A view of the audience listening to Altaf Hussain's adress at Aladdin Park in Karachi on January 5, 2014. PHOTO: ONLINE
Altaf was addressing a large public gathering on Sunday in Karachi, where he used the terms 'Sindh number one' and 'Sindh number two' to talk about hypothetical provinces, one for PPP supporters and the other for people from various ethnic groups who are being denied their rights.
"I say to PPP members today, that is, to Sindh's 'number one' — you might as well make an official declaration because you have practically already done so with your actions — that you are the owners of Sindh number one...but at least let Pathans, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Baloch, Punjabis and Urdu-speaking people live in Sindh number two," Altaf said.
Delimitation
Altaf once again criticised the delimitation of constituencies.
"PPP deliberately delimited constituencies to manufacture a PPP win in every constituency, and they said, 'We're in the government and can do whatever we can.' My foot [tumhari aesi ki taesi!]!"
"We had no option but to go to court. The court heard the case for several months and then gave a verdict."
Altaf also spelled out the court verdict and stressed on how it "exposed PPP's shenanigans for everyone to see".
Altaf read out the Sindh High Court's verdict, emphatically repeating the court's words 'gerrymandering' and 'discriminatory' to describe the PPP-led government's delimitation exercise.
On 'treasonous remarks' from other parties
The MQM chief lambasted “certain anchorpersons” and a “particular program” for distorting his words and messages.
He added that it was regrettable that if anchorpersons and columnists spoke or wrote in favour of the "MQM's truth" they were labelled as "sold out".
Altaf Hussain complained that representatives from various political parties went all out against his statement on dividing Sindh, declaring it treasonous and worth condemning as no such remark was made.
The MQM chief provided an example of how his words were being distorted, as compared to other politicians:
"If the ANP say that 'if Kalabagh Dam is built, we will tear those who build it to pieces, will bomb away the country, then it is considered acceptable!"
"Maulana Siraj of Jamaat-e-Islami said that if the federal government did not give Khyber Pukhtunkhwa its due share of resources, then there people should get prepared for a December 16, 1971 like, Bangladesh-like situation. And that was acceptable! No one created a hullabaloo over that!"
The MQM chief also blasted Jamaat-e-Islami and Munawar Hasan for the labeling of Hakimullah Mehsud a 'shaheed'.
Alluding to building pressure on his party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said the MQM is, “ready to fight, even when all doors close from all sides”.
He reminded his opponents:
"Who got the NFC Award for Sindh, PPP or MQM?"
"Who stopped the Kalabagh Dam from being built, PPP or MQM?...Let me tell you, Kalabagh Dam will eventually be built and PPP members will scamper away from the matter like they scampered away from the corpse of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto."
He claimed that all PPP members will eventually join other parties.
War of words
Today’s rally follows directly after Altaf’s recent speech in Hyderabad on Friday, where he stated that if urban, Urdu-speaking Sindhis were not given the same rights as rural Sindhis, then Pakistan People’s Party should consider creating a separate province for the “Urdu-speaking Sindhi populace”.
Altaf's words caused an uproar in the media and his demand was condemned by PPP leaders, and called a possible bid to divert attention from more important issues. MQM leaders said Altaf had never called for a separate province.
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John F Kennedy once said words to this effect: those who make peaceful revolutions impossible, make violent ones inevitable. This is what we are seeing in the cintext of present day Sindh. The separate province syndrome , after its heydays in the 60s and 70s had almost dies down during the last decade. However, Karachi's administrative issues had multiplied during the same period due to an unregulated population increase and an antiquated municipal structure out of tune with the imperatives of a megapolis of Karachi's side.
PPP, if it considered Karachi to be a crown jewel of Sindh, could have taken certain wide ranging steps to give truly empowered local government akin to all major metropolitan cities. It could and should have taken this step irrespective of which party wins the election. This would have helped both Karachi and Sindh. However, it chose to take a myopic, mqm centric view only. If PPP was smarter, it should have put MQM to the test of governance and let it succeed or fail on the altar of public performance. Alas, true intellect and far sighted political acumen seem to have dissipated in PPP. A violent change, therefore, seem imminent. So be it.
@LovePakistan.......I love u and don't worry I do not hate your country but bit defensive about your country's policies.
No one can agree with Altaf Hussain on dividing Sindh. We are all Pakistanis and must enjoy equal rights. This country was achieved after great sacrifice. Bilawal is a patriot, and his mother and grandpa rendered their lives for this country. His family has remained in plunder and every kind of misdoings. Such so called leaders force people like Altaf to say and think such things. Pakistan and Sindh are not fiefdom of Altaf Hussain or Nawaz Shareef. Every Pakistani has equal right on the country and province.
