Supporters of MQM surround television screens broadcasting a speech by their party leader Altaf Hussain from London via video conference in Karachi.— File Photo by Reuters

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain on Tuesday announced that a historic public meeting of the party will be held on December 23 in Multan.

Addressing the office-bearer and workers of the party in its Lahore office via telephone, he urged the workers to start working for a successful public meeting.

Committee members of various towns of Lahore were also present on the occasion.

He appealed to the people living in cities, town and villages of southern Punjab, particularly the Seraiki-speaking people, to attend the public meeting in large numbers to make history.

The party chief said that the younger generation must come forward to make a turnaround from the fast deteriorating situation.

He said that MQM is a liberal political party in which all segments of the society were duly represented. It believes in inter- faith harmony, he added.

Mr Hussain said that his party was the only political party in the country that was striving for the rights of all religious minorities.

His party opposes oppression on women because of the practices like “karo-kari” and “wani” and it wants abolition of these from the country, he said.

Altaf Hussain congratulated senior members of the MQM Punjab on becoming members of the Central Executive Council (CEC) of the party.