January 16, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 15, 1426

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KARACHI, Jan 15: Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief Altaf Hussain said on Sunday that his party would send a fact finding mission to Balochistan and on the basis of its findings the party would decide whether to remain in the ruling coalition. The mission would comprise MQM representatives, mediamen and people from various walks of life.

Addressing Sindhi media personnel at a programme arranged by the Sindh Media Forum (SMF), he said: “The fact-finding team will independently meet people in Kohlu, Dera Bugti and other troubled parts of Balochistan and will compile a report for the party, after which we’ll not give any ultimatum but will take a decision and that will be final”.

Speaking on telephone from his party office in London, Mr Hussain also spoke on various burning issues relating to Sindh and the rest of Pakistan.

“Our politics is not based on power. We are not power hungry, that’s why we do not and will not bargain on principles”, he said.

About MQM’s presence in a rally originally organized by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) in Karachi, Mr Hussain said the party at an emergency meeting on Saturday night decided to participate in the rally to show its stand on the burning issues of Balochistan, Bajaur and the Kalabagh dam. “Our workers participated in the rally in large numbers,” he said.

The MQM leader demanded full provincial autonomy and said the provinces should be owner of minerals in its jurisdictions and should have the power to decide about the fate of such wealth.

“I warn again that any policy of suppression will lead to a 1971-like situation”.

Answering a question, he said ‘on authority’ that the Kalabagh dam would not be built.

He said no movement or unrest could be crushed by force.

He termed all nationalists touts of agencies who raised a hue and cry against repatriation of stranded Pakistanis from Bangladesh, but did not utter a single word against the huge influx of Afghans and people of other countries.

He said his party’s struggle for the rights of Sindh would continue but if it did not bear fruit it would be left with no option but to take ‘direct action’.

Mr Hussain also spoke about MQM’s stance on the NFC Award and introduction of Sindhi for none-Sindhi students at the college level. He said there was no controversy on the introduction of Sindhi at the intermediate level and a formal announcement about this would be made soon.