MQM Founder and Leader Altaf Hussain has said that the MQM values the visit of the Chinese President. He said some analysts were questioning the absence of chief ministers of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan among the people who received the Chinese President.
“If chief ministers of smaller provinces had been invited to receive the Chinese President, it would have given a message that entire Pakistan is represented.”
Mr Hussain said, “Do not play with the future of Pakistan by neglecting small province while distributing resources. Pakistan belongs to all. We are all Pakistanis and a united Pakistan will be in the interest of all.”
“Nothing should be done to increase the feeling of deprivation in the people of small provinces as it may cause harm to national solidarity.”
Mr Hussain expressed these views while talking to the participants of a musical programme by MQM in Jinnah Ground Azizabad.
He said, “MQM seeks to bring prosperity in the backward areas of the country. We want Punjab to progress in every possible way. We want basic issues of the people of Punjab to be solved. But the welfare of people of small provinces should also not be neglected, and nothing should be done to accentuate their feelings of deprivation.”
“Many projects have been approved by the visiting Chinese President, his Cabinet and the Federal Government of Pakistan. These projects relate to the Central Punjab only. We are happy that the Government is working for the progress of Punjab, but we also want to see Seraiki belt, Southern Punjab, and FATA to move forward on the path of progress.”
“Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Gilgit-Baltistan, Sukkur, Hyderabad and all other cities belong to Pakistan. We want anequitable share in development projects for other cities of Pakistan besides Lahore.”
Mr Hussain said Karachi generates the largest share of revenue for the country. “Has the Federal Government approved any project for Karachi? Have some projects been approved for Quetta, Peshawar, Gilgit-Baltistan, FATA and Southern Punjab?”
“After the start of metro bus service in Lahore, a project is being launched to start metro train service as well. It is a cause of great happiness but what have the people of Karachi and other cities done that they are neglected. Does Karachi not need a mass transit system?”
“People of Karachi will not be wrong if they ask as to what share they will get out of the 46 billion dollar development projects for their city that generates largest tax for the national exchequer.”
Mr Hussain said the Pakistan-China Corridor Project was started during the time of General Pervez Musharraf. President Asif Zardari oversaw its continuity, but the present government has shifted a big portion from KPK to Punjab.
Mr Hussain urged CM KPK Pervez Khattak, CM Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah and former president Asif Ali Zardari to raise their voice of their rights.
“Pakistan belongs to all of us and we have equal right to Pakistan.