London [UK], May 28 (ANI): Exiled Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain has made an impassioned appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to spotlight the decades-long persecution of Muhajirs—Urdu-speaking migrants from India who settled in Pakistan after the Partition—at international platforms.
Speaking during a live broadcast from London, Altaf Hussain praised PM Modi’s outspoken support for the Baloch people, calling it a courageous and admirable stand. He implored the Indian Prime Minister to extend similar support to the Muhajir community, which he claims has been systematically marginalized and repressed by the Pakistani state.
“Since the Partition of India, the military establishment in Pakistan has never completely recognised the Muhajirs as legitimate citizens,” Hussain stated. He alleged that the MQM, a party advocating for the rights of oppressed minorities in Pakistan, has been repeatedly targeted by state forces. According to him, these actions have resulted in the deaths of over 25,000 Muhajirs and the forced disappearances of thousands more.
Hussain also condemned recent developments in the United States, specifically a pro-Pakistan event held in Dallas, Texas, on May 23. He accused Pakistani Consul General in Houston, Aftab Chaudhry, of presenting a video at the event that portrayed Hussain and the MQM as Indian agents—a narrative he claims is part of a deliberate campaign of misinformation aimed at discrediting the Muhajir movement.
“The Muhajirs have been rendered voiceless and powerless in Pakistan,” Hussain said, adding that their plight has been ignored by the global community for far too long. He appealed to PM Modi to bring international attention to the issue, including through collaboration with human rights organizations worldwide to advocate for the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of Muhajirs.
He emphasized the dire living conditions faced by the community: “The Muhajirs are unarmed and endure dire living conditions. For over 61 years, they have faced repeated cycles of economic hardship and physical destruction. Their plight can no longer be ignored.”
Hussain’s remarks reflect a broader call for international engagement on the human rights situation faced by minorities in Pakistan, and he urged that the Muhajirs’ struggle be recognized as part of this global concern. (ANI)
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