KARACHI, Sept 8: Criticising nationalist parties for opposing the new local government ordinance in Sindh, the chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, asked the people of the province to boycott the strike call given for September 13 by the ‘enemies of democracy’.

“I appeal to the people of Sindh to boycott this so-called strike,” said Mr Hussain, speaking via telephone to a workers’ convention held by the party at the Lal Qila Ground on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Hussain said that conspiracies were being hatched to foment sectarian unrest in the country and urged Shias and Sunnis to foil such plots by demonstrating unity.

He lashed out at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and said that the party was conspiring against the integrity of Pakistan by supporting so-called nationalists, whom he described as ‘separatists’ and ‘supporters of Sindhu Desh’.

He said that by supporting the ‘rejected’ leaders of Sindh, the PML-N was hatching a conspiracy to divide the province. “But,” he warned, “the MQM and the people of Sindh will foil this attempt.”

He alleged that the PML-N chief wanted to become ‘Ameer-ul-Momineen’. “But his dream will never come true.”

He also alleged that the PML-N never gave due rights to the people of southern Punjab including Bahalwalpur. However, he assured them that his party would continue its struggle for the rights of oppressed people.

Mr Hussain vowed that the MQM and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would not only save democracy but would also save the country by enforcing the new local government ordinance and both parties would face any conspiracy against the new system together.

According to him, the LG system is the foundation stone of any democratic system and people who oppose it are actually against democracy.

“If any party or institution supports those who are against the LG system then such act should be considered to be against the country.”

The MQM chief believed that all the provinces should have implemented the LG system and they were only opposing it because Sindh took the lead. “These three provinces did not vote in favour of Pakistan. It was only Sindh which voted in favour of the creation of Pakistan,” he said. “The Quaid-i-Azam also belonged to Sindh and three prime ministers of the province have embraced martyrdom. Sindh will save Pakistan.”

He alleged that the leaders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were not thinking about Sindh’s welfare but of their own province. “Most of the Pakhtun people in Sindh support MQM and not the ANP,” he claimed.