The Hindu : National : Altaf Hussain arrives on first visit to India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 05, 2004

National

National

Altaf Hussain arrives on first visit to India

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI, NOV. 4. The London-based leader of Pakistan's Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, arrived in the capital today to attend a two-day convention being organised by The Hindustan Times from Friday.

A statement posted on the MQM website said this was to be Mr. Hussain's first "international visit" in 12 years. It is also his first visit to India.

One of his associates told The Hindu that Mr. Hussain, known as Altaf Bhai in party circles, would "like to meet people" during his stay. There is a possibility that the MQM's founder leader would travel to Ajmer and Agra.

May meet leaders

South Block officials, when asked whether Mr. Hussain would meet Government leaders, said this was likely to happen. A meeting between the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, and Mr. Hussain is said to be on the cards. Mr. Hussain will be present at the conference to be addressed by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, on Friday.

Though Mr. Hussain has not been able to return to Pakistan so far, the MQM is a coalition partner in the Pakistan Federal Government as well as the provincial government in Sindh. Several Pakistan-based leaders of his party are also in the capital. In an October 1 speech, posted on the party website, Mr. Hussain suggested that all political and religious parties in Pakistan forget their differences and join hands on a one-point agenda to define domestic and foreign policies.

"Furthermore, the military should be persuaded not to interfere in civil affairs and continue with their own constructive role. The MQM is prepared to make sacrifices for this one-point agenda," he was quoted as saying.

Mr. Hussain said that today there was a great hue and cry about the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, retaining his uniform. "May I ask those who are very vocal against his uniform whether the country would really benefit if he resign the position of COAS [Chief of Army Staff] and will the interference of [the] armed forces come to an end?" he said.

About the Kashmir issue, he said: "The Government[s] of India and Pakistan must not play games with the lives of Kashmiri people and respect their hopes and aspirations."

Contact-building

As far as the Government of India is concerned, it views Mr. Hussain's visit as part of a larger contact programme with Pakistan's political parties. The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam leader, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the Awami National Party chief, Asfandyar Wali, and the Pakistan People's Party leader, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, have visited India in recent months.

During his recent visit to India, the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, not only met with the Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani, but also invited him to Pakistan. Mr. Kasuri also met with the leaders of two Hurriyat factions.

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