Altaf reiterates call for more provinces
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KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has once again said that more administrative units and provinces should be created for strengthening the country.
Speaking from London via video link to a large number of MQM workers and supporters who gathered at the Jinnah ground to celebrate his 61st birthday here on Wednesday, he asked the government to accept ‘legitimate demands’ of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek to end the political impasse.
He said that during its tenure, the PPP had tabled a resolution in the National Assembly and the Punjab Assembly for creation of a south Punjab province, but today its leadership was opposing the creation of more provinces and administrative units.
“Don’t talk about things you don’t know...you are [too] young, go bring your dad here,” Altaf Hussain said sarcastically. Without naming Asif Ali Zardari, he said that since the “father does not have the courage to speak for himself, he uses his son (Bilawal) to air his views”.
The Muttahida chief said the so-called Sindhi nationalists wanted to pit Urdu and Sindhi speaking people against each other. “Seeing their opposition [for more provinces] it seems that they want to create a Mohajir province,” he added.
He said that no democratic government had ever held local government elections during its tenure. Without elected local governments democracy was worse than dictatorship, he said.
While Mr Hussain was speaking to his followers, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari made a comment on Twitter, apparently in response to Mr Hussain’s demand for more provinces. “Marsoon Marsoon, Sindh na Daisun [we will die but not surrender Sindh].”
When the MQM chief was told about the tweet, he said the PPP chairman had tweeted before he finished his speech.
He said that Mr Bilawal did not know about the importance of more administrative units or the local government system in spite of having acquired education in Britain.
“Don’t talk about things you don’t know...you are [too] young, go bring your dad here,” he said sarcastically. Without naming Asif Ali Zardari, he said that since the “father does not have the courage to speak for himself, he uses his son (Bilawal) to air his views”.
He said that new provinces, including Seraiki and Hazara provinces, would soon be created regardless of opposition from anyone.
He demanded that all army generals who aided and abetted former military dictator retired Gen Pervez Musharraf be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution. If this was not possible, Gen Musharraf should be released unconditionally, he added. Altaf Hussain asked youths to stand up to the “VIP culture”.
Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2014
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Comments (41) Closed
Sep 18, 2014 06:10am
Please come to Pakistan, roll up your sleeves, do some volunteer work for flood victims. Its different Pakistan that you left 20 years ago. Pakistanis are lot smarter and much more educated. Empty slogans & speeches from London does not empress any one. Do some real work for nation. Lets see what else you can do besides speeches?
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Sep 18, 2014 07:07am
Its not a bad idea population is increasing and its not possible to manage.. how come Mr. Bilawal Zardi is claiming the ownership of Sindh? This is the mind-set shows feudal approach even he has studied and lived most of his life abroad..in assemblies they show how much they believe in people opinion... hypocrates everywhere but fortunalely they have little time left IK is coming to Karachi. MQM with their new approach + IK is a killer combination.
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Sep 18, 2014 07:35am
@Javed PTI is heading for a lot of unknown confrontation. It is not like Islamabad where no one is counter questioning any thing you say nor have you to answer and accusations.
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Sep 18, 2014 07:37am
@Arif I saw more people sitting in than IK has ever collected. And he needs to beg people to come and trough their workers. What kind of revolution is this when people are either paid by Qadri or dragged be the PTI workers to the spot. MQM people sit there with there free will. What ever he is or said he has united this community and they are loyal to him.
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Sep 18, 2014 07:51am
Creation of more job opportunities should be given priority and not new provinces. We need to put the cart properly so that the horse could [ull it.
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Sep 18, 2014 07:53am
Today 'more provinces', tomorrow 'more countries' !
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Sep 18, 2014 07:59am
This is year 2014. for betterment and development of Pakistan it must be divided in to small administrative units.
This is the only way to progress. Any one who oppose this is not sincere to the mother land ,His hidden motive of hanging on to power and money.
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Sep 18, 2014 08:03am
Bilawal Zardari got it right.
