Supporters listen to telephonic speech of MQM chief Altaf Hussain on the occasion of party’s 29th Foundation Day at Gama Stadium in Mirpurkhas on Monday. – PPI Photo

MIRPURKHAS: The founder and leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain has said that his party, if elected in the coming general elections, would give Pakistan a just and equitable system.

Addressing a public gathering here at Gama Stadium on Monday evening on the occasion of 29th Foundation Day of the MQM, he said that no one should die because they do not have money to buy medicine. No one should be left without education because of lack of financial resources.

He said the MQM government would make education up to matriculation free and it would be the responsibility of the government to provide complete healthcare facilities to the poor people without any cost.

Hussain said that the MQM would establish a just and equitable system in Pakistan that would give speedy justice to the poor people who do not have resources to hire expensive lawyers.

He said across the board accountability would be done and loan defaulters, looters of national wealth and bribe-takers would be given exemplary punishments.

Altaf Hussain said that his party does not sell party tickets at the time of general elections and no one can point fingers at the MQM MNAs, MPAs and Senators for any corruption. The MQM awards tickets purely on the basis of merit and totally free of cost, he said.

He said that looted national wealth would be recovered and spent on public welfare projects, adding that no one would be able to evade tax if an MQM government came in power.

Altaf Hussain said that the evil customs of karo-kari and marriage with the Holy Quran would be abolished. Those who throw acids on women should be given harsh punishments. He said the MQM government would allocate 50 per cent reserved seats for women in provincial and national assemblies, adding that 50 per cent jobs in government and semi-government institutions would be reserved for women in order to lift their economic status.

Hussain said the party would introduce land reforms and a limit would be set on maximum land-holdings. The surplus land would be distributed among poor farmers and peasants.

About law and order situation, he said the MQM would ensure that no one had the fear of being looted. Even women will feel secure in travelling. He asked the Rabita (coordination) Committee to establish a centre under KKF where couples wanting to marry out of their own free will according to Islamic laws could take shelter.

He said that the banned outfits killing people on the basis of sectarian differences should be boycotted. Shias should protect Sunnis and Sunnis should protect Shias, he added.

Hussain said the party was working for eliminating differences among different nationalities and wanted to change the country according to vision of the Quaid-i-Azam.

He said that the MQM government would introduce changes in the constitution to give equal rights to overseas Pakistanis.

The MQM chief also urged the Sindh government to pay attention on public welfare projects in Mirpurkhas.

Dr Farooq Sattar, Sardar Nabil Gabol and others also spoke on the occasion.

Opinion

Editorial

Privatisation divide
Updated 14 May, 2024

Privatisation divide

How this disagreement within the government will sit with the IMF is anybody’s guess.
AJK protests
14 May, 2024

AJK protests

SINCE last week, Azad Jammu & Kashmir has been roiled by protests, fuelled principally by a disconnect between...
Guns and guards
14 May, 2024

Guns and guards

THERE are some flawed aspects to our society that we must start to fix at the grassroots level. One of these is the...
Spending restrictions
Updated 13 May, 2024

Spending restrictions

The country's "recovery" in recent months remains fragile and any shock at this point can mean a relapse.
Climate authority
13 May, 2024

Climate authority

WITH the authorities dragging their feet for seven years on the establishment of a Climate Change Authority and...
Vending organs
13 May, 2024

Vending organs

IN these cash-strapped times, black marketers in the organ trade are returning to rake it in by harvesting the ...