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Altaf wants army to act against Taleban

Leaders of country’s two main parties — Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F — have expressed divergent views on the prevailing situation in Pakistan especially on measures to tackle terrorism amid a heated debate in the country in the wake of attack on Malala Yousufzai in Swat by a Taleban gunman.

The London-based chief of MQM, Altaf Hussain, while addressing party workers via telephone on Sunday sharply criticised the militant group responsible for scores of attacks in Pakistan against civilians and security personnel.

Altaf Hussain slammed religious leaders for not condemning the Taleban terrorists who were behind attacks on girl students including Malala. The MQM chief also urged the Pakistan Army to launch an operation against the Taleban who working against the country and attacking the nation’s daughters.

Altaf said that the MQM would stand by armed forces in their action against the terrorist group and Muttahida’s workers were prepared to lay down their lives to save Quaid’s Pakistan.

Altaf also condemned drone attacks in tribal areas which he said were having negative effects. “MQM has been against drones attacks from the first day and will continue to raise its voice against them,” he said.

Meanwhile, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman on the other hand told a huge rally in Sukkur that religious parties leadership held the key to ensuring law and order situation as well as economic stability of the country.

“Malala Yousufzai is like my daughter and I strongly condemn the attack on her. To protect girls like Malala and if we want them to return home safely from school, we have to reject the incumbent leadership and elect religious leadership,” he said while addressing an Islam Zindabad Conference on Sunday.

Referring to Altaf Hussain’s instructions to MQM workers about collecting data of religious leaders, Maulana Fazl alleged that a state within state had been established.

Maulana Fazl said that the law and order situation had turned abysmal whether it was Fata, Balochistan, or Sindh and it seemed as if the purpose of creating Pakistan was to “murder, extortion and kidnapping for ransom”.

“How can we improve law and order when 70 per cent of the budget is spent on defence and there is nothing left for the common people? We have failed to do anything for the welfare of the poor, except blaming each other for corruption,” he said. — news@khaleejtimes.com