Altaf Hussain hits out at statements against Urdu speakers
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said that a well thought out conspiracy is at work in the province, with “so-called nationalists and certain leaders of Sindh” making inflammatory statements against Urdu-speaking residents of Sindh, and has warned them of the consequences of people acting up against their detractors.
The statement was featured in a video message issued by the MQM on Wednesday.
Hussain asked all leaders-including President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam-to put a stop to such statements against a particular group of people. While explaining his call, Hussain said that that was necessary as, “if this issue goes out of my control, the people could take matters in their own hands.”
Hussain said that while the MQM has repeatedly stated that it does not want the division of Sindh, “some leaders of so-called nationalist and political parties in Sindh have been saying that if there is talk of the division of Sindh, the river Indus will run with blood and there will be bloodshed”. If these people believe they can oppress Mohajirs, “they should understand that this is the 21st century.”
Hussain said he will not tire of talking about peace and unity and appealed to his supporters to show restraint and patience.
The MQM chief’s statement comes in the wake of opposition from nationalist and political parties to calls by a group, called the Mohajir Sooba Tehreek, for the formation of a separate Mohajir province. The MQM has publicly claimed it has nothing to do with the group. Members of the Sindh Assembly, including Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palijo, who helped pass a resolution against the group in the assembly, received threatening letters this week.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2012.
COMMENTS (8)
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@Ishaq Tunio what sindh is reaping now is harvested by your forefathers, the ILK of bhuttos for sindh. ZAB- berkley graduate, BB- columbia/harvard grad, BBZ is now in cambridge. But all your leaders failed to open 1 single english medium school in Larkana till today. The whole sindh is just dune of sand. The budget is always allocated for whole sindh, not just for karachi. and they ruin it by ghost schools, empty hospitals, corruption.
for the realm of your existence, i am a sindhi too, but from Khairpur. Which was a seperate state. A very prosperous and welfare state. but captured and included in SINDH.
where were you or your forefathers, when sindh was thrown under bombay presidency? where were you/your sindhi brothers, when chunk of east sindh handed into gujrat, india? where were you when parts of jacoobabad was lost in Bela, baluchistan.
FOR GOD SAKE. he is saying, and praying to authorities to STOP this ugly language used by sindhi nationalist against urdu speaking SINDHIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSS........
read the article again, and then comment!
@Sultan Khan: Mr. Khan and Mr Orangiwala: We did not bring piece of Land called Sindh while coming to this world but it was owned by our forefathers since centuries. Sindhis are not new comers , new comers are those people who came to get shelter after 1947. Why you people don’t claim ownership of land, citizenship and right of born citizenship in Saudi Arabia , UAE and other Muslim countries . Saudi Arabia is a center and birth place of Islam. As a Muslim you will have more rights there not in Sindh but they always kick you out after expiry of your visa period you people ( Muslims from India Bangladesh Afghanistan , Burma Azerbaijan Uzbekistan and other countries ) have all rights in Sindh and Balochistan . Try to claim ownership of Makkah and Madina they will teach you a good lesson
@Ammar thousands of Sindhis are living in Karachi and a lot of the new comers are in Gulshan E Iqbal .
You still pronounce the division despite the fact that thousands of Mohajirs are living in the Interior Sindh - Hyderabd, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas. I wish we could understand its 21st century and live with peace. I, personally, don't want division on the basis of linguistic groups; Govt. have to slash country in pieces if nationalist call for separation.
@Ishaq Tunio: Not only the irresponsible statements but irresponsible comments as well " will make the lives of other Urdu speaking community of Karachi more miserable but also the lives of the so called " sons of soil" (who brought the pieces of land along with them while coming to this world). Moreover, when at several occasions it has categorically been stated by MQM that it does not want the division of Sind then why all this " Kolerina Di". Actually, it is such hateful statements packed with stinking lies that most people despite not liking the MQM are compelled to take shelter under the umbrella of MQM.
Thank you ET for this "Darshan" opportunity.
I agree with Mr. Altaf Hussain, inflammatory statements & prejudiced decisions are being made against Mohajirs since the creation of Pakistan - however, it is not medieval stone-age and any injustices may now be reciprocated by Mohajirs in the form of protest (could well be world-wide protests) or Civil rights movement for Mohajirs could be instigated as well if prompt action isn't taken.
MQM Chief Altaf must know that it is not 1947 . We have been entered into the age of information technology not controlled by a group , supporting MQM , as was in the Urdu and English Press. Karachi city a capital of Sindh in 20th century is even different than Karachi of 1986 and 1989 . Now you can not get your cronies elected using rigging , bullets and barrels methods and false and fabricated voter lists and constituencies . You have no courage to come to Azizabad . Your irresponsible statements and threats will make lives of other urdu speaking community of Karachi more miserable . Please try to talk in the senses if you are issuing statement 10,000 miles away . Karachi is Sindh and karachi and its people are totally dependent on the rural population and resources and city is surrounded by sons of soil .