HYDERABAD, Oct 1: The chief of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, has demanded that all agricultural lands allotted to retired army generals in Sindh should be taken back and displaced Sindhi people should be settled there.

He was addressing a corner meeting at Ali Palace over the telephone from London on late Monday night.

He cautioned the government that if Sindh province was not given control of its resources then the people of Sindh would demand “right of self-determination” from the United Nations.

He said that it was ironic that while the people of Sindh were demanding their rights, retired generals were being doled out lands in Sindh as a present.

He said that since Punjab was bigger in size in comparison to the other provinces thus the lands should be allotted to the generals in Punjab itself.

He called for the solution of drainage, sewerage problems, and other civic issues in Qasimabad, Hussainabad and villages located in the vicinity.

He said that playgrounds, parks, and community centres should be established in Qasimabad and its surrounding areas.

Demanding restoration of the water treatment plant project in Qasimabad, the MQM chief said that Mehran Park, spread over 19 acres on the bank of the River Indus, should be improved.

He said that the people of Sindh should be treated at par with the people of Punjab.

He said that he had been telling the establishment time and again that if it wanted to keep Pakistan intact, then complete provincial autonomy and the right of self-rule would have to be given to the provinces.

He made it clear that the MQM was not struggling for any independent or separate state but the time had come that the establishment should solve the problems of Sindh.

He maintained that only strong provinces could constitute a strong federation.

Mr Altaf appealed to the Urdu-speaking traders to open shops in Qasimabad as it would provide jobs for the unemployed youths.

He said that Sindh would have to be given its due share which should be commensurate with its contribution, i.e. 70 per cent in terms of revenue to the national exchequer.

He said that if it was not done then he would appeal to the people of Sindh to stop paying taxes to the government.

He accused the jagirdars of the province of having made Sindh a colony and for exploiting the Sindh card.

Responding to the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) leaders, he said that he had not given up anything rather he had ensured the unity of Sindh and Urdu-speaking people.

He claimed that if the MQM was able to form the provincial government then no landlord would be able to establish his Autaq in schools, and added that better opportunities for jobs and education would be provided to the people.

CANDIDATES RETIRE: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement organized its second election corner meeting in Qasimabad here on Monday night where a large number of Sindhi-speaking people announced to join the Muttahida.