KARACHI, March 16: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said that last sermon of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) which taught equality of all mankind was the manifesto of his party, engaged in a struggle against discriminatory and exploitative monarchical and feudal system. Mr Hussain said this while addressing the MQM’s London unit at its international secretariat.He stressed the need for welcoming the changing world scenarios, and urged his followers to take maximum advantage of computer technology and other modern means of communications.

“Society and its social values keep on changing and only those who grasp this reality and move with the time would succeed. Information technology has transformed the world into a global village which is having a significant impact on social values of society.”

Mr Hussain contended that with the change in social values, laws and constitutions were also reformed to keep pace with the change. Unfortunately, he said, Muslim societies had given up Ijtehad and the so-called moulvis were trying to impose those laws that had been prevalent 1,400 years back.

“Islam is the religion of peace and amity, but extremists have damaged its image. It is not right to declare each other ‘kafir’ because of sectarian differences,” said the Muttahida chief.

He was of the view that just like monarchy and Islam were not compatible, feudalism and democracy were anti-thesis of each other. He said that as long as society was dominated by feudals, democracy could not prosper. Criticising religious parties, he said they would hold marches on every issue but not against feudals because, according to him, these parties were in league with them.