He said this while addressing via telephone a gathering of members of the party's co-ordination committee, provincial and federal lawmakers and office-bearers of MQM's different wings at the Lal Qila Ground in Azizabad. Terming local government system key to democracy, he said that in the absence of local government institutions, democracy was nothing but an apology for democracy.
"It has been witnessed that local bodies system in the country had always flourished under dictatorships while democratic governments had a history of shying away from conducting local bodies elections," Altaf Hussain noted. Hussain said that the PPP "keeps saying that nationalist forces in Sindh will become angry over the local government system. Are we not Sindhi? Why do they not think about Urdu-speaking Sindhis?" Altaf Hussain said: "MQM does not want Sindh's division, but the government should not push Urdu-speaking Sindhis to the wall. If Urdu-speaking Sindhi nationalists became alienated, they would be forced to call for Sindh's division."
He said that even if the government removed the Governor Sindh, MQM would take part in the long march on January 14. He asserted that MQM would definitely take part in the long march on 14th January. He said that every political party in the country had conducted long march in the past but the MQM was made the object of criticism.
Speaking on the issue of dual nationality, Altaf Hussain said that Quiad-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah also carried a British passport. He said that the Quaid-i-Azam took oath as the first Governor-General of Pakistan to remain faithful to British monarch on the eve of August 15, 1947. Those who raise the issue ofdual nationality and term all overseas Pakistanis 'traitors' is like labelling the Quaid-i-Azam a traitor, as he also held a British passport.
He added Pakistan was under British monarchy for nine whole years after its independence, as George VI remained the King of Pakistan between 1947 and 1952 and Elizabeth II was the country's Queen between 1952 and 1956. Hussain said that the independence of 1947 was "half-hearted" as both India and Pakistan were governed by Britishers until Pakistan became a Republic in 1956.
Quoting the oath administered to the Quaid by then Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Justice Sir Abdur Rasheed : "I, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, do solemnly affirm true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan as by law established, and that I will be faithful to His Majesty King George VI, his heirs, and successors in the office of the Governor General of Pakistan." Altaf Hussain said that the Governor-General of Pakistan was the representative of Pakistan's monarch, until "the country's independence in 1947. When Pakistan was proclaimed a republic in 1956, the office of governor-general was abolished." "Why did the Quaid-e-Azam swear to remain faithful to King George VI, his heirs and successors?" he questioned. He said that he wanted to return to Pakistan and live among the masses. "Whenever I wished to come back, Pakistan's party activists stopped me," he said, adding that the patriotism of Dr Tahrul Qadri and other oversees Pakistani was beyond any doubt.
"Oversees Pakistani are the backbone of the country's economy," Altaf added. Condemning the violation of cease-fire on the Line of Control by Indian troops, Altaf Hussian demanded of the Indian government to restrain its soldiers from committing unwarranted aggression.
Stressing the need for national cohesion, he said that it was vital for thwarting forces working against the country. He said that the country's defence was not the responsibility of just armed forces and the people of Pakistan should be ready to render sacrifices for their country. He expressed sympathies with the families of the people killed in the bomb blast in Quetta and a cylinder blast in Swat.