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Sep 18, 2014 08:08am
This person blasts non issues out of proportion and always wants to be in lime light, he issues such statements for this purpose, he is turning to be a MR.NOBODY of Politics in Pakistan.Why media especially TV Channels are so afraid of him in Karachi? They post ticker within a minute of every breaking news, is it because of his standing Instruction.Hope Dawn will print this.
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Sep 18, 2014 08:33am
that man is the one who want to split the nation. By dividing sindh he wants to create his own rule (raaj). The Sindhis would prefer to die, but would not surrender Sindh. marsoon marsoon Sindh na desoon
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Sep 18, 2014 08:34am
He may be irrelevant other wise, but he is talking sense about more provinces and it reinforces the democracy and inclusive politics.
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Sep 18, 2014 08:36am
@Javed If PTI i,e IK also demands for Karachi as a separate province, he will win whole Karachi in next election.
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Sep 18, 2014 08:37am
Having smaller administrative units is just an idea. May be 100% beneficial for the country or may harmful that requires debate in Parliament. However, we have uneducated and rather biased Politicians who have been elected on the bases of creating divide between various communities in Sindh in general and Pakistan in particular.
Secondly, BBZ's message or AZ's message gives clear indication as if they OWN the province of SINDH without any material contribution to society.
PS. I am not a supporter of MQM nor against PP, just a common Pakistani.
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Sep 18, 2014 08:55am
He has been proven correct in the past. He was the first leader to warn about taliabisation of Karachi.
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Sep 18, 2014 09:33am
MQM is one step behind on all national issues though it could make a huge difference by being in the front line.
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Sep 18, 2014 09:33am
Altaf Hussain is my father. My padre.
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Sep 18, 2014 09:36am
It is over 65 years, Sindhi should get over this that Sindh cannot be divided and it belong only to them and people who made it what it is today have no right what so ever. It only reflects on their short sightedness.
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Sep 18, 2014 09:38am
@Javed @Arif Don't see how is saying see what he is saying and behieve like a well manner person and don't go for personnel attack on anyone as our religion, social and moral value suggusted.
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Sep 18, 2014 10:03am
Love his songs.
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Sep 18, 2014 10:21am
With due respect Altaf bhai may I ask you a basis question…. What are your political achievements… MQM is stagnant for years….No one including the government dare not talk about you or speak about MQM… being in power or while in opposition, the mega city plummet to zero. Karachi has become one of the worst city to live in… Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning. Part of the issue of achievement is to be able to set realistic goals, but that's one of the hardest things to do because you don't always know exactly where you're going. If MQM has any moral values they should stand firm with PAT and PTI because your goals were similar at one point in time…. Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.
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Sep 18, 2014 10:23am
Breaking down provinces will weaken Pakistan. The Quaid-e-Azam said it him self that Pakistan consist of P=Punjab, A=Afghania (KPK), K=Kashmir, S=Sindh and tan=Balochistan.
I have read so many western articles on how the weakening of Pakistani states will weaken the county. Punjab was especially mentioned in each article.
Our problem is corruption and not more or less states.
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Sep 18, 2014 10:37am
I firmly believe that Altaf Hussain is nailed this issue like in the past, because distribution of power is badly needed for the better governance in each part of Pakistan. This country is extremely biased on racial and ethnic grounds, hence it is not possible that people could get equal rights in their respective provinces. Historically we are a bad, non flexible and biased nation who failed to give rights according to the number of people, and Karachi is a prime example of bad governance and unfair division. On a lighter note I love the way he gave lolly pop to Bilawal Butto :)
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Sep 18, 2014 10:48am
@Key Points People who were in punjab goverment since last 20 years did nothing to save their province from natural calamities, they why are you expecting others to come and do volunteer work.
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Sep 18, 2014 10:49am
Pakistan is not ready for more provinces now. It will create massive fight over water and other resources. First our federal structure needs to be improved and then we can go ahead.
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Sep 18, 2014 10:54am
Time demands PTI + MQM = disaster for PPP + PMLN
Shame on to you Bilawal. I think a province should be made consisting some part of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. Whatever the name of province is, it should be made a role model so that people realize the change in their life due to administrative benefits.
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Sep 18, 2014 11:00am
Bhai has to stay in "lime light" whether topics are on issues or non-issues.Like the way he treated Zardari Jr.
