KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Saturday evening announced that it will observe black day on October 26 against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah's remarks, Express News reported.
In a press conference by the MQM Rabita Committee, Abdul Haseeb Khan said that Shah's comments where he termed the word 'Muhajir' was a pejorative term.
Khan added that they had filed a petition against Shah over his comments. He said that a fatawa, endorsed by a number of clerics, had been issued over Shah’s potentially sacrilegious comments.
He requested all transporters and traders to observe black day with them.
Even though Shah had appologised for his remarks, the MQM parted ways with the PPP led coalition government in Sindh on October 19.
Businesses closed
Soon after MQM’s announcement, businesses started closing down in various parts of Karachi.
The affected areas included Federal-B Area, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, New Karachi, Korangi, Shah Faisal Colony, Kharadar and Mithadar areas where shopkeepers, especially those who run their business till late-night, shuttered their commercial activities.
Though no incident of aerial firing or forced closing of shops was reported from any part of the city, but petrol pumps in various localities were closed.
Police and Rangers patrolling was also beefed up in the city to avoid any untoward incident. Authorities have also been asked to stay alert and take stern action against any one found forcefully closing down the businesses in the city.
Protest
MQM Deputy Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddqui announced that the party will stage a protest at the Shahrah-e-Quaideen and Khalid-bin-Waleed road intersection on Sunday afternoon.
He urged the public to join their protest.
COMMENTS (24)
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@mrs ahmed: @Naveed:
You don't have to go anywhere to prove MQM's falsehood. If Altaf Hussain is a British Immigrant, would his UK born daughter Afza be an immigrant too? No sir, she would be a British born and bred citizen. A child of immigrants perhaps, but not an immigrant herself. So there goes the lie to rip Sindh apart.
If word “Muhajir” is so religious and holy that insulting this word is blasphemous then people who call themselves Muhajir wrongfully for political advantage is blasphemous too. How can someone can call himself Muhajir when if he is born in this country? Real Muhajirs were Muslims of East Punjab, everyone else were migrants who came to Pakistan for different reasons. Their sons and daughters are absolutely not Muhajirs.
@Rohri wala: 'Only native born indigenous Sindhis can be truly sons of Sindh, That is the mindset.'
Throughout my 35 years of life, almost all here in KHI, none of my Muhajir friends could manage a single coherent sentence in Sindhi. They somehow managed to communicate with Chinese labourers at Port Qasim with zero English skills, but started looking for me as soon as a Sindhi old timer showed up. Such were their efforts to assimilate. I, on the other hand, am originally from an Awan family of Chakwal. My family has been in Sindh for 70-80 years. My family is considered a Sindhi. We're not feudals. Nothing was denied. We are married into the 'natives'.We adapted to our new home, rather than living in a colonial bubble. We speak Sindhi as first language at our home, as we ARE home. Such is the mindset, and assimilation permissibility of a typical Sindhi. But then again, my ancestors came here with their agenda, and yours with theirs.
@ IMTIAZ SYED: you are mixing the word "refugee" or "panha-gazeen" with the word "Muhair".... Also the name of anything basis on its background/history or event. for example Word "Punjab" means "the land of five rivers",If for any reason any one river would dry,the name of province Punjab would not be change to "Char-aab" aur "teen-aab".....I hope you will get my point.
@Humza: hymzi, do not compare this country to a western country. Western countries still provide you with legal recourse. Not blatant discrimination. And Massive Corruption. And a feudal society. Like they have in Sindh. Muhajjirs tried very very hard to be part of the society. but they were not allowed. They were denied. Only native born indigenous Sindhis can be truly sons of Sindh, That is the mindset.
If a case is for hearing iin a court of law then any pressure or interference is Unlawful and contempt of court. Political parties cannot have cases in courts and still agitate against it. Looks like MQM is exempt from following laws and ethics. If Muhajir is so religious and holy word then why are we so much against militant Israeli Muhajirs living in Palestine? Those Israeli Muhajir also have right to live or not?
India supports the creation of a Muhajir province with its own constitution. Our sympathies lie with the muhajirs who are not getting their due rights. We will extend all moral support to them.
I am no supporter of PPP but MQM should be ashamed for using religion so blatantly for political gains...
How many inches have they moved for them to be given a title they have not earned in the slightest. Their ancestors were the true heros. These people are making a mockery of the sacrifices of their ancestors.
The society is so deeply divided, there is no point in holding one faction hostage under the name of land, language or identity. Sindh lost its traditional value and is not run by wadyra goons while in Karachi anyone with a 4x4 installs a siren and harasses common man on daily bases, I wish I could flog them all personally.
People who chose Pakistan over India at partition were muhajirs but became Pakistanis once they entered the country. Their offsprings born in the country would be Pakistanis or Urdu speaking Pakistanis and not muhajirs!!!!!
If you want to be called a muhajir, then go back to India please but let the Pakistanis live in peace!
After 70 years they havent changed their name so they are hardly in a position to throw stones.
does mqm any thing better to do.
cannot such a highest level of cheapness, MQM is just Drama, StarPlus........
Everyone knows it is time for a Muhajjir province. The Muhajjirs will be responsible for themselves in the new province. And not be discriminated against by the Sindhis, the Punjabis the Pathans the Balochis. They will do well. That part is guaranteed.
Ya Allah Khair..
The MQM should take up issues of gross misgovernance and corruption instead of something that is perceived as a ' non issue '.
If word "Muhajir" is so religious and holy that insulting this word is blasphemous then people who call themselves Muhajir wrongfully for political advantage is blasphemous too. How can someone can call himself Muhajir when if he is born in this country? Real Muhajirs were Muslims of East Punjab, everyone else were migrants who came to Pakistan for different reasons. Their sons and daughters are absolutely not Muhajirs.