ALTAF HUSSAIN LAUDS MQM WINGS PRAISES ZONES, SECTORS, UNITS AND PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR MAKING EFFORTS FOR PEACE AND HARMONY ON YOUM-I-ASHUR

Chief of Muttahida Quami Movement Altaf Hussain has lauded the MQM Co-ordination Committee, parliamentarians, Karachi Tanzimi Committee (KTC), Interior Sindh Tanzimi Committee (ISTC) and all the zones and sectors of throughout the country for making efforts in maintaining peace and sectarian harmony.

Mr Hussain said that the MQM had demonstrated by taking part in the ritual mourning processions and religious gatherings that the MQM is working strenuously working for peace, brotherhood and sectarian harmony.

Mr Hussain also praised the doctors, paramedics, and volunteers of the KKF and the Medical Aid Committee of the MQM for performing duties at the medical camps and other locations throughout the country.

Mr Hussain also thanked the scholars for preaching unity among the Muslims and the need for harmony among different shades of religious persuasions.

Mr Hussain also praised the Federal Interior Minister, Provincial Home Minister, and officials and personnel of police and rangers for making effective security arrangements on Youm-e-Ashur.

MQM CHIEF PAYS RICH TRIBUTES TO DR IMRAN FAROOQ

Mr. Altaf Hussain, Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has said that the sacrifices made by the MQM Convenor Dr. Imran Farooq for the movement would always be remembered. Mr. Hussain was talking to the media after offering the funeral prayer of Dr. Imran Farooq Shaheed in London. Paying rich tributes to Dr. Imran Farooq he said, “He spent his entire life facing hardships, problems and difficult times. He always strived for the progress and prosperity of the movement; and even at the time when State functionaries were looking for him everywhere. However, despite all the hardships and in the face of trials and tribulations he remained steadfast. His sacrifices and struggles cannot be expressed in words. They have become a part of history.” Remembering Dr Imran Farooq, Mr. Hussain said that he sacrificed his life for the movement and proved true to his words.

Mr. Hussain prayed for the soul of the Dr. Imran Farooq. He said that he and his colleagues were satisfied with the investigation of Metropolitan Police and other investigating agencies. He hoped that the investigating agencies will find the murderers. He said that he was very grieved at not being able to attend the burial of Dr. Imran Farooq in Pakistan. “It cannot be expressed in words.”

Bloodshed in Karachi after Haqparast MPA Raza Haider shot dead

By Faraz Khan

KARACHI: A Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader and a member of the Sindh Assembly, Raza Haider, and his security guard were gunned down by unidentified motorcyclists inside a mosque in the Nazimabad area on Monday.

Life in the provincial capital was crippled following the incident, as at least 35 people were killed and more than 125 injured in incidents of violence that broke out in various areas in response to the killing.

Around three-dozen vehicles and several shops were set ablaze, while massive traffic jams were witnessed at almost all major thoroughfares of the city.

Two unidentified men shot dead 50-year-old Haider and his security guard Khalid Khan inside the Jamia Masjid Aqsa in Nazimabad Block No 2, when the lawmaker was getting ready to say his prayers at the mosque.

Bodies of the two victims were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. MLO Dr Sheraz told Daily Times that the MPA sustained six bullet wounds – three from a sub-machine gun and three from a 9mm pistol – while his guard had sustained only one bullet injury.

The condition of a teenage boy Arsalan, who was also wounded in the attack, was stable, he added.

Liaquatabad Town SP Waqar Mallan told that police found empty shells of a 9mm pistol and an SMG from the crime scene. The SP added that the culprits arrived at the mosque on two motorcycles and a white-coloured car.

“Two of the four men on the motorcycles entered the mosque and after shouting ‘Allah-o-Akbar’ opened fire on the MQM leader and his guard,” the officer said.

“The sketches that we are preparing with the help of eyewitnesses would be provided to the media after they are finalised, but our first priority is to control the law and order situation,” he added.

Meanwhile, violence and anarchy spread throughout the city following the MPA’s murder. Besides several vehicles and shops, a petrol pump, roadside stalls and pushcarts in various parts of the city were set ablaze by protesters.

Routine life was suspended and commercial activities came to a halt due to the violence, as several people stuck in traffic jams had parked their vehicles on the roads and walked to their destinations.

The MQM Rabita Committee announced three days of mourning. The committee said special prayers would also be organised for Haider.

Separately, MQM chief Altaf Hussain called for a high-level probe into Haider’s murder.

