MQM central leaders including Farooq Sattar, MNAs and local leaders were also present at the Minar-e-Pakistan.
Throughout his speech, Altaf Hussain focused on criticising industrialists, feudal lords and generals and accused them of causing poverty and miserable living conditions for Pakistanis. While trying to gain the support of Punjabis, he said the first MQM public meeting in Lahore would have a huge impact on national politics and after this gathering the message of MQM would spread like a fire in Punjab.
He said Punjabis gave scarifies for many political parties and gained nothing; they never struggled for their own rights or supported a party that voiced their concerns. In fact, he said, they were used and exploited by feudals and generals. "These feudal lords talk about democracy, but in reality there is no democracy in the country nor is there justice or equality of law. Laws are different for the rich and the poor. Moreover, the poor are deprived of clean drinking water, education, health, civic facilities," he observed.
"Now then, under these circumstances, which political party speaks the language of the Punjabis. MQM speaks the language of the poor and the oppressed, and its leaders sit among their workers at all level; the party does not differentiate between the rich and the poor."
According to him, state machinery had launched a propaganda campaigned against him and his party in Punjab but the gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan in support of MQM testify that they have failed to brainwash Punjabis.
The MQM chief averred Pakistan and India became independent states in the same year, but in the fields of education, health, social sector, economy and information technology, India has taken a substantial lead over Pakistan.
"India succeeded in making visible development after it abolished feudal system, while Pakistan failed to do so." He vowed to do away with the feudal system once they come to power.
Farooq Sattar and other MQM leaders also spoke on the occasion.