The MQM chief lambasted the Sindh government for what he claimed were conspiracies behind delimitation plans to manufacture a PPP win and an MQM loss from every constituency in the upcoming local body elections in Sindh.
He said the PPP-led government treatment of Urdu-speaking people was akin to that of "step-mothers".
سندھ میں اردوبولنےوالوں کیساتھ سوتیلی ماں جیساسلوک کیاجارہاہے، #AltafVoiceOfMasses #Pakistan
— MQM (@OfficialMqm) January 3, 2014
Altaf said that if the government wanted to continue its "gangster" ways, it would do well to remember that MQM has given sacrifices in the past and would not hesitate to lay their lives down for the cause again in the future.
However, the option of talking was still open.
The MQM chief urged the Sindh government to sit down with MQM and discuss ways in which the urban populace can be represented equally with rural areas, which they would have to do sooner or later.
حکومت کوغنڈہ گردی کرنی ہے توکرے، جان دیناجانتےہیں،ہم نےجانیں دی ہیں، #MQM #AltafHussain #AltafVoiceOfMasses
— MQM (@OfficialMqm) January 3, 2014
ٹیبل پربیٹھ کربات کرلواورشہری آبادی کوبرابرکاحصہ دیاجائے،اردواورسندھی بولنےوالےسندھی ایک ساتھ رہناچاہتاہیں، #AltafVoiceOfMasses #MQM
— MQM (@OfficialMqm) January 3, 2014
"Today, I ask PPP and Sindhi nationalist parties that if they consider the urban masses — the Urdu-speaking Sindhis — not Sindhi enough, then create a separate province for this particular Sindhi population."
Altaf said he was ready for talks at this point, but if the things got "out-of-hand", the flames from this fire could scorch the entire country.
ایسی حلقہ بندیاں کی گئیں کہ پی پی ہرجگہ سےکامیاب ہواورایم کیوایم ہارجائے، #MQM #AltafVoiceOfMasses
— MQM (@OfficialMqm) January 3, 2014
شہری آبادی کوبرابرکاحصہ نہ دیاتوبات علیحدہ صوبےکےبجائےملک تک بھی پہنچ سکتی ہے، #AltafVoiceOfMasses #MQM #AltafHussain
— MQM (@OfficialMqm) January 3, 2014
On the subject of the ongoing trial of Pervez Musharraf, Altaf Hussain said Article 6 of the Constitution should also implicate former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and General (retd) Kayani in cases.
He also took a dig at Bilawal Bhutto. Noting how he was like his nephew, Altaf advised that he should complete his studies before joining politics.
"Be a good boy, not a bad boy," he advised Bilawal in English adding that the young Bhutto scion, who has taken to Twitter with great success, to think, think a lot before speaking.
PPP reacts
PPP patron Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted in response:
مرسون مرسون، سنڌ نه ڏيسون
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) January 3, 2014
Marsoon Marsoon, Sindh na Ddaisun
("We will die but won't give Sindh [to others]") - Hoshu Sheedi
Speaking to Express News over telephone, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon called Hussain's statement "a ploy to divert attention from the Karachi operation, which is targeting terrorists, extortionists and those responsible for all the dead bodies found packed in gunny sacks."
"I don't think that this singular statement by one person from one group reflects the sentiments of the masses," said Memon.
"Everyone in Sindh is living like brothers and will continue to do so. We won't let anyone split Sindh."
COMMENTS (75)
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1728020241-0/Express-Tribune-Web-(12)1728020241-0-270x192.webp "pti says nov 24 will decide who stays in party")
@Yahya: Yeah right! Exactly like Mujeeb ur Rehman became enemy of state by winning elections!
Whether we like or dislike MQM or Altaf it is a right demand supported by majority of karachities.
If Hazaras and Seraikis ask for province it deserves open debate and discussion by media, if Urdu speakers ask for province it is seed of hatred or a conspiracy. This un equal treatment should end and son of the soil rubbish concept should end.
Karachi city of 25 million cannot be ruled by a gentleman from Khairpur, police from rural areas, the power needs to be delegated at city levels or a separate province, no more eyewash no more games.
It's like running Lahore from Vehari and 30,000 Sindhi , Baluchi policeman. I wonder how Lahoris will react to this:)
There is a popular demand for a separate province or local govt among Karachities putting up views of non karachities is waste of time and injustice coz they are irrelevant. This will only be decided by Karachities.
