KARACHI- Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain has said that a majority of the people of Pakistan do not have the feelings of hatred and animosity towards India.
They love the people of India and want friendship, peace and trade between the two countries to grow instead of pursuing hostilities. He said this while talking Sampa Arya and Madhu Sharma, wives of the Indian hostages on the ship MV Suez that was released from the captivity of the Somali pirates.
Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Senior Minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haque, Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuro, prominent human rights activist Ansar Burney, Chief of the CPLC Ahmed Chinoy, daughter of the captain Wasi of the ship Laila, and provincial minister Dr Muhammad Ali Shah were present on the occasion.
Talking to them at the Governor House in Karachi, Altaf Hussain welcomed Arya and Sharma in Pakistan and congratulated them on the release of their husbands. He said that they had opened the doors of peace and love by coming to Pakistan.
Arya and Sharma thanked Mr Hussain and the government of Pakistan for making untiring efforts for the release of the hostages of the ship MV Suez. They termed the views of Mr Hussain as positive and said that efforts should be made for bringing the two countries closer together. Altaf said that it is his message for the people of India that Pakistan and India should be friends. “We should try to understand the problems of each other and help each other in mitigating those problems.” He thanked President Asif Zardari, GovernorDr Ebad, Mr Burney and Mr Chinoy for making efforts in getting the hostages free from the captivity of the pirates.
Senior Minister Pir Mazhar and Sindh Speaker Assembly Mr Khuro also supported the views expressed by Altaf Hussain. They also congratulated Governor Ebad for playing a leading role in getting the hostages released. Governor Ebad and Ahmed Chinoy thanked Altaf Hussain for encouragement and guidance.