Altaf Hussain, the founder of Pakistan's Muttahida Qami Movement (MQM), has hailed Modi-government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 saying it is India’s internal matter. "Hussain said that the revocation of Article 370 by the Indian government was absolutely an internal matter of India and the government of India took this decision with the overwhelming support of the people of India," a statement quoted the founder of MQM as saying.
He even sang a ‘Sare Jahan se Achcha Hindustan Hamaraa’ during his address in London on Saturday. The video of him singing Indian patriotic song has now gone viral.
#WATCH London: Founder of Pakistan’s Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party, Altaf Hussain sings 'Saare jahan se acha Hindustan hamara.' pic.twitter.com/4IQKYnJjfB
— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2019
The video shows Hussain, who has been living in self-exile in London, singing the song written by Mohammed Iqbal in praise of the motherland.
MQM is influential in urban areas of Pakistan's southern province of Sindh, including its restive port city of Karachi.
The MQM has dominated politics in Karachi for three decades because of its support in the densely populated working class neighbourhoods of Urdu-speaking Muhajirs, descendants of Muslims who migrated from India when Pakistan was created in 1947.
65-year-old Hussain requested asylum in the 1990s and later gained UK citizenship. But he maintains a firm grip over the MQM.
He is known for giving anti-Pakistan speeches and once called the country "a cancer for entire world".
"Pakistan is cancer for entire world,” he had said.
"Pakistan is headache for the entire world. Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism for the entire world. Who says long live Pakistan...it's down with Pakistan," Dawn newspaper reported, quoting him as saying in 2016.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Altaf Hussain is the founder of Pakistan's Muttahida Qami Movement (MQM).
- MQM is influential in urban areas of Pakistan's southern province of Sindh.
- 65-year-old Hussain requested asylum in the 1990s and later gained UK citizenship.