If youre not with us, youre against us, says Altaf to those opposing the new LG law
KARACHI:
A day after the Pakistan Peoples Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement managed to push through a controversial local government ordinance, MQM chief Altaf Hussain criticised those who opposed it as enemies of democracy and hypocrites.
In an address to MQM workers in Karachi, Altaf criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for its support to Sindh nationalist groups, who have announced a strike protesting the new local government system on September 13.
The speech as fiery as it was in Altafs typical style was still a toned down version of his conversation with the Coordination Committees of the MQM in Karachi and London late Friday night. That conversation had focused on the Awami National Party (ANP).
Altaf had stressed that party activists be
mentally and physically prepared to defeat
conspiratorial elements that were on the payroll of
hidden forces and trying to
destroy peace in Sindh. He asked party activists to display bravery and strength to oppose these elements.
Altaf said that these elements were opposing the local government ordinance. He said the united workers of the MQM and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would defeat these efforts.
Focusing on the ANP, Altaf accused the party of serving foreign interests.
He said the party was supporting a British-era system, and the opposition to the local government system was a sign of feudal mentality. He said those opposing the system were not Pakistans friends, but its foes. The announced threats and strike by nationalist parties would not be successful, as such efforts had not been successful in the past. He called on women, children, students, elders, traders, industrialists, farmers, the working class and people from all professions to make the strike call ineffective.
In his speech on Saturday, Altaf asked the leaders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to end their criticism.
Stop worrying about Sindh, worry about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The majority of Pashtun and Pashto-speaking people in Karachi support the MQM.
Altaf also spoke to President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday. According to a statement issued by the MQM, the president said that the local government system had been introduced to solve the problems faced by people and to transfer power to the grassroots. President Zardari said that the PPP, of which he is co-chairperson, would work with the MQM and all other coalition partners to solve the issues of the people of Sindh.
In his speech on Saturday evening, Altaf said that, It was the duty of all provinces and provincial governments to hold local government elections and establish a local government system. Only Sindh did it and the other three provinces have opposed it.
Three prime ministers have been martyred from Sindh and it is Sindh that will save Pakistan, Altaf said.
Saturdays speech also saw Altaf criticise the PML-N and Sindh nationalist groups. They stole the name of Quaid-e-Azams Muslim League and added an N to it, he said, referring to the Nawaz Sharif-led party. The PML-N is conspiring against Pakistan by supporting separatists who have called for Sindhu desh, referring to the long demand of separatist groups in Sindh for a separate country. He also criticised nationalist groups for only having a message of hate and of never being able to win votes.
The PML-N has been stealing the rights of the people of South Punjab, Bahawalpur and the Seraiki belt for 65 years, he alleged. It is conspiring to break up the country but this conspiracy will never be successful as long as the MQM is here.
By using separatist groups, do you think the MQMs message wont spread to Punjab? he said, addressing the PML-N. The MQM has spread to every village in Punjab.
Altaf reiterated his appeal to make the September 13 strike unsuccessful. He wrapped up his speech with another talking point he has had for the past few weeks denouncing the injustices to members of minority religions, calling for Rimsha Masih to be released and declaring that Shias and Sunnis were brothers and that the killings of Shias should stop.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2012.
If you
ok i have 2 questions for altaf bhai!
1) ANP should stop worrying about sindh and worry about NWFP he said well then he should also stop worrying about south punjab and just worry about Sindh!
2) he said that people should stop supporting the BRITISH ERA SYSTEM! well isn't ALTAF BHAI a BRITISH NATIONAL????????????? if so then how can he say anything against
