KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has called the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jamaat-i-Islami ‘bran­ches of the Taliban and Al Qaeda’ and predicted a massive defeat for his party’s rivals in the NA-246 by-election on April 23.

Addressing a huge rally on Liaquatabad flyover on Saturday, the MQM chief said the people of Karachi had already rejected the pro-Taliban forces and they would vote for his ‘progressive, liberal, peace-loving and democratic’ party.

He asked the ‘establishment’ to ‘treat us as Pakistanis’.

“I appeal to the establishment to consider us Pakistanis as well. Don’t doubt our patriotism as our hearts are already wounded. We are true Pakistanis and want to serve this country for its prosperity and long-lasting peace. If we have committed any mistake, forgive us and we forgive you for yours’.”

He asked the ‘authorities’ to understand the problems faced by Karachi.

Mr Hussain raised voice for ‘rights of the people in Balochistan, Fata and south Punjab’ and urged the prime minister to address their grievances.

He urged the government to raise the issue of recent violence by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir at the United Nations Security Council.

He congratulated MQM candidate Kunwar Naveed Jameel in ‘advance’ as “I am confident” that he would defeat his opponents convincingly.

He criticised the PTI and JI for blaming the MQM for their “failure to win people’s hearts and minds”.

“But I ask my workers not to be emotional,” he said. “Don’t lose patience and you will get a reward on April 23 when Kunwar Naveed Jameel will emerge victorious. We will welcome PTI and JI in our constituency and offer them sweets on our victory. Our party only preaches love, peace and harmony which ensure our victory.”

Addressing the international community in English, he said the MQM stood for equal opportunities for all segments of society.

“I assure every segment of the society and the international community that Pakistan will be a true democratic state under the MQM government,” he said. “We want every religion respected and have been striving for the people of all religious backgrounds. We hate to discriminate on the basis of religion.”

He said his party wanted to put an end to status-quo in the country with positive changes in every economic and social sector which promised freedom of speech, food, electricity and clean drinking water to the people of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2015

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