MQM-P asks people of Keamari not to vote for PPP to shun divide-and-rule policy

The former rulers of Sindh wanted to divide Karachi on ethnic grounds to serve their political interests but a large number of people supporting the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan have proved that the policy of division has failed.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui made these remarks as he addressing a public meeting in Mauripur on Sunday.

When Karachi stood up, thrones and crowns were toppled, he said, adding that the MQM-P would lead the common people of Machhar Colony to defeat the tyrants. “We promise that in the future, we will bring poor Baloch, Pashtun, and Bengali to the assemblies from this area. Together, we will raise our voices in the assemblies for the future of our children.”

The MQM-P chief said the unavailability of basic facilities such as water and gas were not only in the Mauripur area but in the entire city. He added that no one could stop change when an ordinary man and an ordinary labourer reached the assemblies.

Apparently taking a jibe at the Pakistan Peoples Party, Dr Siddiqui said the time of feudal democracy had been over and the participatory and inclusive democracy had begun to benefit the ordinary people.

Speaking on the occasion, MQM-P Senior Deputy Convener Syed Mustafa Kamal said District Keamari was created on an ethnic basis by the former Sindh government. They believed that by imposing linguistic restrictions, they could hinder the MQM-P, but they failed, he added.

“The biased rulers of Sindh should come and see that thousands of people are present at the MQM-P public gathering in Keamari,” he remarked.

Kamal said that as youths of Karachi and Hyderabad were not offered government employment in the past 15 years, the youths of Machhar Colony were deprived of jobs.

The PPP turned the entire city into Machhar Colony, he said, adding that the elected representatives of the MQM-P would stay awake at night to solve the problems of Machhar Colony.

He alleged that PPP activists had killed three of MQM-P supporters in the last few days. “Those who killed our colleagues are the same involved in smuggling and drug trafficking here,” he said.

Kamal said the police had lied that the three men were killed over a land dispute. He said the three murders could be avenged by not voting for the PPP. He added that the elections signified the oppressed fighting against the oppressor.

He said if the people were not alert, the PPP would bring the killers adorned with flower garlands. “Today, the descendants of those who built Pakistan are united.”

Kamal called for the people to come out on February 8 to vote against the PPP. He said a time would come when the MQM-P would nominate a Bengali candidate from this constituency.

He claimed that so far only one head of a political party — MQM-P’s Dr Siddiqui — had visited the Machhar Colony area for canvassing.