@Aysha M: why you support MQM or Altaf hussain. they have delivered nothing to Pakistan or to Karachi. governor is from mqm party who has been in power from more than a decade and they are part of every government. this is a shameful speech by a incompetent leader who is demanding for a separate province shame on all the illiterate people who are actually part of it
There is a movement for Hazara Province but reaction to this minimum. Likewise for Southern Punjab hardly any reaction. It gets chaotic when a separate province in Sindh is demanded! WHY?
Another thing. The highly discriminatory 'Quota System' must go to give all and sundry opportunities on merit!
I fully support this demand for separate province. Karachi gives 60% to whole Pakistan and more than 90% to Sindh, but gets nothing. Recent delimitations and Local Govt.Law exposed feudal and biase face of PP. Formula to divide resources should be cahnged as urban population outnumbers rural population. Hate him, condemn him, but read his speech carefully. Equitable distribution of resources and empowerment of the common Pakistani to govern his/her matters is the only solution for progress and safety for the country. Again. I strongly support his demands.
Karachi can only be governed as a city-state. All true blue Karachites should support the demand and they do, otherwise it would not have come from the highest level. We in Karachi deserve to be treated as equal citizens. We need mass transport system, local policing and above all law and order which can only come when Karachi can be best governed by Karachites and not by incompetent and corrupt PPP administrations who thrive on conflict. In lockstep with ataf Hussain in this demand. I will be a resident of a new province soon inshaAllah
**Discremination with Urdu speeking and others minorties becomes the cause of such slogan it may be just slogan an may be like weast pakistan depands up to the leaders and their flowers behaviiour.
All those who say 'more provinces needed' are enemies of Pakistan. I as a Punjabi will even fight if Punjab is threatened. For hundreds of years, we have lived on this land and no body but us Punjabis will decide what will happen. Same goes for KPK, Balochistan and Sindh. The real owners of Sindh are Sindhis. He wants to divide Sindh which is not even his land. Why doesn't he ask his followers to learn Sindhi and adopt the culture. If you like your culture this much, go back to India where you belong. Afghanistan has 32 provinces - does that solve its problems? Canada is 12 times bigger than Pakistan and has only 13 provinces. Some of Canada's provinces are the size of Pakistan, IRan and Saudi Arabia. It is peace ful and progressive.
@Ayesha M WOW, I cannot believe what I just read. . . .you can still start supporting PTI :D
Soon Pashto speaking Sindhi, Punjabi speaking Sindhi and Baloch speaking Sindhi will also demand their separate provinces. This guy is just spreading communal hate and encouraging ethnic polarisation.
All the Mohajirs I know hate him. He gives a bad name to Mohajir people. Up until MQM was formed, Mohajirs ran Pakistan. The founder of Pakistan was a Mohajir. He just plays on people's sentiments and creates nothing but opportunities for blood baths.
@ayesha M, am i reading right that u dnt like this statment
Altaf Husain is not a patriotic Pakistani. He does not have the courage to admit his misdeeds and violent conduct. His hold on Urdu-speakers has weakened. He is travelling downhill an ever-inclining slope.u
Amazing to see such resentment. He is calling for another province not another country. From the looks of it its either going to be a number of provinces now or a numbers of small countries later. South Asia has never been united under local rule in its 1000 year history. This is a region of strong ethnic identity, and the last 67 years have not changed anything in our ethnic identity, maybe made it a bit more complicated by adding religion. Decentralize this country now or we know what happened in 1971. Karachi will not be the first to go, first will be Baluchistan, then it will be KP and so on and so forth........... Sindh cannot be divided what a joke Sindh is already divided......
Just for people to know.. There is ICT which means Islamabad Capital Territory.. Karachi should be given the same status..
A question to ET: why you did not report his full statement where he demanded a separate province which may lead to a separate country?
When it comes to articles about MQM, ET keeps censoring comments that say anything true. They only post useless inane comments.
Publish this ET, let everyone know!
long awaited decision.. raise voice for Sindhudesh
That's why I always laugh out whenever I see ur pic anywhere. U need to grow up dude!!!
I think its about time for myself and all urdu speaking sindhis to vote against MQM. I have defended them all my life on web and in person. But enough is enough. I, Ayesha M, as many of you know me as a staunch MQM supporter, completely rejects Altaf Hussain's point of view. I am shocked to hear this secession argument from Altaf Hussain and completely reject this idea.