Why creation of a province is taken as if creation of a new country is talked about?? I fully support AH to have a province for Urban Sindh. Karachi is not to feed the feudals and other foreigners to plunder the city! Way to go MQM! You have huge support for this demand.
@Geo network: by the way , before 1936 karachi was part of Bombay residency , and not part of sind , just a fact to remind readers
India should welcome back the educated Mohajirs back. You are sons/daughters of this soil, and don't need to be discriminated against in the land your forefathers mistakenly adopted.
@Faizan: There is no harm in putting such a demand but do not lose sight of who is demanding and with what 'intentions'. Look at the timing and language and every thing becomes clear. Do not ignore his past and present.
PPP went as far ahead with their proposal to divide Punjab that they even passed the bill in National parliament whereas it should have first been passed through provincial parliament of Punjab. I think there should be sindh urban, sindh rural, south punjab, north punjab, central punjab, hazara province, balochistan Pakhtoonkha.All these provices should me created so that people can lay the burden where it belongs, which is there elected representatives.
@Saleem Do not forget Present governor of Punjab took the same oathWe need a new province we agree with ALTAF HUSSAIN.
sensible solution to the administrative mess that we have in the '4 provinces forever' Pakistan!
Ask PPP to show what they have done for Karachi or any city in Sindh lately that changed the fate of their people? They just can’t move their poor to Karachi fast enough, that’s all PPP is good at…. in changing the fate of their poor voters. MQM ran the city efficiently so PPP has today lot of resources to feed their voters from this money machine that happen to be in the province of Sindh.
@Indigo: You forgot Indians are also busy in commenting and spreading hate on pakistani sites, like this one
Sindh instead two province devide in four provinces Sindh Southern, Sindh Nothern, Sindh West and Sindh Eastern provinces on administrative basis. In the same way other provinces devide to break the status quo which are protecting interests to different mafias grip on our country. This is necessary now to give powers to people on grass root level and right now power concentrated in the hand of fuedals from rural areas in Sindh who beside eaten up the resources of rural areas also maintained statas quo at urban areas. As development does not suit to the feudals so there will be no hope of development until power in their hands.By developing new provinces also develop new cities with modern infrastructures to transfer the power to educated middle class in order to get the progress and increase the standard of living of common people. Why there is neglible contribution of agricuture income in income tax. Annual income over Rs. 400,000/ from any source and profession without any discrimination should be taxable.
The Governor of Sindh Province is in his position for eleven years who belong to MQM and is a Urdu speaking. This is a record to hold a public position for such a long time. what else Altaf bhai wants for Urdu speakers??I would suggest them to move back to India if they are not happy here. Sindhis supported u and welcomed u when migrated to Sindh,Remember.
This is really just a fight between PPP hegemony and the rights of locals. PPP is not ready to give up control of Sindh but ready to deprives rights of others and eventually descend into civil war which would destroy Sindh. Has Pakistan not learnt anything from Bangladesh? Give sufficient autonomy to all Locals and preside over a stronger more united and content Pakistan. Or try to hoard all resources and see a civil war where the hoarder loses much more than what he could easily have devolved.
Every opinion counts but everyone must not share their opinion in public. The simple fact is that if Urdu speaking are not getting their rights so are people from other ethnicity including Sindhi, Siraiki, Pakhtoon and particularly Baloch. Yet, these issues of creating more administrative is not the right time as we have number of issues which must be addressed including economy, employment, law and order, corruption among countless others. So Politicians should set out their priorities before making any demand for creating more regions for administration.
To be honest people should listen to his statement carefully before bashing him blindly. Yes he is a controversial man but listen to what he is saying and if it is right or not. More provinces isn't a bad thing anywhere. US had 50, India created 3 provinces out of Punjab and Bihar. Afghanistan next door smaller than us in size has 34 provinces! More provinces should be carved out not just in Sindh but also Punjab and Balochistan. That way resources could more equally be allotted and since the politicians would never devolve power to local governments, this seems to be a practical way out. Yes he is a foreign national and has said controversial things before but what he says right now isn't wrong. Why does the state government decide how much development should take place when clearly the locals of each area and decide better. Let Karachi develop itself, let Lahore develop itself by their respective local governments. P.S: PPP is the biggest hypocrite demanding a province in South Punjab and Hazara but Sindh is more sacred then these other regions.
Karachi is a financial hub of Sindhis for centuries , why it has to be handed over to someone coming from UP ? Better locate all mojahirs in some barren or forest area with equal contribution of land from sindhi and punjabis
I have a Hindko-speaking background and my family has been settled in Karachi for more than 50 years...where do we stand in this ongoing and endless conflict between Sindhis and Mohajirs, I ask..Karachi is a COSMOPOLITAN CITY and minority groups have longed not been rightfully represented in this city
Mr. Hussain lets come your main point, when are you going to announce New University Programme in Hyderabad???
