Sukkur gathering: ‘MQM’s rally last nail in coffin of nationalists’

Altaf Hussain says the time for divide and rule politics is over.

SUKKUR:

Addressing a huge rally in what is considered to be one of Pakistan Peoples Party’s strongholds in Sindh (Sukkur) on Friday, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said that the time for ‘divide and rule’ politics in the country had come to an end.

In a telephonic address at the Railway Station Ground in Sukkur, Altaf took a few jabs at the ‘so-called nationalists’, saying that even though they (so-called nationalists) quoted Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai in their speeches, their actions spoke otherwise.

As luck would have it, Altaf too would begin his speech in Sukkur by reading out a verse of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s poetry.

“Oh God, always keep Sindh prosperous and bless entire world,” Altaf said quoting Bhitai.

The MQM chief believed that the Sukkur rally would prove to be the last ‘nail in the coffin’ of nationalists spreading hate amongst the people of Sindh, congratulating the people of Sukkur for organising the biggest public gathering in the history of the city.

Speaking of peace and harmony, the MQM chief said that the gathering had brought together Muslims, Hindus, Christians among other groups and any conspiracy against their message would fail miserably.

Boasting of Sindh’s service to the country, Altaf said the province was contributing over 70 per cent revenue to the national exchequer, adding that it would be difficult to run the country without Sindh’s contribution to the national exchequer. During his address, he said that MQM stopped the controversial Kalabagh dam.

“Sindh needs a leader not a dacoit,” said the MQM chief, adding that his party wanted to eradicate feudalism and dynastic politics from the face of the country.

Altaf urged Sindhi and Urdu speaking people to shun their differences and learn to live together as one people. Taking notice of the recent killings of lawyers, Altaf urged the government to bring the assailants to justice and protect the life of lawyers in the country. Furthermore, he called for resolving the Balochistan issue amicably and restoring peace in Khyber-Pakhtukhwa.

Earlier, Deputy Convener MQM Rabita Committee, Dr Farooq Sattar declared that Sindhis were not barred from the educational institutes and industries of Karachi, asking the people of Sindh to embrace MQM chief Altaf Hussain. Sattar went on to add that his party did not want to divide Sindh and will never support any such attempt.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2012.