@imran ali: So will you change your stand as soon AH changes it , which could be on hourly basisis.
This man never knows when to open his mouth. He is simply adding fuel to the fire. He has never shirked of demanding a seperate country where he can land safely and rule his subjects through threats. PTI where are you?
He is the person who is the most harmful for Urdu speaking community. Everything was good in Karachi before inception of MQM. I think that MQM is the biggest enemy of Urdu speaking. All of us are suffering due to politics of MQM.
I feel if full control is given to Urdu speaking community of Karachi like in musharrafs time things will only progress.
The only solution to mess in Pakistan to create 32 provinces with dissolution of powers to grass root level. Compare with other countries like India, Iran, Turkey and even Afghanistan the number of provinces over 25. What harm if create new provinces to break the status quo to safe guard interest of mafias.
coward and illogical statement by a coward man. if he is brave, he should come to pakistan.
Karachi should be made a separate province for the Urdu speaking people so that they should get Government jobs.
Under the quota system Karachiites have been discriminated by the Punjabis and then Sindhis of interior Sindh as if Urdu speaking people who ruled the country after the independence in 1947 are the slaves of Punjabis and Sindhis.
Insha-Allah, a day will come that Karachi will be made as a separate province, if not a separate country and the shackles of Urdu speaking people will be broken. Urdu speaking people who have been side lined by the Punjabis and Sindhis will free men and women and children.
@ ET I am an Urdu speaking Sindhi and I condemn this ethnic statement-cum-demand of Altaf Hussain especially at this critical juncture! He has been part of almost every Government since 1986 and his party-man has completed 11years as Governor Sindh (a record!).
I dont have words to condemn this. Altaf is enemy of Pakistan.
If Pakistan is to survive, the power needs to be decentralized. This will shift the disastrous political paradigm in this god forsaken country. Creating smaller provinces will only keep our moronic political leaders in check, the more the merrier. But of course who will let Karachi, the duck that lays the golden egg out of its pen.....
Such statements and speeches can only create restlessness in the society. Altaf is enjoying luxurious life in UK but giving tension to Pakistanis.
Why are you living in England after killing so many Muslims in Karachi. Come back and face the nation.
Result of PPP's incomptence and corruption. I have nothing but prayers for the residents of this beautiful province. They need to get rid of PPP and elect people who work for the betterment of the people. The whole province is in a mess. Go and visit any city in the interior sindh and you will know first hand. They cannot restore peace in Karachi and most importantly in its strong hold Liyari.
Silly speech.
enough is enough both have parties have actually given nothing to Pakistan except for corruption target killing bhata system shame on both of you and who ever follows you
MQM, PTI and Tahir ul Qadri are puppets of establishment. All the three are playing their roles as directed to them. They are creating path for dictatorship.
As Bilawal said in his comments Most of the older sindhis have never accepted new sindhis as sindhis {others}. No body is asking older sindhis to give any preferential treatment but only asking for equal rights and treatment.Being deprived of this, Altaf's statement makes complete sence. Non sindhi speaking sindhis Inclding every language spaekers Should support this demand
First sane thing I have heard from this guy in a long time!
Good acting by Altaf. It is a misconception that Urdu speaking vote only for MQM. There are a lot of Urdu speaking who vote for PML-N, PTI and Jamaat Islami. No Urdu speaking wants new province. It is demand of only Altaf Hussain because he wants to destabilize the whole system.
am urdu speaking and hate MQM specially Altaf Hussain, but he is right, Province is the solution.
I never take this man seriously. He never talks sense. MQM is the only party that is present both in Pakistan and England. MQM is the only party that is fed up from both Pakistani and England Police.
Why British national interfering in matters of Pakistan. If he has courage, he should come to Pakistan and face the courts.
being urdu speaking not agree with altaf for separate state for urdu speaking and feeling sad on bilawal for calling urdu speaking as others.
This man has always promoted politics of hate and lingual differences. I dislike Altaf.
Altaf suddenly brave in asking treason trial for Kayani and Iftikhar Chaudhury after they have both retired from far away London.
Altaf bahai likes to remain center of attention. ...He can say or do anything for this objective.
just IGNORE it and consider it a smoke screen to divert attention from Musharraf alleged escape.
