Pakistan cannot prosper and become strong without empowering women, as women empowerment is vital for bringing sustainable development to the country, said Chief of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain on Sunday.
Addressing a huge public meeting of women at Bagh-e-Jinnah, Altaf Hussain said that the historic women rally was the splendid display of national unity as women from all ethnic and religious backgrounds were present on the meeting ground.
Criticising the government polices on Balochistan he said the wrong policies of the government had created sense of deprivation among Baloch, due to which a foreign country had presented resolution in its parliament suggesting right of self-dtermination for the people of Balochistan. The wrong polices of the governments have pushed Balochistan towards secession.
He feared that if the issue of Balochistan was not resolved as per the wishes of Baloch people then the government would have to face dire consequences like splitting of the country. He urged the government to take some courageous steps in order to resolve the issue of Balochistan.
Regarding the rally MQM chief said it was a clear message for everyone that they were united and they would remain united under the flag of MQM. He said that a new chapter was written in the political history of the country in the shadow of Quaid-i-Azam by the mammoth public meeting. He said that other political parties had been making tall claims about holding large public meeting in the Bagh-e-Jinnah, but the MQM demonstrated that even the women of the party were sufficient to meet the challenge of the opponents.
He was of the view that it was considered inappropriate for the women to take part in politics before the MQM, but the MQM brought women on the political landscape of the country. The MQM had held the first public meeting of the women on July 15, 1988 which was also a record at that time. Another historic meeting of the women was organised by the MQM in Nishtar Park in June 2005.
Hussain said that women had played historic role in the struggle of the MQM. It were the women who came forward and raised the flag of the MQM during the repressive operation clean-up in 1992. They had opened Nine Zero and waged a relentless struggle when even taking the name of the MQM was made a serious crime. They had held the funeral of their loved ones, suffered hardships and went to jail but did not swerve from their path.
Speaking about the protests by the women in Islamabad regarding the recovery of their loved ones he said that more than 15,000 MQM workers were killed during the ruthless operation against the MQM and 28 workers of the MQM were still missing. He said that the missing workers of the MQM should also be traced. It was not even known if they were alive or dead, he added. He further said women were being treated even worst than animals today in 21st Century in rural areas and they were not allowed even to cast their votes.
Altaf Hussain said those who were involved in killing of women in the name of Karo-Kari, Wani and Honour Killing and acid throwing should be hanged.
"MQM was the only party which took out rally of a million people in the city for the recovery of missing persons of Balochistan and against detention of Dr Aafia," he added.
On the occasion, he demanded the United States to release Dr Aafia on humanitarian grounds.
"When I talk about French like revolution in the country, the people laughed at me, and today the leaders of every party are talking about the same. If people wanted to see the revolution, then they should come and see today's gathering," Hussain added. On the occasion, MQM chief challenged other parties to hold such type of gathering.
Explaining the MQM's manifesto, Hussain said that MQM wanted to form such type of democratic system where women have equal rights and opportunities in all aspects of life.
At the end of the rally, firework display was organised. Women of all age groups attended the public gathering. The well-organised woman gathering was the great manifestation of discipline.
Security arrangements were at the maximum as hundreds of law enforcement agencies' personnel were deployed outside Bagh-e-Jinnah while MQM volunteers were in control of security inside the meeting venue. Aerial monitoring of the meeting through helicopters was also carried out.
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