Shah appologises after MQM strongly reacted over his statement

MQM derides Khursheed Shah's comments on Muhajirs

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah appologised for his ‘misquoted’ statement after Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) reacted strongly to comments he had made earlier in the day, Express News reported.

Retaliating to Shah's comment, MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi claimed that the PPP leader had used the term ‘Muhajir’ as a pejorative term, and condemned it. He further demanded an immediate apology.

Addressing a press conference on Friday evening, Rizvi angrily asked, “Who is Shah to says that he would let Muhajirs to live in Sindh.”
Referring to PPP leader’s statement that Muhajirs are those people who live in slums, Rizvi said Shah should realise the difference between immigrants and refugees.

Those who had migrated to Pakistan after the Partition in 1947 are referred to as Muhajirs. The MQM has long struggled for equal rights of Muhajirs.

Immediately after the press conference by MQM leadership, Shah, asked by reporters said, “My statement was taken out of context. Still, if it has hurt anyone’s sentiment, I apologise to them.”

Defending the statement he gave earlier in the day, Shah said he was replying to question on why there is no quota of jobs for Muhajirs’. Claiming that he himself was a ‘Muhajir’ after his ancestors had migrated from the Arabian peninsula, Shah said, “All who live in Sindh are brothers then why there is a difference that we are Sindhi and Muhajir. The ‘Muhajir’ has become a derogatory term, which it should not be."

The statement that Shah gave earlier in the day that became the root of the controversy was:

“Word Muhajir is a pejorative term for me, Muhajir is one who does not have a home and lives in camps. I appeal to them, do not call yourself Muhajir. It is used for such a person who will go back but we will not let you leave. We will let you live here, you have to live in Sindh will not let you go back to India. Do not use this word now.”