I believe Altaf's statement reflects the sentiment of a large majority of Urdu speaking population. If we can talk about new provinces in Punjab, there is no harm in the same approach for Sindh. Our parties and courts are fond of drawing parallels with India and creating new provinces should not be a new idea. Even if it is an election stunt, it is a democratic process and let MQM first win the election on this basis and make the changes to the constitution. It is definitely not a short and straightforward process. Parties however need to manage the process well - there shouldn't be any massacre and other Urban areas should not be left behind.
Look at neighboring countries like Afghanistan with total population around 30 to 35 million and have more than 30 provinces.....
Pakistan with 180 million just four and so-called Gigit-Baltistan is a fake one.
Stable Pakistan needs more provinces, if not we will keep see issues will never resolve...
The May elections already showed the difference, only Punjab based NA seats decided the formation of government....there should be four provinces out of Punjab.....similarly at least two in sind.....
Hazara province from KPK, FATA is potential province, and Gilgit-Baltistan already in process of making one.....
Plot Twist: Altaf Hussain is adopted and his stepmother treated him - horribly resulting in his twisted opinions of how stepmothers treat kids.
I support PTI but I'm with Altaf on this. Karachi needs to be made a separate province. The PPP rulers have destroyed Karachi over the last 6 years.
As an Urdu speaking, born and raised Karachiite, let me say the words of Zulfiqar Mirza: 'Over my dead body would Sindh be split up.' Sindh opened its heart to the immigrants and gave us a home. Us children of these migrants will ensure its prosperity and integrity at all cost.
I really feel sorry for the poor people who HAVE to turn up and listen to this man...
All these parties have tried to divide Pakistanis as they neither have the vision or intellect to build, so they do the easiest thing, destroy...
Had enough of them - just leave us alone
One nation, one blood...
Pakistan Zindabad
One only suits where it has emerged from. Those who have objection are free to shift wherever they are welcome.
Regardless of what Altaf has said, I think we need more than 20 provinces in Pakistan. This will help in all respects.
when a section of population is marginalised grievances, and perceived injustices are not redress ...there is always demand for a province..
I beg you Altaf... please don't spread ethnic hate. The less telephonic speeches you do, the better, MQM, please advise your leader to take a LONG break from any telephonic speeches. He spreads nothing but hatred, and that's why MQM is so violent and always inciting hate. Jaisa leader, vaisy followers.
sind & pk is for all. b united
Altaf Hussain is forgets time and again that MQM stands for Mutahida Qaumi Movement, and not Mohajir Qaumi Movement. Urdu speaking people doesn't demand a separate province and above all MQM no more represents the Urdu speaking people of Karachi, Hyderabad and other urban areas. Playing the Urdu speaking card will not going to help him this time as the noose is tightening around him with scotland yard just yards away from getting hold of him in money laundering case and the Imran Farooq murder case.
I am ashamed to be urdu speaker..
Give them a 1000 canal plot. Send them all there.
I'm Urdu speaking by the way.
Much awaited demand form the bottom of our hearts. In fact, new provinces should be created all accross Pakistan.
Due to the immature politics of MQM still after 30 years in politics, they cant even win from one province. We Urdu speakings totally condemn this statement of Altaf
A few days later, MQM will be offered what it wants in the Sindh Government and the demand of separate province will be forgotten. The best time for creating the province was the Musharraf time which they wasted in minting money through thier superheroes Mustafa Kamal and Babar Ghouri. So this is nothing but an option for power hungry party.
it is a valid demand. the sebtimebts expressed by zulfiqar nirza describing muhajirs as bhookay nangay says it al for wht muhajirs go thru
Although personally m in favour of new provinces... but provincial demand on the basis of ethnicity should be avoided.....
@ Memon....it is sentiment of whole mass of urdu speaking sindhi....PPP represent sindhi speaking population.....we have suffered enough from PPP
Total Election Stunt from both of parties.
Its gin o'clock in London again...
A fair demand. Long awaited.
Altaf going boo-hoo for Musharraf now...He could have sent at least a thousand or two men out to welcome the general upon his arrival. That betrayal damaged Musharraf big time.Maybe the GHQ hadn't thrown a big juicy bone till then.
"IF"....this is how his statement begins. That "IF" is his escape chute. For Altaf, nothing is constant; not even his word. Not even for an hour at times.
Urdu speaking community totally condemn the speech of Altaf, as this so-called leader has nothing to do with Urdu speakers besides to save his future in England.
That's just silly, it will only create more mayhem in pakistan. Altai, when you come to pakistan then make such comments, otherwise you are just a coward.