MQM would end load-shedding from across the country within a year
if it would be given such powers …Altaf Hussain

KARACHI: Founder & Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr. Altaf Hussain has said that it out of question to hold talks with such groups of the Taliban who believe in suicide attacks, terrorism and killing of innocent citizens.
 

He said this while speaking over telephone from London at the 26^th Foundation Day of the MQM held here on Thursday at the Lal Qila Ground in Azizabad Karachi near the party’s headquarters, Nine Zero. A large number of people and MQM workers attended the programme. Carrying MQM flags and Altaf Hussain’s portraits; they shouted slogans in favour of their leader.

In connection with the Founding day of the party, workers gathering was organised all over the country, where MQM Chief Altaf Hussain’s address was relayed simultaneously.

The main programme was held at Lal Qila Ground Azizabad while the events was also   organised at 19 Zonal offices in Interior Sindh as well as at provincial offices in Punjab, NWFP, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir

Mr. Hussain said that talk could be held with those who believe on Quraan and Sharia and are against the killing of innocent citizens, including personnel of the Pakistan army and the law enforcement agencies.

He lashed out at the Chief Minister of the Punjab for his appeal to the Taliban that they should not carry out their attacks in the Punjab.

He said that his statement had disappointed people of Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP and also upset the Haq Parast people of the Punjab province.

He said that his party would never ask the Taliban not to carry out attacks at any particular place or city. However, he did not name Shahbaz Sharif and referred to him as an important figure of the Punjab.

He opined that such statements were against the solidarity of the country. “Such statements should not be made,” he added.

He said that whether other provinces are not part of the country.  The statement indirectly suggested that the Taliban are at liberty to carryout terrorist acts in other provinces but not in Punjab.

He said that he was due to make some important disclosures tonight, but keeping in view the current situation, he postponed his plan for some days.

Mr Hussain urged the government to take immediate measures to curb the menaces of load-shedding and price hike in the country.

He said that the MQM would end load-shedding from across the country within a year if it would be given such powers.

He asked the party workers to start preparation for the upcoming local government elections and to open election cells in their respective localities so that their working could benefit them in the general elections also.

He congratulated the people of Pakistan on the 26^th foundation day of the MQM and observed that if voted to power, his party would bring Pakistan at par with any developed country of the world.

He paid rich tribute to Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, former Karachi Nazim Mustafa Kamal, Hyderabad nazim Kanwar Naveed and other former Nazims, Naib Nazims and Councillors for carrying out large-scale development works in their over four-year tenure.

He appreciated the MQM representatives, Dr Farooq Sattar and Hyder Rizvi, in the Parliamentary Committee for Constitutional Reforms, for playing a pivotal role in proposing certain clauses that would lead to the provincial autonomy in the upcoming 18^th amendment bill.