Altaf greets MQM bid to make inroads into Punjab
By Amjad Mahmood (my commentry added)
LAHORE, April 25: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has warned
oppressive feudal lords of Punjab of retribution and promised to people that their problems will be solved if they support his party.
Addressing by telephone from London Punjab convention of MQM workers held in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan on Sunday, he said the event marked the beginning of a revolution in Punjab.
O feudal lords, refrain from oppressing the people, otherwise Altaf will let loose the dogs on you that you used to let loose on your poor subjects,(very right, the bigger n hungry ones
) he said, occasionally using Punjabi language interspersed with verses of Sufi poets Bullah Shah and Shah Hussain.
Although elaborate security arrangements had been made for the convention, hundreds of MQM activists transported from Karachi on Saturday appeared to be more active than police.
They were seen directing lawenforcement personnel on who should be allowed to enter The Mall, Kashmir Road and Stock Exchange Road, the roads around Alhamra Hall, the venue of the convention.
Before the proceedings started the venue was shifted from inside the hall to the ground outside the building.
Although both sides of the dais were empty, the entrance was closed and people had to sit on The Mall.
This appeared to be part of a plan aimed at showing a turnout larger than the organisers had expected. Promising to get national wealth back from plunderers,
Mr Hussain said the money would be used to retire national debt and the rest would be distributed among the poor.
He said that if voted to power the MQM would snatch land from big landlords and distribute among the landless. (mqm members)
Besides, he said, uniformed education and health facilities would be introduced and the issues of energy, unemployment and price-hike would be resolved.
He supported fair demands of Balochistan and said the MQM was the only party which could resolve the water dispute and address the problem of drought in Punjab.
He said he saw no harm in carving out more provinces on administrative grounds and supported the demand for Seraiki province.
Urging the people to rise against oppressors, he said angels would not descend from heaven to help them. (so u have to do with the devil
)
They themselves, he added, would have to act, instead of relying only on prayers. (rely on ghunda gardi
)
Criticising the ruling elite, he said those who had raised slogans of roti, kapra aur makan gave nothing to the people over the past 62 years.
He said the people had converged there to save Pakistan which was suffering from the dual education system under which children of the poor were made to sit on the ground because there were no benches and desks in their schools.
He said that people themselves were responsible for the situation because they cast their votes in favour of bank defaulters.
Why do the people of Punjab vote again and again for plunderers and looters, he asked. (this time try murderes n ghndas!!
)
He said the people would have to pledge not to support the thieves. Mr Hussain said the MQM had entered Punjab by overcoming all kind of hurdles put in its way.