English translation of Altaf Hussain’s letter to Sindhis

Posted on January 18, 2008 | 137 views
Filed Under Opinion, Pakistan, Politics |

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This is an English translation of an open letter written by Altaf Hussain, Chairman Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), to Sindhis. This letter has started a heated debate in Sindh particular and Pakistan in general. I happened to read it in Urdu and tried to find the English version of the same online but all my efforts were in vain. Having realized the importance of this letter, I thought to translate it for the readers of Silence. Here, I would like to mention that in this translation, I have tried my level best to keep every minute detail as it is in the original letter, even to the extent of keeping commas and full stops intact. Apart from this, you can find my opinion about it in the last. Moreover, your comments are very much welcome.

London 6 January, 2008

Sindhi mothers, sisters, seniors and youngsters!

Asalam-o-Alaikum

After Salam first of all accept my heartiest condolences that one more daughter of Sindh was given a blood bath. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is no more in this world as her father was bid a farewell. The children of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Shahnawaz Bhutto and Murtaza Bhutto were martyred and now on December 27, 2007 the heir of mission of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Mohtarma is also martyred. (Ina lillahe wa Ina Allaih Rajioon)

Benazir Bhutto Shaheed was murdered in Rawalpindi……Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged in a controversial decision of the court in Rawalpindi, Shahnawaz Bhutto was martyred abroad…..Murtaza Bhutto was martyred in front of his house. Mahajirs who migrated to Sindh n 1947 did not martyred Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Shahnawaz Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto than why in interior Sindh as well as in Karachi, houses, factories and shops of Mahajirs were burnt? Why innocent workers were burnt alive?

My respected Sindhi Brothers!

If you wanted to take revenge from the killers, why you took revenge from innocent people? Those who are lovers of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, why didn’t they take revenge from those who cheered and distributed sweets on the martyrdom of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. On December 27, 2007 after martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto I was out of my senses and my tears were not stopping while listening to the news on media again and again and in all my interviews to media, the ones I was obliged to give, you can listen to the recording, you will find that Altaf Hussain was the only son of Sindh (who is not considered one by many Sindhis) who said in his every interview that don’t use the words killed or murdered use the word martyred, a martyr daughter of a martyr father was martyred, a martyr daughter of a martyr father was martyred…… a martyr daughter of a martyr father was martyred. These were the true emotions in the heart of Altaf Hussain and while saying these words, the tears of sorrow were being shed from the eyes of Altaf Hussain…..At international secretariat of MQM, every eye was shedding tears and same feelings were prevalent…..First of all MQM announced the three days of mourning and stopped the election campaign. One the other hand the real lovers of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto were shedding tears out of grief. Here I want to ask a question from the worker of Peoples Party that you swear upon God that you found how many of high level leaders shedding tears like the workers, how many leaders were in extreme sorrow? If yes you would have found them worrying about the question of the party leadership About who will be the chairman of the party? Who will lead and continue the mission of Shaheed Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed? On the Soyem (third day of death) of Benazir, workers of the party on one hand were in a state of great grief and were weeping and on the other hand the high level leadership was busy in exchanges and were smiling.

My Sindhi people!

The one sad aspect was of son of Murtaza Bhutto Shaheed Zulfiqar Bhutto junior and daughter Fatima Bhutto who along with their mother were not able to find even a place to sit and not one was there to offer sympathy to them. They were not Mahajirs but they were blood of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, why they were treated with reluctance on such a sad event? Is this treat was from Altaf Hussain or MQM?

Reader! Here I want to bring one thing in notice that when Murtaza Bhutto was coming to Pakistan from Syria I talked to him on phone and advised him that he should not return to Pakistan. I told Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto about it too in our conversation on October 19, 2007. Today many nationalist are trying to become sympathizers of Sindhi nation, did they ever took revenge of Zulfiqar Bhutto Shaheed? Or they broke their relations with the murderers of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto? They even did not shed tear on the death of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, if they would have, at least we would have something to be called as crocodile tears.

Respected Sindhi people!

Since 1997 our communication was broken with Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and all our communications were indirect. At last in her last days we came to this conclusion that we will not fall to the conspiracies and will not be used in the hands of selfish elements because we all are the residents of Sindh and our lives and deaths are related to motherland Sindh.

My Sindhi people!

When Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto reached Karachi on October 18, 2007, same day suicide attack was launched against her caravan I mean procession in which more than 150 people were killed I mean martyred. Same day I called Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in Bilawal house but was not able to talk to her. Next day, I mean October 19, 2007, I was able to talk to her for quite sometime record of the telephone call is available and in that conversation she said that they have understood that we have got to move together. Already have faced harms due to conspiracies and misunderstandings. She said that when she will come to London she will meet me. I requested her to move with caution. Alas! I was not able to talk to her again and if I would have been able to, I would have given her advice to run the party from abroad. Besides, our this conversation on telephone was much better from the previous ones and was in a cordial atmosphere. I on her death called Makhdoom Ameen Fahim and Asif Ali Zardari too and offered condolences to them.

