MQM-P announces sit-in against PPP govt

Says will take back seats in upcoming by-elections; pays tribute to Musharraf

KARACHI:

Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Sunday said the country and the city need the democratic local government system introduced by Pervez Musharraf. Though dubbed a dictator, Musharraf gave the country a free media, parliamentary reforms and a strong economy. The local government system of Musharraf era should be restored. He expressed these views at the Kashmir Day and General Workers meeting held at the park adjacent to MQM-P headquarters in Bahadurabad.

He said MQM-P will hold an indefinite sit-in against the Pakistan Peoples Party led Sindh government. Siddiqui said that today is a decisive moment for the hopes of the descendants of the founders of Pakistan. "Pakistan is in a decisive moment and there no body to take decision. A weak economy will sink with the politics and democracy of this country," he told a charged crowd. The MQM-P convener said that the time has come for which we have been waiting for so many years. Now convoys from the all streets of the city will start towards Bahadurabad.

From today, the office of Bahadurabad will be at Fawara Chowk and the organisation system will run from there. "This city is ours, we will decide how it runs," he said. The by-elections on National Assembly seats will be held on March 16 and Karachi will return back to the hands of the people of Karachi on March 18, he said. "Millions of Muhajirs will stand with the decision taken by you tonight," he told the MQM-P workers.

Siddiqui said that census is about to be conducted, "we must ensure that no one is left out. Each and every one of our people should be counted." He said that MQM-P has told the government and the establishment in clear terms that they won't digest the seats taken away from the true representatives of Karachi. "Today we are going to get those seats back. MQM workers have to contest the elections and restore their power," he said. These 14 seats are the right of the people of Karachi. It has been decided.

The nation is fighting an election, now it has to fight another election for which it was withdrawn, now it has to be taken back and it has to be taken back by coming out of the houses and taking away its right. He said that we are giving an ultimatum to the government of Pakistan Peoples Party for one week. "You admitted that there was a mistake in 53 UCs, on which we told you that we will not contest the elections, and subsequently do not accept these local government elections." Regarding atrocities in IIOJK, Siddiqui said India's problems are home grown, it should stop blaming it on Pakistan.

"India has made a religious fanatic its ruler for 10 years," Siddiqui said adding the policies have caused religious and ethnic strife in that country. "We seek peace, but do not consider it our weakness." Senior Deputy Convener Syed Mustafa Kamal while speaking said that we have to come out of our comfort zone. On the date given by the convener MQM, we will sit on the roads by dharna and we will take back the seats which were taken away from us in the past, those seats belong to MQM Pakistan.

Senior Deputy Convener Dr. Farooq Sattar while addressing the convention said that the attempt to eliminate the middle class of Sindh proved unsuccessful. Deputy Convener Anees Ahmed Qaim Khani said "Today, we stand united for this city, we will work together for this city and win the by-election, to take back our snatched seats on March 16 and we will celebrate this victory on the occasion of the foundation day on March 18," he said.