KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Wednesday said that his party wants to transform Pakistan into a democratic, liberal, secular and progressive state after the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The MQM wants to develop a society in Pakistan where everyone has equal rights irrespective of their religious belief, language, race, gender, colour and sect and where life, property, and honour of an individual are safeguarded and government decisions are taken purely on merit, said Hussain while speaking to a gathering of notables at the residence of MNA Khushbakht Shujaat.

Referring to the famous speech of the Quaid-i-Azam delivered to the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947, Hussain said the father of the nation did not want Pakistan to be a theocratic state.

“He wanted Pakistan to be a liberal, secular and progressive state where the followers of every religion, faith, and sect were treated as citizens of equal status and they enjoyed equal rights,” he added.

He said that tolerance, harmony and inter-faith goodwill were essential elements of the MQM's manifesto. “If MQM gets a chance to rule the country for five years, it would at least make Pakistan a liberal and progressive country,” said Hussain.

Commenting on protests against the newly passed Sindh People’s Local Government Ordinance (SPLGO) from the Sindh assembly, the MQM chief said some elements want the outdated commissioner system instead of the local body system in order to treat the masses as slaves. “That is why efforts are being put in by theses elements to mend the public opinion and mislead the masses,” he added.

The participants of the meeting supported the MQM's policies on various issues and asked various questions.

Answering the questions of the participants, Hussain shed light on policies of the party regarding religious and inter-faith harmony, education, economy, health, energy crisis, local government system, law and order situation, community policing and other important issues.

Hussain informed the audience about the welfare projects undertaken by the charitable organs of the MQM which includes building of educational institutions of high standards.

He urged upon the students, in particular, to come forward and elect qualified and able people by adopting the peaceful method of voting.

The MQM chief said that the advent of the local government system would help in resolution of problems of people at their doorsteps.

Hussain said that the MQM not only respected all ethnic entities and communities living in Karachi, but it also wanted equal rights for them.

People from every nationality and community were being attracted towards the MQM in large numbers, he said.