A day after the Pakistan Peoples Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement managed to push through a controversial local government ordinance, MQM chief Altaf Hussain criticised those who opposed it as ‘enemies of democracy’ and hypocrites.
In an address to MQM workers in Karachi, Altaf criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for its support to Sindh nationalist groups, who have announced a strike protesting the new local government system on September 13.
The speech - as fiery as it was in Altaf’s typical style - was still a toned down version of his conversation with the Coordination Committees of the MQM in Karachi and London late Friday night. That conversation had focused on the Awami National Party (ANP).
Altaf had stressed that party activists be “mentally and physically prepared” to defeat “conspiratorial elements” that were on the payroll of “hidden forces” and trying to “destroy peace in Sindh”. He asked party activists to display bravery and strength to oppose these ‘elements’.
Altaf said that these elements were opposing the local government ordinance. He said the united workers of the MQM and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would defeat these efforts.
Focusing on the ANP, Altaf accused the party of serving foreign interests. He said the party was supporting a British-era system, and the opposition to the local government system was a sign of feudal mentality. He said those opposing the system were not Pakistan’s friends, but its foes. The announced threats and strike by nationalist parties would not be successful, as such efforts had not been successful in the past. He called on women, children, students, elders, traders, industrialists, farmers, the working class and people from all professions to make the strike call ineffective.
In his speech on Saturday, Altaf asked the leaders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to end their criticism. “Stop worrying about Sindh, worry about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The majority of Pashtun and Pashto-speaking people in Karachi support the MQM.”
Altaf also spoke to President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday. According to a statement issued by the MQM, the president said that the local government system had been introduced to solve the problems faced by people and to transfer power to the grassroots. President Zardari said that the PPP, of which he is co-chairperson, would work with the MQM and all other coalition partners to solve the issues of the people of Sindh.
In his speech on Saturday evening, Altaf said that, “It was the duty of all provinces and provincial governments to hold local government elections and establish a local government system. Only Sindh did it and the other three provinces have opposed it.”
“Three prime ministers have been martyred from Sindh and it is Sindh that will save Pakistan,” Altaf said.
Saturday’s speech also saw Altaf criticise the PML-N and Sindh nationalist groups. “They stole the name of Quaid-e-Azam’s Muslim League and added an ‘N’ to it,” he said, referring to the Nawaz Sharif-led party. “The PML-N is conspiring against Pakistan by supporting separatists who have called for ‘Sindhu desh’,” referring to the long demand of separatist groups in Sindh for a separate country. He also criticised nationalist groups for only having a message of ‘hate’ and of never being able to win votes.
“The PML-N has been stealing the rights of the people of South Punjab, Bahawalpur and the Seraiki belt for 65 years,” he alleged. “It is conspiring to break up the country but this conspiracy will never be successful as long as the MQM is here.”
“By using separatist groups, do you think the MQM’s message won’t spread to Punjab?” he said, addressing the PML-N. “The MQM has spread to every village in Punjab.”
Altaf reiterated his appeal to make the September 13 strike unsuccessful. He wrapped up his speech with another talking point he has had for the past few weeks - denouncing the injustices to members of minority religions, calling for Rimsha Masih to be released and declaring that Shias and Sunnis were brothers and that the killings of Shias should stop.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2012.
COMMENTS (33)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@ All Karachiites: The main problem is that since inception of LG system all the chunk of budget and developments goes to urban area, so you are ultimately responsible for deteriorating condition of other areas of Sindh....YOU are the grabbers. Thats the problem (Those who are already privileged are asking for more and more....YOU are greedy)
@aysha everybody is a migrant in this world if we look at last 200 years history. How can an old-migrant forgets and denies the rights of a new migrant. Please get over the linguistic and ethnic complexes as it has been more than 65 years. How could one undermine the rights and value of "economic migrants" who actually made what Karachi is today.
@Peace Lover: Only Sindhis old and new are the stakeholders of the province of Sindhi, all others can stay at the periphery of political action and should quietly watch or if they are 'part and parcel' of urban Sindh they should be willing to give up their identity and become new Sindhis.
@Randomstranger: Dont know how many generations of Beharis will have to sacrifice their lives before they are considered PAKISTANI. Starting in 1947, those whosurvived the worst riots laid their lives in 1971 and were punished and pushed ino camps for suporting the federation of Pakistan. These Beharies aspiring to be considered Pakitanis live and die in Sindh and are parmanently located in urban Sindh. Prejudice is one human susceptibility that may never be overcome
@Dean: the inherent problem when representatives of middle class people negotiates with the predominanly of feudals
@Hairaan: Interesting to see the issue of urdu speaking brought into the debate. My point is that they should try assimilate and become part of the place their economic needs have brought them to. Those who are working in Punjab or for that matter any other province they should study maifestos of the political party of that province and supportthe one that appeals them and not gain nuisance value
@KSU: Economic migrants who send money out of the location they earn from and bury their dead outside Sindh cannot be considered as well wishers of Sindh as those who are permanently located in Sindh and consider themselves Sindhis old or new. Those who come to Sindh to make a living should opt between political forces rooted in Sindh
@musa: this question should be put up to PPP,
@aysha: Regardless of the merits/demerits of the LG system, Pastuns living in Karachi are Karachiites and they are part and parcel of the city. They are not just "economic migrants" like Pakistanis in the ME and elsewhere.
