15 January 2005	Saturday	04 Zilhaj 1425

KARACHI, Jan 14: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement will participate in the non-party local bodies elections in all the four provinces and warned the quarters allegedly planning any operation against the party, to desist from such moves.

This was stated by leader of the MQM, Altaf Hussain while addressing a general workers' meeting at Nine-Zero on phone on Friday during which he commended the workers for their role in mobilising humanitarian assistance for the tsunami victims in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Maldives.

Amid reports of military operation in Balochistan, Mr Hussain said coordination committee of the party was deliberating on the situation and he might come out with a very drastic decision any time.

Mr Hussain's tone hinted of a possible threat of opting out of the coalition on the most controversial Balochistan situation amid military operation. This was evident from the fact when he asked the workers: " If under a given situation MQM is compelled to leave the government, will you face that situation. Are you ready to face all the consequences following a decision of the coordination committee (in this regard? Be prepared for any eventuality, mentally and physically."

In the same breath, he warned the rulers that any punitive operation was carried out against the MQM, there would be a massive protest all over and no one would be able to rest in peace.

He claimed that MQM now had its groves not only all over the province, but also in other parts of the country and protest by its workers would make the Establishment helpless.

Mr Hussain recalled the military operation of June 1992 and said 12 years of repression could not damage the party. He also lashed out at those who were criticising his recent statements on TV and the media and even charging him with treason and said he was not at all bothered about such comments.

His workers also rejected such charges by raising slogans that they were not at all impressed by such allegations. He was again asked not to return to the country when Mr Hussain put the question before the workers.

Mr Hussain also referred to estrangement of some workers owing to behaviour of some office-bearers and asked them to review their decision and become active again in the interest of the movement. He will address such workers on Jan 16.

Lauding the spirit of MQM workers in mobilising donations for tsunami victims to the tune of 52 million rupees, Mr Hussain asked them to redouble their efforts in the collection of hide and skin of sacrificial animals and claimed that such an exercise would have a bearing on the outcome of the upcoming local bodies elections soon after Eidal Azha.

Mr Hussain also appreciated the role of Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation and MQM's overseas wings for dispersing 52 million rupees in assistance to the tsunami victims. Narrating the details of the fund-raising campaign for helping the people of tsunami-hit countries, the Muttahida leader said that soon after the disaster, party leaders donated 50,000 pounds in the UK to the diplomats of those countries which were affected due to tsunami.