KARACHI, Nov 11: Chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, has claimed that his struggle is to establish a middle class order which is against religious and sectarian extremism.

He was addressing the MQM’s research and advisory council at Khurshid Begum Memorial Hall on Monday. The adhoc committee members and intellectuals were also present on the occasion.

He said that for the last 25 years the MQM had been struggling for the rights of the people and establishment of genuine democracy in the country.

He said that provincial autonomy should not only be mentioned in the constitution, but should be practised. He also opposed the dual educational system in the country and demanded that a balanced and pragmatic educational system be introduced.

“Ethnic, religious and sectarian divides become sharp when the gulf between the haves and the have-nots widens and the institutions responsible for dispensing justice are not independent. In such countries adhocism and pseudo-democracy prevail”, he said and regretted that in Pakistan there was one set of rules for the privileged class and another for the general public and because of this Pakistan had not progressed.

He said that one of the reasons for our backwardness was that research and development were not given due importance. He stressed the need for learning lessons from the European countries who had fought several wars and were bitter enemies. “But Now they are dismantling barriers and joining hands for the welfare of their people”.

He called upon his activists to remain steadfast in their resolve to end feudalism, bigotry and exploitation.