LAHORE – The Muttahia Qaumi Movement (MQM), after reaching an understanding with the Punjab government, on Saturday finalised Gaddafi Stadium as the venue for its upcoming Punjab chapter public meeting in Lahore on April 10. According to MQM sources, party leaders led by Dr Farooq Sattar were convinced by the Punjab government that owing to security risks, permission to hold the public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan was not granted, as hundreds of party workers are likely to attend the gathering.
They said that the Punjab government and the MQM negotiated on an alternative venue after which the authorities concerned will issue the orders concerning the gathering on Monday. According to sources, the Punjab government wanted the MQM to hold the gathering at Expo Centre, Johar Town but the MQM top brass including chief Altaf Hussain decided to hold the meeting in the open at the Qaddafi Stadium so that large numbers of party workers could be accommodated. This was the same reason for the MQM’s refusal to hold the meeting at Alhamra Cultural Complex.
The MQM had decided to hold the meeting in February but the Punjab government was not ready to grant permission. MQM Central Coordination Committee Member Wasay Jalil told Pakistan Today that the Punjab government has assured provision of fool proof security for the meeting and conveyed that no effort will be spared for making comprehensive security arrangements for the gathering. He said that MQM volunteers will also take charge of security at the meeting along with the Punjab Police. Jalil said that verbal assurance has been given by the Punjab government for holding the meeting and the MQM will also extend all out support to the authorities.
The MQM leader said that his party will set the masses free of the feudal system and the 63-year-old shackles of the politics of inheritance. He said that the meeting will be attended by MQM workers from Punjab but coordination committee members and some technical experts from Karachi will also attend the meeting. He said that the time has come for all political parties to realise their esponsibility to the marginalised segments of society especially the poor.
Jalil said that the nation is facing problems such as poverty, shortage of drinking water and unemployment and if people of Punjab support the MQM then the party will eliminate the old culture of brutality from the province. He said that the people of Punjab have to decide to bring about a change as the MQM has entered Punjab to fight for the rights of the people.
MQM set for Gaddafi Stadium public meeting on April 10