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Sep 18, 2014 11:14am
@M. Emad closed minds. More states federation strong look around the world or just next door. Who is bilawal to own sinsh his great grand father came fm junagadh now india. Just cheap politics
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Sep 18, 2014 11:32am
@taimur Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto never came from Jungadh, but he joined civil services of Junagadh state, later on the Nawab of Junagadh was very much impressed by his talent and education, he appointed him Deewan of State or Prime minister.
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Sep 18, 2014 11:48am
Why do we see creation of additional provinces as division of Sindh. All land belongs to Pakistan and if creation of additional functional units improves government functions and the life of the common man, then all of us benefit a nation. Of course, this means devolution of power and the likes of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will oppose it because they consider it their dynastic right to control the wealth and power of entire Sindh.
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Sep 18, 2014 12:43pm
When regional and ethnic political parties fail to deliver good welfare governance they exploit peoples sentiments and fan regionalism and provincialism to cover their failures to deliver. For example MQM failed to maintain education, health and law and order standards in Karachi,its leaders say that they have no legislative powers. Similarly PPP ignores plight of people living in Sindh villages and towns under the ethnic cover. They know that no matter what is their performance people will vote for them. Giving jobs to few people does not solve health, education and over all employment problems. If Sindh is divided into North and South Sindh ethnic sentiments can not be exploited by MQM and PPP.
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Sep 18, 2014 12:44pm
There have been many personalities intellectual, political, religious, etc who have talked about Pakistan being wiped off the face of the earth. But Pakistan is there to stay, getting stronger and people getting slowly more aware.
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Sep 18, 2014 01:52pm
This is a game of 'races'.
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Sep 18, 2014 02:12pm
@Ghazanfar I agree
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Sep 18, 2014 03:07pm
@rh
Stop monkeying around we all know how MQM gets their audience to come out and everything but free will.
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Sep 18, 2014 03:35pm
OMG! they still think that creation of provinces would divide the nation.
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Sep 18, 2014 03:42pm
After reading through the comments and seeing blazing opposition towards creation of more administrative units, I now got the point, Why we have 'Status quo' in place instead a true democratic system?
People you deserve it! enjoy Droughtfull Sindh and Balochistan and enormously Flooded Punjab.
Truly, sad state of affairs.
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Sep 18, 2014 04:28pm
This is something that needs serious consideration and deliberation. It seems it might help administratively and it will help solve the issue of limitless powers to governments. People may have genuine concerns about it too + emotional. But then in the end it comes down to power.
So far however democratic leader(all of them) have not even done LB elections , talk about splitting provinces. They DO NOT want it. They do not want people to have power. Funny that a dictator gives power back to people and the champions of democracy take it back.
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Sep 18, 2014 05:19pm
@Aslam Shaikh "... But Pakistan is there to stay, getting stronger and people getting slowly more aware."
Sectarian killings and drift among people on sectarian basis is on high, corruption has surpassed the measurement scale even built to analyze it, Land-theft, Street Crimes are somewhat higher than many drown-out African countries, smuggling, human trafficking, honour killing, all sorts of rape including child-rape & gang-rape & domestic violence has become routine subject here. Not to mention Terrorisms which unfortuantely has become a namesake of our country and the list goes on!
If these what you mean by "getting Stronger" than I am sorry but I want back my poor and weak Pakistan of before 90s.
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Sep 19, 2014 12:46am
"Marsoon Marsoon, Sindh na Ddaisun" -- Marsoon, marsoon lay kay raisoon says Altaf Bhai.
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Sep 19, 2014 05:47am
@Shah Absolutely wrong statement. India, Iran, all the western countries including USA have many states and provinces and they are still making those only because it helps in decentralization of power and benefits to local people!!!
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Sep 19, 2014 08:08am
@haris yes there are problems. There is a lot of foreign interference to destabilize Pakistan. Media exaggerates and highlights the bad things that happens. Yes there are issues but despite all this Pakistan is to stay here forever. If you don't want to be a part of the solution then you can move to a peaceful country and live your days there.
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