The Daily DAWN, Friday July 17, 1998

Muttahida, JSQM vow to fight jointly for Sindh's rights
By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI, July 16: Leaders of the Muttahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz have decided to formulate a unified strategy on issues of common concern in the larger interest of Sindh.

The MQM leaders, who met, for the first time, the Sindhi nationalists leaders at Hyder Manzil here on Thursday, deliberated on the issues being confronted by smaller provinces due to the "short-sighted" policies of the federal government.

The meeting was held following the telephonic contacts between MQM chief Altaf Hussain and JSQM leaders Syed Imdad Mohammad Shah, Jalal Mehmood Shah, Bashir Qureshi and Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, chief of Jamhoori Watan Party in which the issues of injustices meted out to smaller provinces were raised and a need for a unified strategy was expressed.

Those represented the MQM at the meeting were Anees Qaimkhani, Anees advocate, Dr Farooq Sattar and Provincial Minister Shoaib Bokhari while JSQM was represented by Imdad Mohammad Shah son of late G.M. Syed, JSQM leaders Bashir Qureshi and Waheed Aresar, Deputy Speaker Sindh Assembly Jalal Mehmood Shah and Shafiq Mohammad.

After the meeting, which lasted for 45 minutes, MQM Parliamentary Party leader in the Sindh Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar and the JSQM chief Bashir Qureshi briefed newsmen about the outcome of their talks.

Dr Farooq Sattar said the meeting specifically discussed among other issues the centre's move to construct Kalabagh Dam, National Finance Commission Award and the controversial census figures, etc.. There was a complete harmony on these issues and they have decided to increase mutual contacts to safeguard the interests of Sindh, he said.

In this connection, he further said, the next meeting will be held at the MQM headquarter Nine Zero (90).

Dr Farooq Sattar said the purpose of contacts between the two parties was to make joint efforts for resolving the problems, to overcome rural and urban divide and to create an atmosphere of mutual love and respect.

Referring to the situation prevailing in Karachi, the meeting expressed concern over violence and termed it an outcome of a deep conspiracy against the metropolis, he said.

The MQM leader said they had established this contact with JSQM leaders on the instruction of their party chief, Altaf Hussain.

To a question, he said they would have to keep an eye on the conspiracies of those who did not like to see Sindhis and Mohajirs coming closer to each other.

Dr Sattar said the outstanding grave issues being faced by Sindh pertained to the KBD project, NFC award, census and "the state-sponsored terrorism in Sindh, particularly in Karachi," and leaders from both the parties expressed their candid views on these issues and agreed to continue mutual contacts and meetings in order to work out some concrete course of action to resolve the issues.

He added the JSQM leaders had endorsed the MQM's stand on ongoing killings and "plundering" in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, and expressed grave concern over the law and order situation.

JSQM leader Bashir Qureshi said: "The purpose of our meeting and contacts is to send a message of mutual love and affinity throughout the province and to give a befitting reply to the enemies".

"All those living in any part of Sindh are sons of the soil and they have to perform their duty to safeguard the interests of Sindh."

"Sindhis have already declared a war against the forces of exploitation, but now collectively with the Mohajirs who are being victimised by the agencies, we have decided to launch a joint struggle for the interests of Sindh," he said.