Condemning the killing, Altaf termed it a big tragedy, according to a statement by the MQM. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, and the four chief ministers strongly condemned the killing of the MQM leader.

The PM appealed to MQM party workers to avoid taking any extreme measures to express outrage against those who had committed this heinous crime. (DT)

MQM ministers submit resignations to Rabita Committee; no compromise on Hyderabad: Altaf Hussain

LONDON: Chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain yesterday said that a conspiracy has been hatched to trigger ethnic riots and sabotage the current atmosphere of harmony among permanent residents of Sindh.

This he said while speaking at the Rabita Committee’s meeting held simultaneously in London and Karachi yesterday.

He said that the MQM had been striving hard to end the rural-urban divide and to create ethnic harmony in Sindh for the past many years. However, he noted that some so-called leaders and ministers of the ruling PPP were making an attempt to start ethnic riots in the province with the help of nationalist parties. Those trying to start a clash between permanent residents of Sindh are agents of the feudalists and landlords, he remarked. The MQM chief also directed the concerned persons to remain vigilant of any plot against the people of Sindh. Hussain urged the Haq Parast people to deal with the situation amicably.

Meanwhile, sources close to the MQM said that the meeting decided that no compromise would be made on the issue of Hyderabad and if any decision is taken in this regard without the consent of the MQM, the party would part its ways.

The meeting of the MQM Coordination Committee has resolved to go to any extent to “resist moves” to change the administrative set-up of Hyderabad, sources further added. Coordination Committee would continue its deliberations today and an official statement from MQM is likely to be issued later in the evening.

Sources further said that Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik who is in London yesterday met with some MQM leaders including Dr. Farooq Sattar , Babar Ghouri and Muhammad Anwer who went to offer their condolences over the demise of his mother-in law.

A meeting between Rehman Malik and MQM leadership in party chief Altaf Hussain can not be ruled out today with a view to easing down the charged atmosphere, hinted some sources. Sources further claimed that the provincial and federal ministers belonging to MQM yesterday submitted their resignations to the Coordination Committee in protest against the possible restructuring of Hyderabad district by its coalition partner, Pakistan Peoples Party.(NC Report)

Birthday of Afzaa Altaf tomorrow

The 8th birthday of baby Afzaa Altaf, daughter of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Chief Altaf Hussain will be celebrated on March 5, at MQM headquarter Nine zero, Azizabad Karachi.
MQM Rabita Committee will organise cake cutting to celebrate the birthday of baby Afzaa, said a statement issued by the party here on Wednesday.
Besides the metropolis, programmes will also be organised in interior Sindh, Punjab, NWFP, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir to mark the birthday of Altaf Hussain's daughter.

23rd Annual Convention of Labour Division Muttahida Qaumi Movement

http://allaboutmqm.ning.com/video/video/show?id=2210084%3AVideo%3A142002

SYED MUSTAFA KAMAL HELD FAREWELL MEETING WITH HIS STAFF.

Syed Mustafa Kamal held farewell meeting with city government officers and his personal staff at the secretariat prior to relinquishing charge as City Nazim. During the meeting with his secretary, drivers, peons, telephone operators, officers, clerks and other staff he thanked all of them for extending full support and cooperation during his tenure as city nazim.

Meanwhile while relinquishing the charge as Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal said that he is thankful of Almighty Allah who gave him the courage to serve 20 million people of Karachi. He also thanked Quaid-e-Tehreek Mr. Altaf Hussain for helping and guiding him all through his tenure and for trusting and patronizing him.

Syed Mustafa Kamal also thanked each and every citizen of Karachi of every religion, and every community for extending full support to him during his tenure as city nazim.

He also thanked all town nazmeen, naib town nazmeen, union council nazmeen, naib nazmeen, Naib City Nazim Ms. Nasreen Jalil, members of city council, officers of city government and water board for providing him all support. He said that with this support and cooperation we could have performed all this as a team work. He also thanked the trade and commercial unions, business community in Karachi, members of electronic and print media and everyone for guiding him all through 52 months of his tenure. He also thanked all NGOs and other organizations working in Karachi.

CITY NAZIM RELIEF FUND RECEIVES DONATION FROM QUAID-E-TEHREEK MR. ALTAF HUSSAIN.

On behalf of Quaid-e-Tehreek Mr. Altaf Hussain, members of MQM Rabita Committee Shoaib Bukhari and Shahid Latif presented a Cheque of Rs.5million to towards the City Nazim Relief Fund for arson hit traders of M.A Jinnah Road.

DCO Karachi Javed Hanif Khan, EDO Finance, EDO E&IP and other officers were also present on this occasion.

