International Community should ensure that innocent civilians in Afghanistan are neither targeted or harmed – Altaf Hussain

London – 10 October 2001

Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder and Leader, stated that we condemn all sorts of terrorism and killings of innocent people whether they belong to the USA or any other country or part of the world. He was addressing an important meeting of the MQM Central Coordination Committee at Nine Zero, the MQM Head Office in Azizabad, Karachi over the telephone from London on 10 October 2001. The Members of the MQM Central Coordination Committee present in London, including the MQM Convenor Dr Imran Farooq, also attended the meeting. Whereas the three MQM Deputy Convenors Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh, Senator Mrs Nasreen Jalil and Mr Sheikh Liaquat Hussain were present in Karachi.

Mr Hussain said that we condemned the terrorist attacks of September 11 upon USA and offered our unconditional support and cooperation to the international community and the USA in the fight against terrorism. Mr Hussain said that if the international community and the USA wishes to apprehend certain terrorists and their patrons, they could do it, however, they should be very careful in their military operations so that innocent people and civilians should not be harmed. Mr Hussain said that innocent civilians must not be targeted during any armed conflict.

Mr Hussain further said that when the terrorist incidents occurred in the USA on September 11, we not only strongly condemned those incidents but also offered our heartfelt condolences to the affected families and the US Government.

Mr Hussain reiterated that we are strongly against the killings of innocent people whether committed by the terrorists or by any Government or country. He once again stated that we are with the international community in the fight against terrorism but we request the international community to be extremely careful and take extensive measures during the military strike to ensure that innocent civilians in Afghanistan are neither targeted nor harmed.