Altaf calls for raising Haq Parast Lashkars

MQM chief Altaf Hussain Altaf Hussain called for national cohesion and unity to combat extremism.

KARACHI: Urging people to be ready to raise “Haq Parast Lashkars”, Chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain called for national cohesion and unity to combat extremism and said that terrorists, who carried out twin suicide attacks at the Data Darbar, were enemies of humanity.

Addressing MQM activists in Karachi, Hyderabad and Lahore, Hussain said: “We will have to form Haq Parast Lashkars (to get rid of extremists), and people will have to forge unity in their ranks. No one will protect the masses. We will have to…rely on the chowkidari system.”

He said that he had consistently been warning the authorities concerned about the increasing risk of terrorism across the country, but no one paid heed to him.

The MQM chief said that it was necessary to rid the country of terrorists for good, because such incidents were increasing despair among the people.

“I salute the Ulema who condemn terrorism and declare suicide attacks unlawful.”

The MQM, he said, would continue its struggle for elimination of terrorism. He urged the government to take steps for protecting shrines and strictly punish anyone who was responsible for attacking worship places of Muslims, Christians or Hindus. “They should be dealt with an iron fist.”

Political parties supporting militants were equally responsible for such heinous attacks, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2010.