Federal and provincial governments should relinquish power voluntarily if they are
helpless in protecting the life and property of the people
The Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has said that the federal and provincial governments had failed in their duty to curb terrorism and to adopt effective measures for protecting the life and property of the people. He advised them to explain their difficulties openly and relinquish power voluntarily if they were helpless in protecting the people.
He said this while talking to the Co-ordination Committee, elected representatives and office-bearers of various wings of the MQM today on telephone at Nine Zero.
Addressing the peace-loving people of Pakistan believing in mutual co-existence, particularly the people of Karachi and the rest of Sindh, Mr Hussain said that he had been warning that the Taliban were establishing themselves in Karachi in an organized manner by securing their footholds in various parts of the city. He said that he appealed to the people to form vigilance committees in their areas but regretted that that was not done.
Mr Hussain said that the Taliban would not have been able to penetrate in any of the areas of Karachi if his advice for forming neighbourhood vigilance committee were heeded to. He said that there was still time and the people must mend fences in order to protect their children from the barbaric Taliban.
He said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had warned about the presence of Taliban in large numbers in Karachi only a few days ago while he had been about it for many years.
Referring to the suicide bomb blast at the headquarters of the Sachchal Rangers in Karachi, he said that the loss could have been significant if the truck laden with 150 kg of explosive had managed to hit the building instead of ramming in a tree. He said that terrorist attacks resulting in loss of lives had occurred in the city earlier as well.
Mr Hussain said that if the federal and provincial governments did not move against the terrorists with an iron hand and did not fulfill their duty to protect the life and property of the people, they would not be able to get public support in the coming elections.
He said that all state institutions must also discharge their responsibilities for curbing terrorism in an efficient manner with the support of the public. The scourge of terrorism should be eliminated with united efforts.
He asked the people to forget petty differences and become an iron-wall against terrorism. He asked them to face the situation with courage and form vigilance committees with the support of local elders.
In the end Mr Hussain prayed Allah to shower His blessings on the souls of the rangers personnel martyred in the suicide blast in Karachi at the rangers headquarters. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.