Addressing the "Paigham-e-Mohabbat" rally via telephone in Karachi, Hussain said that today is the day when the major ethnic groups of the city have come together to defeat all the conspiracies hatched against them.
The MQM chief asked the Muhajirs and Pashtuns to promise that they will fight against all the problems together.
“Promise me that the Muhajirs and Pashtuns will protect each other and will provide shelter to their brothers in times of trouble, promise me that ethnic conflicts will end today,” said Hussain.
Calling MQM a party of people belonging to different ethnicities rather than just of Urdu-speaking people, Hussain said that Pashtuns are my brothers as much as the Muhajirs.
Commenting on the recent trend of attacks on Pashtun-owned tea outlets, Hussain said that the Urdu-speaking residents of the city should provide protection to all the small businesses owned by the Pashtuns.
“We should sacrifice ourselves to protect others and never harm anyone,” he said.
Hussain further said he has always counselled “his Muhajir brothers” and will now help “his Pashtun brothers” understand that we don’t believe in fighting and bloodshed and will not let anyone conspire against the peace of the city.
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@sick of this nonsense:
Well Mr.sick it is not essential to follow every one who is on media. But since this world has become a global village, therefore we neither can shut ourselves to different ideas. The biggest lesson, or a different way of thinking mqm offers is low or middle class self made educated leadership creation. is it not the only and right option for the betterment of the country ? please think.
@sick of this nonsense
You said name one and I did :) So that is one non-Urdu speaking leader of MQM.
@Saladin Chamchawalla
Mashhad is in Iran, where ancestors must be from, i don't know, but i do know the MQM Senator is from Punjab and a Punjabi.
@ Ovais yeah its good that due to IK an PTI's influence even Altaf was forced to say this stuff, 'cause he feels the threat of PTI's growing popularity in Karachi...bt anyway its overall a good sign..not a change of heart though.
@mystream PTI is not in power in karachi or sindh (or anywhere else in Pak) so what do u mean by not having a say in the political matters??
There is no use living in denial that a majority of the citizens of Karachi are now looking towards PTI-- Now THIS! is what determines the FUTURE politics of Karachi.
@sick of this nonsense: How many saets PML-N has won in Sindh...it is a party that starts from Lahore and ends at Pindi, Punjabi party.(in a nut shell)
@Ash: So that makes 1 senator out so many ministers? PPP & PML-N may be alot of things but atleast they are national, MQM starts at Karachi extends to a certain parts of Hyd and finished. How can you expect others to believe their word? P.S I dont mean to demean them just am curious why would any body expect a Pakhtoon, Sindhi etc to take Altaf Hussains word when logically they dont see any reason to.
@Adil: Its about politics not people dear. We love each other but PTI does it have any say in the political matters of Karachi. No, not at all.
@Ash: Mashhad is in Punjab? Guess missing geography classes is catching up to me!
I give full credit to this megalomaniac leader of an ethnic party who have gall to sprinkle salt over the wounds of other nationalities who have suffered immensely at the hands of the thugs of mohajir qaumi movement (now called mutahida). Imagine the very pashtuns were target of his assassins and now he is throwing dust in the eyes of the public to announce that his men will now protect pashtuns. Such an incredible hypocrite this man is.
It was sad to see ANP's shahi syed tried to sabotage the MQM's meeting intended mainly for pushtu speaking pakistanis by holdling a meeting of pushtuns on same day in keamari. MQM's meeting at jinnah ground was pre-planned days earlier. Shahi syed could have held his meeting at a later date. It is not in the interest of peace and tranquility in karachi for MQM and ANP to not bridge the political gap.The followers of both the MQM and ANP want peace in karachi but, regrettably, their leaders don't want it for their selfish ends.
@sick of this nonsense
FYI, MQM Senator and Leader Tahir H. Mashhadi is not Urdu-speaking, but a Punjabi.
I also hail from an Urdu Speaking background and have had many classmates and friends from different ethnicities of Pakistan,and I don't need any Paigham-e-Mohabbat from Mr. Altaf Hussain in order to learn about how am I suppose to treat any fellow Pakistani or human being.My perception and knowledge are not dictated or bound by whatever is published from Nine-Zero but my own brain and thinking capabilities. Yes, MQM still enjoys a mandate and I do acknowledge that despite being a PTI supporter;but based on their history I would say that I can tolerate but not trust them.Only Almighty God knows if Altaf Hussain has any sincere intention.
yea ..Gun point Jalsas are old trend of MQM nothing new, same old drama !!
What about the Baluch people residing in Karachi?
Will MQM also extend “Paigham-e-Mohabbat" to Baluchi brothers?
Remember that flag of Pakistan has supremacy over all political parties flags in the country.
@Abdur Rahman: PTI is not a party that used to do ethnic politics and now changed its due coarse ... i guess its a good change of heart from MQM
@Yasir Khan: Yeah and the courage to vote and support and always standby this corrupt and ineffective govt since 2008. We are sick of this drama.
At least someone has got courage to unite the communities in karachi. It was need of the time ..Well done !
Now Altaf Hussain too feels the need to say the same thing Imran khan did before and during his Jalsa in Karachi (i.e. getting all to unite and all) , probably he feels the 'threat' now.
@Ash: Tell me one non Urdu speaking leader in his party? One Pakhtoon, one Sindhi, one Punjabi and I will agree to the greatness. On another note today I was stuck in a traffic jam in main clifton because of an ANP rally with people brandishing guns. Dont know it was connected to this but way to go peaceful parties.
a drama or what .. but maybe he can bring some order
well yeah it was a drama, but a well-intended one!
Great Leader...at a time when conspiracy theories are high in the metropolis he has gathered people of Pakhtoon eithincity to give a message of Unity. Well done Altaf Hussain and well done MQM for organising such a massive crowd