Karachi: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain called upon the rulers to discard the prejudiced approach towards the party, reiterating a separate province is being demanded by the people living in urban areas of Sindh.

Addressing a large gathering of people who were celebrating the MQM’s convincing win in local bodies elections in Karachi’s cantonment areas, he said “a substantial victory came the MQM’s way and the party emerged as the third largest party in LB polls in cantonment boards, despite a rigorous operation is afoot against the party.”

“We emerged as the foremost party by grabbing 22 seats in the LB polls,” he pointed out, giving tribute to the people of Karachi.

Citing Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah’s statement over demand of a separate province, Altaf Hussain took the octogenarian to task, saying, “Making Karachi a separate province is not my demand; instead, the people living in urban Sindh areas put it forward.”

He continued, “Over 20 new provinces should be carved out across the country for better administrative purposes. I suggest Seraiki, FATA and Hazarwal be given their provinces.”

The MQM chief also mentioned the law-enforcement agencies, by invoking them to stand guard exclusively for law, without committing injustices and wrongdoings. Drawing attention to the use of firearms by activists of political parties including PML-N in the Saturday’s LB polls, he remarked no one including the armed forces could spot the militant wing of the PML-N and the PTI; but, the MQM was charged on this count.

The two parties—PML-N and PTI—used modern weapons on Saturday, during the elections when the activists of the two rival parties clashed in Punjab, he asserted.

“Attempts were made to wipe out the MQM from the surface of the earth multiple times,” he added.

He thanked his workers for their enduring efforts and lavished praises on them saying, “Workers with all intents and purposes are raring to die for the party's cause but they are not willing for any compromise.”