MQM begins Punjab move

* Party chief Altaf says those who chanted slogan of roti, kapra aur makan gave nothing to people in past 62 years
* MQM to retire country’s debt by selling feudals’ land

LAHORE: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said that the people of Punjab will see that politics are free of feudalism and brutality with the entry of his party in the province’s mainstream politics.

During a telephonic address from London to the first-ever convention of the MQM that was simultaneously held in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi, Altaf said the party had entered Punjab’s politics to deal with the feudal lords, adding that all of them would now be held accountable for their cruelty against the deprived masses of the country.

Nothing done: Altaf said those who raised the slogans of ‘roti, kapra aur makan’ had given nothing to the people in the country’s 62-year history.

The MQM chief criticised the ruling party, saying it had not fulfilled its commitment in the past.

Citing verses from the holy Quran, Altaf said the people would have to pledge not to support “thieves” in the future.

He said the MQM had entered the politics of Punjab to apprehend the country’s “thieves and looters” and to make them walk in the streets after painting their faces black. Altaf said the MQM would let free hunting dogs on these people, adding that the convention was meant to save the country from thieves and looters.

Land sales: Altaf promised to the people that the MQM would distribute the lands of the feudal lords among the poor and would also sell these lands to pay off the country’s debt, if the people of the province support the party to come to power.

He said the people faced problems like poverty, unemployment and shortage of potable water, but politicians were only making false promises and avoiding resolving the real issues of the masses.

The MQM chief said hordes of people had turned up for the convention to save the country from a discriminatory system in which the poor and the rich enjoyed different facilities.

He said the children of poor were made to sit on the ground in public schools while those of the ruling two percent enjoyed all the luxuries in the world.

On the issue regarding the creation of new provinces in the country, Altaf said he believed new provinces would strengthen the federation.

“Demanding a separate province is not a crime or mutiny. The country will get stronger by the creation of more provinces .The real successors of the country are the 98 percent poor people and today, the people will have to promise to stand together to expose those rulers who robbed the country’s wealth by getting billion of their loan written off during the last six decades”, the MQM said.

He added that the MQM would continue its struggle for the rights of minorities and would also address the issue of a separate province for the Seraiki people.

Altaf said the Kashmir dispute would be solved once the Kashmiri people are included in the negotiations to carve out a solution in line with their own wishes, adding that the MQM would resolve the Kashmir issue.