March, 23 2005	Wednesday	12 Safar 1426

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KARACHI, March 22: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain stressed on Tuesday the need for resolving national issues through dialogue by accepting each other as equals. In a telephonic address to party workers gathered at the Jinnah Ground in Azizabad and 20 other places in the country, he said it was necessary to confront extremists and forces opposed to reforms. He asked the workers to gear themselves up to meet future challenges, whether in the forthcoming local bodies elections or in the struggle against extremism.

Mr Hussain, according to a press release, said the MQM was the first to raise voice against use of force in dealing with the present crisis in Balochistan and to call for solving it through dialogue.

He reiterated his party’s stand on the issue and said the MQM was with the people of Balochistan who were demanding equal rights. He demanded that the federating units should be given complete provincial autonomy, including the right to maintain their own paramilitary force.

However, the main thrust of Mr Hussain’s address appeared to be on the upcoming local bodies elections and said in the polls the MQM would emerge stronger all over the country.

To mark the occasion, the party had organized a dinner for thousands of workers in recognition of their services and commitment to MQM’s objectives. When Mr Hussain asked whether he himself should contest elections, the workers loudly responded in the negative and he said his objective was not to hold any office but to serve the oppressed people of the country.

He advised the leaders of other parties not to contest elections themselves and instead award ticket to the cadre. He criticized the MMA for what he called its tall claims about the success of its so-called million march. Their claim was misleading, he claimed because only a few thousand people had attended that gathering.

He said at a time when the investment climate and the law and order situation in Karachi and elsewhere had improved, the MMA was trying to undermine that progress by holding such marches and giving strike calls. He accused the religious parties of damaging national interests.