MQM will branch out to Punjab in next elections

Dubai: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which had earlier been mostly confined to Sindh province in Pakistan, will field its candidates in the Punjab province in the next general elections, said a senior leader of the party.

"Our leadership has decided to contest elections from Punjab in addition to other provinces as the MQM has sucessfully paved inroads into the largest populated province," said A. Huda Khan, chief organiser of Mohiban-e-Pakistan (patriots of Pakistan), a UAE based social and welfare organisation affiliated with the MQM.

Speaking to Gulf News in Dubai, Khan said that the successful public meeting held recently in Punjab by the MQM has proved that the MQM is a popular party and has good foothold all over the country.

"The philosophy of our leader, Altaf Hussain, is to reach the masses, especially the poor and the middle class, and empower them because they are the ones who represent 98 per cent of the population in Pakistan while the country is being ruled by two per cent who represent the rich and feudals," he said. He noted that a change in Pakistani politics was possible only when representatives of the poor masses come into power because they know the issues at the grassroots level.

The MQM, which has gained popularity over the years and also managed to increase its representation in the parliament, has become a powerful political force in Sindh, mainly Karachi. The party with 25 members in the National Assembly and 48 members in the provincial assembly in Sindh is in alliance with the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The party has parted ways with the PPP at least on three occasions due to differences on various issues, mainly targeted killings, law and order and victimisation of the party workers, but always reconciled and came back to the corridors of power.

"Our leaders reconciled with the PPP in the longer interest of Pakistan because they don't want instability in the country," said Khan.

‘Life in danger'

Asked why MQM leader Altaf Hussain does not return to Pakistan, he said the party does not want him to come back because his life is in danger.

He said that negative propaganda and image tarnishing of the MQM and its leaders must stop in the best interest of the country. "Those who do not want to see peace and prosperity are on a mission to malign MQM and its leaders but they will fail miserably," Khan warned.

He said the MQM would remove the injustices of the oppressed and downtrodden people in the country. "The MQM has proved its credentials of being the truly representative party of the poor and exploited people and it will continue to protect their rights," he added.