Jumping ship: For the love of Hazara and the 98%

KARACHI: The Pakistan Muslim League-Functional’s (PML-F) secretary-general in Saddar Town quit the party to join the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Jahangir Awan, who is from Mansehra, Hazara division, made the choice because he felt that the MQM was the only party that can solve the issues of the people. “Of all the political parties in the country, the MQM and its leader Altaf Hussain are the only ones who want the 98% - the downtrodden and poor - to lead, not the 2% elite and feudal landlords,” Awan said at a press conference at Karachi Press Club on Monday. Awan added the MQM has won over the Hazarawaal by presenting a resolution supporting the creation of a Hazara province in the National Assembly, while other religious and political parties had only used them for their own purposes. He appealed to the people of Hazara to join the MQM so that they can be recognised for their identity and work for their rights.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2012.