Altaf calls for decentralisation of power

LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has called for the decentralisation of federal powers system to empower the common people and end the unjust system which, he said, was responsible for the woes of Pakistan.
The MQM’s international secretariat organised a community event here on Sunday night on the occasion of the party’s 28th anniversary. Altaf Hussain was billed to be the star speaker of the evening but according to a party announcement Altaf Hussain had to go abroad at the eleventh hour for dealing with party matters. His message was read out by MQM Central Coordination Committee member Anees Advocate.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain, Cable Operators Association Chairman Khalid Arain, Sahibzada Syed Nazim Ali Nizami of India’s Dargah Sharif, UK Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Syed Qamar Raza, MQM Central coordination committee members Shoaib Bukhari Advocate, Muhammad Anwar, Mustafa Azizabadi, Asif Siddiqui, Saleem Shehzad, Saleem Danish and leading members of Pakistani community attended the event. Comedian and showman Omar Sharif and a pop band from Karachi especially travelled for the lively event.
Altaf Hussain said in his message that in the absence of the local government system, the problems of the masses have further increased and the Commissionerate system was an anathema to the democratic system. He said that the sense of deprivation amongst the masses was on the rise at an alarming level and if this issue was not addressed then the problems of the state will only be compounded.
“It is important that powers are transferred to the local level through the modern local governance system instead of the system introduced ages by the British raj,” Altaf Hussain said in his message, adding that Pakistani masses should be given stakes for the safety of Pakistan’s future.
He hit out at the feudal system and held it responsible for holding back Pakistan from making progress. He said the whole nation was grieved over the death of long-suffering acid victim Fakhra Younis, who recently died. “Her influential husband is untouchable because he belongs to an influential feudal family.
We are against this system. We want exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of such crimes. We are against every kind of injustice and inequality.” Altaf Hussain said that the MQM workers had rendered immense sacrifices for the ideology of the party and resolved that they would never be forgotten.