MQM chief fetes party’s labour team, exhorts govt and politicians to mend their ways

Second rally for women will be held in Lahore.

KARACHI: Find a serious solution or say the Fateha, came the warning for the government from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain as he dwelt on the conditions in Balochistan on Tuesday.

Altaf was speaking to party supporters at the 25th convention of the MQM’s labour division, held at the Lal Qila ground in Azizabad. “Prepare for a revolution,” he said, addressing those who he said have been denying labourers, farmers and workers their rights. He also railed against corruption, and said that “corrupt people [should] be fired from national institutions.”

He condemned Tuesday’s massacre of Shias, who were shot dead while travelling from Gilgit-Baltistan to Rawalpindi.

Altaf paid tribute to his party’s labour division members who have been killed over the decades and said that “their contributions in the struggle cannot be surpassed”. He reminded the party’s supporters to not forget the sacrifices of those who had died.

“The country where the labourer is happy is one that will progress,” Altaf said. “This struggle is not over. Every supporter should know that the way ahead is difficult but if we continue to struggle in a strong and steadfast manner than Insha’Allah, success will be ours.” He regretted that workers in Pakistan faced economic challenges and he called on the owners of factories and mills to permanently hire their long-time contractual employees. He also noted that pensioners had to wait for long periods to be paid. He reminded those running institutions that delay pension payments that “they too have to retire someday”.

Altaf said he had learnt that several media houses were not paying their employees and that their owners should rectify the situation. He asked the rulers of the country, “to save Pakistan Steel Mill, Pakistan International Airlines, Pakistan Railways and other large institutions”.

“I request the government to give workers an allowance to offset inflation,” he said. “All financial institutions should end ‘anti-labour’ steps.”

He told labourers it was essential to work hard to earn an honest wage.

Altaf congratulated the MQM labour division on its 25th anniversary and thanked it for its help in organising the party’s recent rally for women. “I pray to God that He give you more strength,” he said.

“The second historic rally for women is in Lahore,” he said, chanting aloud, “Chalo chalo, Lahore chalo.” The MQM chief reiterated his congratulations to Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and the country on her award. He also condemned the infamous episode of violence against the staff at a polling station in Tando Mohammad Khan during the recent by-elections. “I request the chief and provincial election commissioner not to take sides. Give them justice according to merit.”

He noted that there had been a display of arms and firing during the by-elections and urged the authorities to cancel the results wherever these episodes take place.

Calling on all major political leaders, from Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif to Munawar Hasan, Altaf asked them to condemn that women were not allowed to vote in various parts of the country. “I condemn this kind of rubbish,” he said. “Those who have this kind of mentality have rubbish filled in their heads.”

The ground and nearby houses were covered with posters of Altaf- some with photos of him rousing crowds during his early days as a student leader, others of him in recent years.

Cheers for him from parts of the crowd rang out, and the party tunes - versions of popular Pakistani songs reworked to make them MQM anthems - played before his address. MQM supporters released balloons in the party flag colours as well as pigeons and celebrated by showering confetti and rose petals on the ground.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 29^th, 2012.