Expressing gratitude to the leader of MQM Mr. Altaf Hussain on behalf of citizens of Karachi, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal said that he is the only political leader of Pakistan who always thought about his countrymen.

He said that the enemies of the country had tried to ruin the national economy by targeting the most important commercial hub of the country and burned down the biggest trade center of Pakistan. Mr. Altaf Hussain had in that critical time appealed to the citizens of Karachi and representatives of different schools of thoughts to remain peaceful and maintain and prove their unity. He also talked to Shia and Sunni Ulema-e-kiram on telephone and asked them to ensure inter faith harmony among the people. He said that the law and order condition in Karachi could be maintained only due to the efforts of Mr.Altaf Hussain who had thwarted the evil designs of the terrorist forces.

City Nazim said that the rehabilitation process in the affected areas has been started rapidly and the commercial activities would soon begin in this area. He also appealed to the citizens of Karachi to donate in the relief fund (HBL KMC Branch 31618-0 Branch Code 0015) so that the trade and commercial activities could be restored as soon as possible.

Altaf calls for self-security system at worship places of different schools of thought

London: Chief of Muttehida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain has suggested that the people belonging to different schools of thought should make their own security arrangements for their respective places of worship.
According to a release issued to the media yesterday from London, Altaf Hussain made such suggestion while talking on telephone to religious scholars, leaders and Mushaikh hailing from different schools of thought and religions.
Altaf said he makes such a suggestion in view of the information given and apprehensions shown by the investigation committee of MQM, according to which the Taleban have planned targeted bombing of all the places of worship of Muslims and other religions across the country.
He contended that those elements and organizations who opposed the creation of Pakistan, described Muslim League as Kafir League and founder of Pakistan as Kafir-e-Azam, were now conspiring to disintegrate the remaining Pakistan.
“Constitute your own security teams for safeguarding the mosques, Imambargahs, mausoleums etc as the armed forces, investigation agencies and police of any country could not provide security to all the places of worship unless the citizens extend them cooperation,” he asserted.
He said the girls schools and colleges in Punjab were receiving threats to close down or otherwise the houses of such women would be blown up, and directed the party workers and other responsible persons in the country to remain vigilant and form security squads, introduce watch system so that sinister designs of anti-state elements could be foiled.

Removing deprivation of Balochis only way to save country: Altaf Hussain

KARACHI: Removing the deprivation and fulfilling the needs of people, especially the Balochis, is the only way to save country, announced the Founder of MQM Altaf Hussain, while he demanded highest ranking leaders of the country to order a proper judicial inquiry into the recent brutal murder of three leaders of the Balochistan province.
He demanded of the President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik and provincial Government of Balochistan that culprits be arrested and awarded exemplary punishment - whosoever may be involved in it - even if they belong to law enforcement agencies, he stressed.
Such demand was made by him while addressing a huge protest rally held here at Mazar-e-Quaid against the murder of Balochistan leaders. Altaf in his telephonic address from London said this rally has been held to express complete solidarity with the Baloch people and MQM shares their grief and sorrow.
He said the sense of deprivation after the murder of these three leaders Lala Munir Baloch, Sher Mohammed Baloch and Ghulam Muhammad Baloch the sense of deprivation has been further increased.
He asked Baloch people through this huge rally that do not feel isolated and alone and that MQM is standing in this painful period shoulder to shoulder with the Balochis.
Altaf asked the rulers that they should investigate that despite tendering apology by the Prime Minister and President such brutal murders are taking place, he asked. Altaf further said it was the responsibility of the rulers to find as to find out the elements who are insistent upon disintegrating Pakistan.
MQM chief said he hates the word minority while equal rights should be provided to all people of the country irrespective of their numbers. He again said Pakistan these days is passing through a very critical phase and for this unity was badly needed now more than at any other time in the past.
Referring to provincial autonomy he once again that provincial autonomy be provided to all the provinces and in this regard concurrent list be also abolished.
Altaf said center should keep currency, foreign affairs and defense with them, while all other things be handed over to the provinces. (Daily National Courier)

Altaf Hussain calls for Pak-India dialogue

KARACHI - MQM Chief Altaf Hussain said that war was not in the interest of both countries Pakistan and India and underlined the need that both countries should resolve their differences through productive dialogue.

He added that this was in the benefit of both the countries and their citizens. It was stated by the MQM chief and Advisor to Prime Minister for Interior affairs Rehman Malik at a joint press conference held at MQM International secretariat London yesterday.