KARACHI, June 7: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Wednesday announced its decision to participate in elections for the legislative assembly in Azad Kashmir and expressed satisfaction at being allotted “kite” as its election symbol.

Making the announcement, party chief Altaf Hussain appealed to the people to vote for those who had helped them during their hour of crisis after the October earthquake.

They should differentiate between those genuinely interested in the welfare of people of the territory and the vested interest, Mr Hussain remarked during discussions with MQM Azad Kashmir organizer Tahir Khohkhar and members of the organizing committee in AJK.

He told them that political parties exploiting masses for their personal gains had sprouted again like mushrooms to seek votes from the poor, innocent people of the area.

He posed a question as to where were these parties after the last year’s natural disaster. Everyone, including innocent children, were witness to the services rendered by MQM workers in the face of great risks to their lives in the affected areas.

These people were still engaged in helping the sufferers of the tragedy. Altaf Hussain reiterated that two per cent privileged class was out to exploit Kashmiris again. They had ganged up against MQM, but, he said, the party, without any consideration to the result of elections, will convey its message to the people of Kashmir so that they could throw off the yoke of exploitation from around their necks.

They could do that by ensuring the success of Haq Parast candidates.