‘Foundation of any political party is its student organisation’

March 18 marks the journey from 1984 to 2024 of a united, organised and dynamic Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), which remained actively engaged in improving its role in ensuring the rights of the oppressed people of this country.

MQM-P Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said this on Sunday while addressing party workers during a gathering held in connection with the MQM’s Yaum-e-Taasees (foundation day) at the KMC Ground in PIB Colony.

Dr Siddiqui said that these past four decades are the result of the sacrifices of the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation (APMSO) and the MQM’s martyrs, whose blood ignites the flame of determination today.

“We are all here today because of the efforts of the youth, mothers and sisters. I extend my commendation to all the workers who have been continuously striving since 1992.” He also commended “those young people who, on June 11, 1978, laid the foundation of the APMSO in this country, bringing about a revolution whose legacy is still unfulfilled”.

“Some of those youth are present here today, and some fellows have sacrificed their today for our tomorrow. These young people will ensure that the MQM never becomes old. They will carry the rights of this nation forward, leading them towards their true purpose and reaching their destination.”

He claimed that the MQM had sent young people from the poor class to the assemblies, causing a stir in this country, bringing about a revolution that no one has been able to replicate so far.

“Today the leaders of the MQM are sitting here, and it is because of them that we have reached from chairs to the stage, and from the stage to the streets.” Referring to the reunification of the party, he claimed that they recovered 15 million people who were missing, as they made history by causing the census to be conducted ahead of time.

“As always, we have reclaimed half of our rights from those who used to manipulate the census, and we will soon take back all of our rights from them.” Dr Siddiqui said that today, from the mountains of Kashmir to Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab, they would compel political parties across the country to not further oppress peasants and the oppressed.

“We will send young people from such poor classes into the corridors that will bring the rights of all the oppressed of the country to their doorsteps. Congratulations to all of you on the 40th foundation day of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan.”

The party also announced the names of the central committee members of the APMSO. Addressing the gathering, the MQM-P’s senior leader and MNA Syed Aminul Haque said that the foundation of any political party has always been its student organisation.

He emphasised that the youth can play a crucial role in leading both the country and the organisation forward. He hoped that the APMSO would play a positive role in solving students’ issues and introducing young students to politics.

The new committee of the APMSO comprises its Incharge Hafiz Shahriyar, Senior Joint Incharge Rehan Shah, and joint incharges Shahzil Baig, Raza Rizvi and Kazim Hussain. Also present on the occasion were the MQM-P’s senior leaders Syed Mustafa Kamal, Dr Farooq Sattar and Anis Ahmed Khan, the party’s coordination committee members, parliamentarians, workers and other leaders, and representatives of different sectors and the women’s wing of the party.