‘MQM took the people’s opinion on the future of Pakistan, not on who should be president’

London, Karachi coordination committees sit together to announce results.

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) public referendum drew to a close at 12 am on Wednesday. The party will tally results with the coordination committee meeting two days later. As there are millions of results it will take time to announce them.

MQM’s Mustafa Kamal addressed a news conference on Tuesday at the party headquarters, Nine Zero, to tell people that Altaf Hussain asked people to comment only on the country’s future and not on who the next president should be.

Hussein only wants the country to emerge from its internal and external threats, and live in peace with the international community, said Kamal. It is for this reason that he drafted the 17-point agenda.

The MQM started the public referendum on May 11 to discover public opinion on the US Navy SEAL operation in Abbottabad.

“The referendum does not involve any personal interest of the MQM,” Kamal pointed out.

“Altaf Hussein has taken the entire Pakistani nation in the country and abroad to have their say in the future policies of the country,” he said. “The overwhelming response from people across the globe will certainly play a huge role,” he added.

As soon as the referendum ended on Tuesday, the party’s coordination committees in London and Karachi held joint sessions.

Kamal agreed that holding public referendums was not new to Pakistan but what the MQM chief has offered is unique because it has appealed to the silent majority of the country. People were given a chance to lead the ruling elite of the country to devise and adopt realistic policies that may restore peace.

He added that the international community is sad on certain issues and has raised many questions for Pakistan.

The MQM chief has expressed his gratitude to the nation, and the print and electronic media for helping the party make the referendum a success.

Kamal said that MQM is the only political party that secures 25 per cent of electoral votes.

Those who receive only five per cent believe they have a right to decide the fate of the country, he said.

Earlier, MQM representatives gave media persons a tour of the city and took them to several camps set up by the party workers.

The party offered several ways for people to participate in the referendum - through email, online voting, phone and fax.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2011.