Altaf asks Modi to speak out for Muhajirs in Karachi

MQM-Pakistan says appeal for help attempt to call Muhajirs’ patriotism into question

LONDON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak out for the rights of Muhajirs in Karachi, the self-exiled Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain said on Thursday, The Indian Express reported.

He said Modi had failed to speak out for the people who lived in India for centuries.

“I would like to register my complaint with the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, as I regret to say, you never raise your voice for your own people who lived in India for centuries. Our forefathers made a big mistake and migrated to Pakistan, but we were born here, and never accepted as Pakistani or sons of soil. Mr. Prime Minister you should have raised your voice for your own people in Karachi, Pakistan,” he added.

The MQM leader called on India to raise MQM’s issues at all international and human rights fora.

Our staff reporter from Karachi adds: Reacting to the statement of Altaf Hussain, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan Rabita Committee on Friday said their forefathers had not only been in the forefront of the movement for creation of Pakistan, but also sacrificed hundreds of thousands of lives in this regard.

The committee said Muhajirs always took pride in being Pakistanis and the hearts of their children beat for the beloved motherland.

It said any individual or group had no right to call into question the patriotism of Mujahirs by making calls for help to the Indian prime minister.

The committee condemned Altaf Hussain’s call and renewed the party’s commitment to fail all enemy conspiracies against Pakistan and the Muhajir community.