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.”
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Haider Abbas Rizvi should know exactly what Muhajir terms means. He is an immigrant in UK. So he will always be called a Muhajir (immigrant) in UK. His kids, if born in UK, can't however be called as immigrants. They will be called UK citizens. Calling those who are born there as immigrant will be an insult to them. . In Pakistan, however, some are trying to call even 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation of immigrants as being Muhajir. Is that fair to those who are born in Pakistan degrade them by calling them a Muhajir? And here we have Mr. Rizvi and others who are adamant that they should be called as Muhajir. . I wonder people like Mr. Rizvi, who themselves have opted for citizenship of other countries, why do they care about what goes on in Pakistan? What interest these people of foreign nationalities have in Pakistan? Let Pakistanis put their own house in order. They are capable of doing that and don't need any meddling by any foreign national.
Shah shouldn't have apologized for his initial statement. Muhajir are immigrants and those who are born and raised in Pakistan can not be called as "Muhajir". Who is making who fool here - let people decide.