@Aysha Biharis speakers aren't Sindhi either according to that logic...
What a paradox. Those advocating LG system are proclaiming themselves to be the champion of democracy or at the very least believe it is necessary for the foundation of democracy. Whereas it is passed as an Ordinance while assembly is in session. The birth of the system itself is un democratic. Ends don't justify the means.
so now mqm and ppp will moan about how they were unable to perform during 4-1/2 years of unopposed government. surprise surprise the reason was that there were no LG system..
WOW Watta Statement....shows to what extend these guys will go.... feel sad for the people of Sindh...
@Dean: It is not the matter of 4 years or early it is simply a matter of constitutional obligation. I fail to understand and no one including the Opposers of LG bill is able to explain what exactly is wrong in this bill.
Like every democratic person I totally support Local Government Bill
@aysha: where were Altaf and MQM for the last 4 years???? they have just realised the local govt system could bring about a revolution in sindh.
WOW I didn't know PML-N is ruling Punjab since 1947.
@aysha: Do you have any idea how many Urdu speaking people are working in Punjab specially Govt. Jobs. Hate comments of yours would create problems for them. Beside this you are ambitious of entering into national politics and have made numerous (although failed) attempts to demonstrate your presence in other provinces claiming to equal political rights. Hypocritical attitude at its highest.
whether its british system or a local body system, what we need is to become honest with country and mitigate corruption from society. otherwise there wont be any difference in both of the systems!
@Qaisrani: Now that Bhai has kept his side of the deal you have to keep your side of the deal and help create the province of.......
@aysha Your thinking is of another era. This is the 21st century and we are developing a democracy in our country. You want a system like the gulf countries? They are monarchies and Pakistan is a republic. Democracy is different, you cant have democracy and your form of xenophobic racism. A Pakistani can move anywhere in Pakistan and enjoy the same rights as everyone else - even in Sind and they can have any opinion they wish to have - also on the LG system. There are no fiefdoms even though reactionary people try to project it as such.
Nothing wrong with LG system but the timing of it, right now is, that PPP wants to trade Karachi with MQM to buy their faithfulness in the capital. Why do they think they've the power to change the governing system at the end of their 5 years tenure - reason is simple, to milk the last few months and loot as much with the new system. Getting funds and doing nothing really. If these parties really needed LG system, why wait 4.5 years for it, why not implement it the day they got into parliament. Clearly shows the lack of foresight within our leaders.
Long Live Altaf Bhai for supporting creation of Saraikistan.We need your support until Saraikis get united under Saraiki nationalist party to forefully get their rights from "Takht e Lahore".
@aysha
well implementing LG system in 5 districts out of 23 of sindh cannot be said to have a broad sindh vision! it is clearly division of sindh on the lines of MQM support areas! why is the LG system being applied to only 5 districts and not all of sindh?
Can anyone ask ANP & PMLF what exactly is their problem with the LG system?
The local government system is what solves the problems of people. You have seen people's issues and development issues have not been addressed since they had scrapped the LG System. All of us denounce the vadera system now why is it we oppose LG Shstem? We hate the vaderas but have never protested against them once. Why? Is it because we are afraid of them or is it our desire to be subservient. It is about time to break the shackles and declare freedom. Time to think independently what is good for us and what is good for the landed class.
Pushtun leadesrship is unable to see the common good for he people of Sindh, all they can see is a power struggle hence their myopic vision of opposing the LG ordinance.
Economic migrants are in large numbers in the middle eastern countries for decades, but they are not given the rights of those who are the nationals, similarly Pushtun could come and work in Sindh, but they cannot become a stake holers, if more jobs were created in KPK,they would not have to be away from their home making an attempts to gain political influence in a province they dont belong to. What happens in Sindh should be left to Sindis new and old, anybody who does not consider himself to be a Sindhi has no business in decision making process of the province.
PHEW......Ok,what next then?
InshaAllah the September 13 strike will not be successful....
ALTAF SB him self lives in ENGLAND .... yet he opposes the BRITISH ERA SYSTEM... i am sure who so ever reads this will agree with my views. ..QUITE CONFUSING INDEED.