@Aftab:
How about Edgwaristan or Queenistan. We must give credit where it is due.
while Pakistanis are busy in these kind of activities, Indians are busy in launching GSLV-D5 into space.http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Isro-successfully-launches-indigenous-cryogenic-engine-powered-GSLV-D5/articleshow/28437867.cms?
Living in London, Altaf has certainly missed out on facts. "Urban urdu speaking Sindhis" and "rural Sindhis" statements are factually wrong as overtime Sindhi people have urbanized significantly and live in every major urban center. Yes Sindhi people want rights but not separation from rural areas (sindh 1 and 2) or any other soft terms the MQM chief wants to give to what is clearly a demand for partition of the province.
No harm to have more provinces. It will provide more opportunities to prosper. History has proved that our politicians can not handle such a big political entities. Baluchistan should also be divided in 6 provinces as well. Great idea.
WHY the heck media gives undue coverage to this absolute lunatic
Had the MQM chief not mentioned about separate province for Urdu speakers, then independent state, the creation of a separate province in Sindh sounds logical. Just as Dr Shahid Masood said last night, the plan for creating 16 or 26 provinces with a presidential system, is already there with the establishment.
yes we suported our Bong brothers...we also will support u... from america
I am not a MQM supporter and I truly dislike Altaf Hussein, but he is right, either PPP starts giving Karachites their rights and stops games playing games with them or a new province is a must! After all, that's is what Quaid e Azam did (initially he wanted more autonomy for every state in India from Dehli, but the Congress led by the socialist Nehru refused even that, leaving no other option than complete separation). Again, this can be avoided, PPP should mature up and stop playing political games in Sindh.
@ Saleem Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah also took the same oath of allegiance for King George his heirs and the throne when he sworn as Governor General of Pakistan I am sorry that I need to remind u the history Please tell me was quaid e azam loyal wid Pakistan or GB after his oath?
A new province is certainly needed for Karachi and Hyderabad . The only solution for both administrative reasons as well as to stop the deprivation of rights of Urdu Speakers.
@Saleem: Your comment is not relevant to this news.
Altaf Bhai is planning to take down entire Karachi as he falls. The current spate of violence in Karachi is directly linked to the narrowing noose around him in London. Recent inciting speeches are all related.
@Ajab Khan Baloch: Sindh existed even before Pakistan was created . If people of south Punjab or Hazara people waned separated province, because they have been living in that region for centuries and even Bhawlapur was state for a long time. There is no legitimacy peoples who just immigrated from another country asking for separated province as such divide never existed in Sindh and will never.
Next week there will be good news for the Karachiites from London.
How about mobilising these poor folks that have to listen to your rants, to clean the streets of Karachi -
Perhaps teach street kids
repair government schools..
No, that would be too hard right..
Yes lets talk about dividing people instead - tried and tested formula of Pakistani politicians...
@Saleem: The oath does not say one has to be exclusively loyal to UK. As such, Mr. Husain is free to be loyal elsewhere also.
@Saleem: Best comment ever
@Aftab: Edgwaristan
How about you just go back to India?
When the ppp can demand the creation of new provinces in punjab than why doesn’t it allow new provinces in sindh?
We are with you Bhai,
These hypocrite leaders need a reality check we all pakistanis know who is reponsible for taking the "right of life" of most common people especially in Karachi which is ruled by voilent terrorist parties like MQM & PPP. ET publish this, its my right to raise voice against criminals.
I believe we deserve a better province name than Sindhi 2. I suggest MQM conduct a referendum on suitable name for the new province.
Altaf Hussain, do you remember taking following oath of allegiance:
**"I, Altaf Hussain swear by Almighty God that, on becoming a British Citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors according to law."
"I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen."**
So tell me to which country is your loyalty? UK or Pakistan?
This is funny, is the court telephone based now??
Master of changing words
Just wondering;did PPPP not put forward Saraiki Province proposal?. Was there not Hazara province movement?.
I think saner elements in the country should sit down and seriously reflect if there is need for more provinces or not.
Emotions should not come in way.Pakistan comes first.
Is there any democracy in the entire democratic or non democratic country in the world where a political party has its Headquarters and secretariat in a foreign country and its head is a foreign national who has not visited his people for decades? To be specific why Pakistan has allowed this weird anamoly?Why is the Parliament mum and why such a party is accepted by Election Commission? Are we honest with our people? Why are there crooked compromises? Why so many shady and undesirable persons are sitting in the Parliament? People need to demand answers.