‘MQM only want a revolution if it gives power to the people’

Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui also criticised PPP for being biased against MQM-dominated areas.

HYDERABAD:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) does not want a chaotic or violent revolution, said MQM MNA Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi, referring to Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s attempts to overthrow the government.

“We need to have ordinary people in our assemblies so they know of the problems faced by the masses in the country,” said Siddiqi.

Speaking at an iftar event in Hyderabad on Friday, he said his party does not believe in power politics between dynastic families. “The MQM will only take part in a struggle if it is genuinely aimed at transferring power to the people of Pakistan.” Siddiqui announced that his party will arrange celebratory events in Karachi to mark Independence Day, clarifying that they will not participate in Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf’s sit-in against the government in Islamabad.

Army and IDPs

The MQM leader praised the Pakistan army for sacrificing their lives in the fight against terrorism and urged the people to contribute their part to help the internally displaced people of Waziristan.

Provincial government’s bias

Siddiqi then went on to blame the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sindh government for discrimination in carrying out development works in the areas where MQM candidates were elected. “Though we are part of the provincial government, I feel ashamed to say that Hyderabad is being subjected to discrimination,” he said. “This is such an unfortunate city that despite its population of around 3.5 million, there is no government university in the Hyderabad (district).”

However, he said the MQM leadership is trying to have development packages approved from the federal and provincial governments for Hyderabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2014.