj Muhammad Khan, Barrister Iqbal Haider, Abrar Hassan, Ms Fehmida Rayaz, former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan Mr Saleem Raza, former vice chancellor of Karachi University Dr Pirzada Qasim, Shabbar Zaidi, and senior bureaucrat Faisal Saud were some of the participants of the meeting besides many others.
Addressing the gathering Mr Hussain said that the Quaid-i-Azam had stated in unequivocal terms in his speech to the Constituent Assembly on 11th August 1947 that the Muslims, the Hindus, and the Christians were citizens Pakistan having equal status. He had said that everyone in Pakistan would have the right to go to his respective places of worship and that the religion of an individual would have nothing to do with the business of the state.
Mr Hussain said that the Quaid-i-Azam had taught the concepts of unity, faith and discipline and he wanted to see unity and solidarity among the followers of different faiths and sects. He had wanted equal rights for every citizen of Pakistan but the group that had opposed the creation of Pakistan usurped power and cast off the vision of the founder of the country.
Mr Hussain said that the group that had usurped power in Pakistan sowed the seeds of religious extremism in the country. Thousands of religious seminaries were set up throughout the country where the students were told to hate the followers of other religions and sects and they were encouraged to kill the people by declaring them heretics. Hence the religion of peace and security was altered altogether.
Mr Hussain said that the conduct of the extremists holding sway in the country is diametrically opposed to the real teachings of Islam. It was because of their conduct that a false and distorted image of Islam was being propagated in the world. Innocent people belonging to the Shia community were being slaughtered after being identified by checking their identity cards and this was being done in the name of Islam. Videos of the horrific killings were being released and no one was ready to protect the lives of the people.
Mr Hussain said that anarchy prevailed whenever the state failed in its basic duty to protect its citizens. People tend to take the law in their own hands due to the pervading sense of insecurity. If the killings of the people continue unstoppably it ultimately leads to the “killings” of the geography as well.
Mr Hussain said that the unending killings of the people on sectarian grounds was aimed at “killing” Pakistan hence everyone would have to come forward for stopping spilling of innocent blood. Everyone would have to show courage and boycott the elements that were killing people and spreading hatred.
Mr Hussain asked the MQM parliamentarians to raise these issues in the parliament. He also asked the participants of the meeting to make a forum for spreading religious tolerance, sectarian harmony and bringing stability in Pakistan. He stressed upon the participants to make concerted efforts for this purpose.
The participants also expressed their views and highlighted the importance to adopt a united line of action for meeting the challenges of religious bigotry, intolerance, sectarian bloodshed and terrorism.