Entire Nation united in support of Pakistan Army: Altaf Hussain
Sheikh Rasheed and representative delegations of PML (N), PPP and APML also present in Jinnah Garden
KARACHI: (Dunya News) Muttahidda Qaumi Movement has staged a massive pro-Army rally in the Jinnah Gardens of Karachi. Representative delegations from various political parties are present at the gathering. MQM had asked all political parties to join their rally in order to show solidarity with the Army. The rally was planned after the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb against the terrorists in North Waziristan Agency (NWA).
Prominent political leaders from other parties included Nehal Hashmi, Saleem Zia, Ilahi Bakhsh Soomro from Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Sheikh Rasheed from Awami Muslim League, Ahmed Raza Kasoori from All Pakistan Muslim League, Rubina Qaimkhani from Pakistan People s Party and Haleem Adil Sheikh from Pakistan Muslim League (Q). Jai Salik and Mangla Sharma represented the minorities on this occasion. Leaders from all political parties and religious organizations were given seats on the stage. MQM had claimed yesterday that the stage for this gathering would be the largest stage in the history of Pakistan. By seating prominent leaders from all the representative delegations, MQM had proved its claim.
Altaf Hussain thanked people from all walks of life who had come to attend the gathering. He especially thanked the PML (N) delegation and Sheikh Rasheed for attending the public meeting. He said that notables from all sects have arrived at the MQM pro-Army rally which has proved that the Pakistani nation stands united when it comes to the interest of the country. He said that the enemies of Pakistan were busy creating and exploiting the differences between various sects of the society. He stressed upon unity saying that all sects must stand together and give a clear message to the enemy that when it comes to national interest, we leave our differences behind.
MQM Chief also demanded that the aides of General (r) Pervaiz Musharraf must also be tried in staging the coup. He said that Pervaiz Musharraf did not make the decision alone. There were several other people assisting him. He said that General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani also needed to be house-arrested like Pervaiz Musharraf. He reiterated his opinion that instead of focusing on the selective interpretation of the Article 6, its sections A, B and C also needed to be looked at. According to these sections, all those who assisted Pervaiz Musharraf in staging the coup needed to be brought under the trial. Altaf Hussain said that nobody could have taken over the Airport while sitting in the plane and that the government must also initiate court cases against the officials who had taken over the Karachi Airport on October 12, 1999.
Altaf Hussain said that unless Pakistan does not get rid of terrorism, it will never be able to prosper. He said that once this terrorism ends in the country, then the time for corrupt feudal and capitalist elite will come. He said that in the corruption-free Pakistan that he idealizes, there will be no discrimination on the basis of class, colour or sect. He criticized the corrupt practices of the capitalist elite and said that MQM’s agenda was to free Pakistan from these exploiters. MQM Chief said that after getting rid of this corrupt system and bringing back the looted money from foreign bank accounts of the corrupt leaders, we will use that money to build schools and hospitals. He mentioned Sheikh Rasheed here saying that to monitor those schools and hospitals, we have people like Sheikh Rasheed who are sincere to this country and the people of Pakistan.
Before Altaf Hussain, Sheikh Rasheed made a flamboyant speech at the gathering. Sheikh Rasheed said that the entire nation stood firm with the Army at this critical juncture. He said that wars are fought by the nations as a whole and not by the Armies only. “Army fights at the war-front only, it is the nation that fights the real war”, said Sheikh Rasheed. During his speech, Altaf Hussain also mentioned Sheikh Rasheed more than once.
