Mr Altaf Hussain, founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) vociferously stated that attack on the Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao was an attack on the entire government, democracy and humanity. He further added that this attack was made by the elements of "Lal Masjid", "Jamia Hafsa" and "Jamia Faridia" who had warned of committing suicidal attacks throughout the country while they were being promoted by the ruling party as "Angels". Mr Altaf Hussain said this while speaking to the Interior Federal Minster Aftab Ahmed Sherpao over the telephone from London. Mr Altaf Hussain enquired his wellbeing and profoundly expressed his sadness on the incident of the suicidal attack in Char Sadda while he also assured him of his solidarity. Mr Altaf Hussain prayed for the salvation of those who lost their lives in that suicidal attack and for a speedy recovery of the wounded.

Mr Altaf Hussain told Mr Aftab Ahmed Sherpao that Almighty Allah had saved him while the terrorists’ had left no stone unturned in their scheme to kill him which was such a heinous act that it deserves severe condemnation and humanity demands calling spade a spade. He praised the courageous and practical role he was playing in rooting out religious terrorism and extremism and it was therefore, these elements are hell-bent to kill him. He further assured the Interior Minister of his solidarity and continued co-operation in the struggle to stamp out religious terrorism and extremism.

Mr Altaf Hussain re-iterating his claim that the attack was committed by the same elements who had warned of suicidal attacks a few days earlier said that the extremist elements by committing terrorism under the guise of Islam are not serving the Islam but defaming the Islam throughout the world. He said that legal action must have been taken against those brazenly warning of committing suicidal attacks and terrorism but no action has been taken against the administration of the Jamia Hafsa while on the contrary, unfortunately, the party heads of the ruling party are presenting these elements as innocent angels and supporting them who had committed suicidal attack on the Federal Interior Minister.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that the perpetrators of Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid have illegally occupied the Children Library in Islamabad at the yoke of their guns. The Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Federal Minister Religious Affairs Ejaz-ul-Huq are sustain ably stating that stockpiles of weapons are present in Jamia Hafsa while Head of the ruling party is claiming to have found no weapons there during his visits while independent reports on TV Channels have exhibited women of Jamia Hafsa armed with Kalashnikov Rifles that has been witnessed by us and the entire nation. However, the heads of the ruling party are portraying the occupants of Jamia Hafsa to be innocent angels’ not committing terrorism but in fact, serving the religion that tantamount to deceiving the nation. He asked whose games the ruling party Heads are playing after all by committing such actions.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that the occupants of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa had openly declared that suicidal attacks would be committed if their demands were not met and a suicidal attack took place during a meeting of the Interior Minister in Char Sadda in which scores of people were killed and wounded. He said that a faction of the ruling party is openly supporting these extremists’ and terming their unlawful acts as lawful, it is therefore, President General Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the Federal Cabinet must take notice of the support to the religious extremists by a few leaders of the ruling party. Mr Altaf Hussain said that on one hand the extremists’ are being supported while on the other obstacles are being created and MQM has been told not to hold a rally in Punjab against the religious extremism and terrorism on the pattern of Karachi that would help present a soft image of Pakistan. He enquired whether Punjab was not part of the country? He said that the country is one and therefore, leaders of the Punjab have rights to hold rallies in Sindh. Similarly, people of other provinces also have a right to hold rallies in Punjab. However, if it is said that rallies cannot be organised in Punjab then the parties of other provinces have equal right to tell them that they cannot also hold rallies in their provinces. He further added that whosoever, we support with open heart and mind and when we want to leave, we openly tell, we do not deceive but we cannot go along with those who are supporting these elements and becoming the cause of the destruction of the country. He further added that MQM is a principled party and does not compromise on its principles and reassured the Interior Ministers of his sympathy, solidarity and support to his party and all the workers of his party. Reciprocating MR Altaf Hussain, Mr Aftab Ahmed Sherpao expressed his thanks to Mr Altaf Hussain and the Members of the National Assembly belonging to the MQM.

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