Altaf condemns sectarianism in phone call to prime minister
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain spoke to Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Interior Minister Rehman Malik over the Eid holidays and expressed concern over the recent surge in sectarian violence in the country.
“The people who are taking Shias off buses and killing them after identifying them are not just murdering Shias, they are conspiring to murder Pakistan,” Altaf said, according to a statement issued by the MQM.
The MQM chief held: “The founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, was also a Khoja Ithna Asheri Shia... when he died he had two funerals.”
One was led by Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani and the other was led by a Shia cleric, and anyone who denies this is denying a fact, Altaf asserted.
He said every Shia and every Pakistani citizen – whether Hindu, Christian, Sikh or of any other faith – are equal Pakistanis. People who are forcing Hindus, Christians and other non-Muslims to leave Pakistan are actually tyrannising the country and Jinnah’s teachings, according to him.
“If true Pakistanis do not end this, the country’s future will be engulfed by darkness.”
In response, Interior Minister Malik told Altaf that those people who wanted to stoke sectarianism were not friends of Pakistan, while the prime minister said that killing anyone because of their religion was an act of brutality and oppression.
Malik also added that Pakistan needed unity at the moment and one should not differentiate among citizens.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (21)
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@Pakistan Lover
Yeah it could be strange for you but it is not for many others. It's better for a leader of his caliber to stay safe as we have seen what happened to other leaders who were in Pakistan. Don't go by where someone lives, ponder over what that person is saying!
@Ash: Strange!!! what image he portrays!! living outside there and have not visited country since 2 decade or so and any leader in the world does politics like him??? Living outside Pakistan and doing politics how he can do welfare! Leader lead from the front!! Leadership doesn't mean that you live away your people!!anyways strange!
@Pakistan Lover
Quote: A leader who remains outside Pakistan. A patriotic who avoids to visit his homeland
He is 1000x times better than those "Patriots" who are living in the country and never ever raise voice against such atrocities. He is much better than those "Patriotic hypocrites" and "sons of soil" who don't have even 0.1% patriotism for the country yet they claim that they love Pakistan. Don't underestimate the patriotism of Non-resident Pakistanis as they love their country as much as people living in the country!!
@Shahab:
"A true leader, a true patriot Mr. Altaf Hussain always lives up to the expectations of the people may it be for Muslims or non Muslims he has always rouse to the occasion, Bravo to you Mr. Altaf Hussain you have the courage, you never come under any pressure, and that is why the people with feudal mind set and Nefarious designs want to get rid of you from Pakistani politics."
A leader who remains outside Pakistan. A patriotic who avoids to visit his homeland.
If Altaf Bhai has so much of these people why he himself is condemning from UK. Come in Pakistan and be practical. Condemning from UK is very easy. Come and take steps and save shias if you are true in your words.
Yes its an undeniable fact
Atleast there is a leader who is vocal and stand firm against all religious discriminations in this country Pakistan. Well done Altaf Hussain !!
A true leader, a true patriot Mr. Altaf Hussain always lives up to the expectations of the people may it be for Muslims or non Muslims he has always rouse to the occasion, Bravo to you Mr. Altaf Hussain you have the courage, you never come under any pressure, and that is why the people with feudal mind set and Nefarious designs want to get rid of you from Pakistani politics.
Does any one in Pakistan has the courage to speak truth in the eyes of this hypocratice society who have killed their syllabus with lies and lies...Bravo for once Mr. Altaf Hussain for speaking truth..
Great Leader! No one in Pakistan has condemned the atrocities faced by Shia muslims and other minorities like Mr. Hussain did. He is fearless and have courage to call spade a spade! This is why his party is still popular in masses even after all kind of negative propaganda against them.
If still you wonder why MQM get votes in Karachi this is why they get votes.... this is the only party that talk on such issues without bias and do their share....
Finally, one head of a major political party had the courage to speak against the killing of shias. It is shameful to see such a silence on the part of the leaders of the major political parties, and public in general, not to speak against such killings. This speaks volumes that there is some thing gravely gone wrong with the psyche of the entire nation. It is very sad to see the soul and conscious of the nation is slowly dying. Unfortunately, in today's Pakistan, Shias are not safe any where. They are being dragged out of the buses and killed in Gilgit Baltistan and Quetta, they are being killed in Parachinar. Prominent shias live in fear all over Pakistan, since they are on the hit list of the Talibans and their sympathizers like Lashkar e Jhangvi/Sipha e Shaba (aka Ahle sunnat wal jammat). If Pakistan as a state wants to survive, then it's Military, political leadership, and the judiciary will have to confront these terrorists.
finally someone came up with the condemnation. shame on the present govt who can not even secure the freedom to live as per one's faith.
Only Altaf has this courage to loudly uncover the Historical facts and strongly condemn this act of Barbarism.
Well,this one sided condemnation by the media and political leaders is very distressing.Nobody has said a word of condemnation,there is no outrage over the target killings of 10 Sunnis in karachi last Friday night.Why the hypocrisy,why these double standards? All sectarian violence should be condemned,when the media starts demonising one sect and ignoring the deliberate murders of their people,only hatred will grow in society at the hypocritical treatment. The murder victims from both sects should be treated as victims,it's highly unfair to be outraged over the deaths of one sect,but completely and deliberately ignore the deaths of the other sect.
Totally agree with AH!