MQM calls for protecting rights of minorities

Staff Report

KARACHI: Dr Farooq Sattar, Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, said on Thursday that his party was striving for legitimate rights of the minority communities with their due status in the society. He said while briefing journalists at Korangi’s Eid Gah Ground about the arrangements being made for the July 29 gathering to be held in honour of the minority communities at Eid Gah Ground at Korangi No 3 ½. MQM chief Altaf Hussain will address the gathering by phone from London.

Dr Sattar said the MQM chief had always raised his voice against the alleged discriminatory laws against the minorities.

He said the party was striving for the rights of the people without any discrimination based on race, colour and creed. He was of the view that Islam abolished the discriminations on the basis of race, colour and class and gave the lesson of humanity.

Dr Sattar said the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had declared that minorities in the country would enjoy complete religious freedoms while their economic and social rights would be protected.

He regretted that successive governments had not given due consideration to the rights of the minorities. He said the MQM gave seats to members of minorities in the provincial and national assemblies in order to enhance their participation in the system.

For the first time in recent political history of Sindh, a minority MPA had been inducted into the Sindh cabinet, he added.

Dr Sattar said the MQM meeting on the minorities, being held on Friday, would prove a milestone in the history of Pakistan and create awareness among the minorities about their rights.

He alleged that jihadi and religious fundamentalist elements were destroying the image of the country aboard. He stressed that it was the need of the hour to protect the rights of the minorities.

He said the MQM wants to convey the message to the international community that Pakistan wants peace and the MQM is striving for creating harmony among all communities.

He said that if we succeed to make Pakistan a role model where the rights of the minorities are protected, it will be a good omen for Pakistanis who are living abroad and sending foreign reserve to the country.

Anwar Alam, in-charge of the MQM Coordination Committee in Pakistan, members Nasreen Jalil and Wasey Jalil were also present on the occasion.

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