[On invitation from Mr. Altaf Hussain, the Leader of the Muttahida Quami Mahaz (MQM), eminent Pakhtoon, Sindhi, Baluchi and Mohajir political leaders assembled in London on 17 September, 2000 and adopted a framework for a multi-ethnic democratic and secular Pakistan and demanded the return of the Army to the barracks and restoration of democracy. Relevant extracts from the Resolutions adopted by them are given below - Editor]

The Assembly

Demands that according to the spirit of 1940 Lahore Resolution, a new liberal and democratic Constitution based on equality of nations be formulated for the people of Pakistan. This Constitution shall provide equal and democratic rights to all the citizens, .. democracy and fundamental rights. This Constitution shall not only provide equal rights to all the religious minorities but also provide them the right to vote in a joint-electorate system instead of the separate-electorate system. Women shall be provided with equal rights and representation in all walks of life and the discriminatory treatment, which they are subjected to, should come to an end. All the provinces shall have total autonomy and all the present functions of the Federation with the exception of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Currency shall be transferred to the provinces. Federal interference in the matters of provincial rights and authorities shall end. This Constitution shall also provide a foolproof guarantee to safeguard the rights and authorities of the provinces.

The composition of the Pakistan Army shall be recomposed, having equal representation of nations from all the provinces that it can effectively and practically be presented as the National Army of Pakistan instead of being the Punjabi Army.

So that Pakistan can actually become a democratic State where;

Also wants to make it clear today that the smaller nations do not want to fight nor do they want further dismemberment of Pakistan ... If the existing Pakistan breaks-up, it will not be the doing of the smaller provinces but of the Punjabi Army, the civil bureaucracy and the intelligence agencies ... If the Punjabi Army, the civil bureaucracy and the intelligence agencies do not change their attitude, as a consequence if the smaller provinces (likely) approach the United Nations and demand for the right of self-determination ...

... Demands that the Army goes back to the barracks immediately while handing over the powers to those Supreme Court Judges who refused to take oath under the PCO. They should also be able to take practical steps to formulate a new Constitution in accordance with the resolutions ...

. Demands of the international community, all the donor countries of the world, international monetary institutions (including the IMF and the World Bank) not to sign any agreement or provide loans and aid to Pakistan until such time that the people of the smaller nations are provided equal representation in the administration and governance of Pakistan. In the present conditions, the smaller provinces of Pakistan will not be responsible for the repayment of these loans or honour any such agreement that are being made without the consent of: these provinces..

Demands that Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report be made public and those held responsible for the break-up of Pakistan in this Report, be severely punished.  At the same time the reports on the tragedies of the murderof the first Prime Minister Shaheed-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan, the Ojheri Camp disaster, the C130 Plane Crash and the Kargil fiasco should also be made public and those responsible for these disasters be punished accordingly.

.. Demands that the Kalabagh Dam Project should be scrapped ...

Demands to adopt a formula to allocate funds equitably to the provinces through the NFC Award in proportion to their contribution to the federal exchequer ...

.. Demands the cessation of the State operation in the urban and rural Sindh and in Balochistan, particularly the  State Operation against the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), which is continuig for the past eight years ..The immediate release of all the innocent people  unlawfully arrested in Sindh and Balochistan and exemplary punishment to the murderers of Sindhas,  Mohajirs, Balochs and Pakhtuns ...

.. Demands that the Punjabi establishment stops fanning the religious extremism and sectarianismn ...

Declares that since the present Government is itself illegal and unconstitutional and has no public mandate (it) does not have the right to hold any one accountable ...

Demands that the present Military Government should cease the act of retrenching the employees from the Government and Semi-Government institutions particularly the employees hailing from the smaller provinces and also the deployment of the Army personnel and officers in the Government and Semi-Government institutions.

Declares the so-called intellectuals and journalists. equally responsible and guilty, of oppression against the smaller nations, along with the Punjabi Army, civil bureaucracy and intelligence agencies, particularly the ISI ...

... Demands that the harassment against the business community should be stopped forthwith (as) the present unconstitutional and undemocratic government has no right to collect revenue from the people ...