February 26, 2008	Tuesday	Safar 18, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 25: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said that his party workers, including women, are ready to sacrifice their lives but they will never compromise on their self-respect, dignity and honour.

“Do not push us against the wall. If anything happens tomorrow, do not hold us responsible. We are against violence and terrorism but we are also human beings and we will never compromise on our self-respect, dignity and honour,” said Mr Hussain while addressing at a women workers meeting held at the party’s headquarters on Monday.

Holding the party’s tri-coloured flag and Mr Hussain’s portraits, a large number of women workers replied in the affirmative when the party chief asked them whether they were ready to sacrifice their lives for their dignity and honour. He said that certain people who were issuing provocative statements were traitors who were conspiring to divide the people of Sindh. He urged the MQM workers to foil such conspiracies.

Commenting on a statement attributed to some representatives of the Pakistan People’s Party that they had leaders like Naseerullah Babar and Abdullah Shah, he asked the international community, foreign observers and diplomats to take notice of the remarks made by the PPP. “The MQM does not want war. This is 2008 and we are ready to give our lives but not ready to surrender or retreat,” he added.

Mr Hussain said that the mandate given to the MQM by millions of people had to be accepted at all cost. He said that MQM representatives had served the people without any discrimination during his party’s five-year-long term in government. He claimed that no extra-judicial execution of any political worker was committed during this period.

He maintained that Pakistan was at a critical juncture and the MQM wanted a national reconciliation, peace and harmony. He urged the international community to take notice of those elements who wanted to destroy peace by issuing infuriating statements.

He also asked the media to give due coverage to the MQM. He advised the electronic media against airing what he described as caustic remarks against the MQM.