My Sindhi brother!

Did Altaf Hussain, being son of Sindh, ever trade the cause of Sindh? The way MQM took stand on the matters of NFC award and Kala Bagh dam, did any of the nationalists ever took such a stand?

My Sindhi people!

Altaf Hussain is son of Sindh he is not old I mean ancient Sindhi, middle Sindhi or new Sindhi whose life, death, eating, earning is all related to Sindh, do you still consider Altaf Hussain and Mahajirs as Sindhi who speak urdu? If not than all the notable and leading person should unanimously declare that Mahajirs who migrated and whose life and death is associated with Sindh will are not related to Sindh.

My Sindhi people!

What harm was caused to the murderers of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto by burning the house, shops and factories of people of a particular group I mean Urdu speaking people? On the other hand properties of people belonging to other nations Sindhi, Balouch, Punjabi, Siraiki, Pakhton and others who are part of MQM were also burnt what harm it inflicted on the assassins of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto?

In last, I want to appeal to my Sindhi brother, mothers, sisters and seniors to come forward and play a role in ending this discrimination because the enemies of Sindh want to see this linguistic strife continue and stay gaining favors out of it by ruling the Sindh. May Allah accept the martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and rest her soul in peace in the name of Martyr of Karbala, Panjatan Pak and saints, Ameen. May Allah accept my act of appeal for patience in presence of the entire terrorist activity too. Ameen

My personal opinion

In my view this letter is more to the workers and supporters of MQM than Sindhis and the motive behind this letter is forth coming election. It appears as if Mr. Altaf Hussain want to sensitize his workers and supporters that their survival is under question and in order to insure safety of their life and property they need to bring MQM in power.

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Comments

8 Responses to “English translation of Altaf Hussain’s letter to Sindhis”

  1. Pakt Tea House on January 18th, 2008 9:06 pm

    thanks for the opportunity to read this draft in English
    I agree with your opinion - it has to do with the boosting the morale of MQM workers after the riots..

  2. English translation of Altaf Hussain’s letter to Sindhis « Indus Asia Online Journal (where great minds meet) on January 19th, 2008 12:23 am

    [...] Courtesy: Silence [...]

  3. drghulamasghar on January 19th, 2008 7:05 am

    WEll, thanks dear Farrukh for translating this letter. its quite helpful… keep up the good work!

    This letter has emotional appeal to sindhi. death of BB was indeed enough to cause such rioting in khi and elsewhere ,in this we have seen mahajirs were main targets. We do not have any reports of investigations which say that the like of mahajir or Q , who is stigmatised as Qatil leaque r incriminated in this murder. we have as yet no proof of any thing like this.
    however in my openion one thing can be said with certainty upon her killing..

    There are elements who didnot like BB , who was a thorn in their throats, they should have been happy or atleast relieved on this killing. now they may be sheding ‘crocodile tears’ some may be sad on her killing but they may be outpouring ‘laughter of hyenas’
    visible elements who benefitted from the death of benazir bhutto is mr nwaz sharif, america in my openion is also a beneficiary as they have now pretext to continue their war on terror and so is presidant pervaiz who made sure western support flows in. For altaf hussain it is matter of survival because as he pleads that he is sindhi but God knows and we do also that there was a time when even cows were slaughtered in a better fashion than sindhi. khi was hell for us.
    those events of yesterday can not be wiped out from our memories even tho thugs of yesterday may have become saints of today…

  4. Majid Ali Joyo on January 22nd, 2008 1:24 pm

    I have been read this letter ,It is very good work ,keep it.

  5. Dr Farrukh Malik on January 22nd, 2008 7:06 pm

    @Dr Ghulam Asghar:
    Thank you for your appreciation.I do agree on one point totally when you said that BB’s martyrdom suggest one thing that there were certain elements who were not willing to let her go ahead with her plan to bring democracy to Pakistan.

    @Majid Ali Joyo:
    Brother thanks for taking time to read this letter and respond to it. Thanks for appreciation too. Keep visiting Silence.

  6. Hafeez Chachar on February 27th, 2008 10:17 am

    Dear All

    I am fully agreed with this letter of Mr Altaf and i think this is the world of globalisation and modernisation. We should be unit socially, idealogically that we are all the unbroken part of this Indus Valley. Like me most of Sindhi young blood also looking for their leadership from the young blood rather the old sindhi bias politician who are not taking the issues patriotically.

  7. qasim on April 9th, 2008 10:12 pm

    I would have given her advice to run the party from abroad. Besides (SHE WAS NOT COWARD SHE WAS VERY BRAVE

  8. asra on June 18th, 2008 10:59 pm

    i truely agree to this she was not a coward, she was a brave lady, with no doubts her death is a loss to the whole nation. a very intelligent mind that was about to bring a major change to Pakistan .but some people just cant see pakistan in a better shape and condition .
    people who are sitting outside pakistan can never understand the condition and problems that are being faced by pakistani ,so how can they bring solution of our problems.

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