Malala attack: Declare stand or be exposed, Altaf warns religious leaders
Hussain further threatened to ‘expose’ the ulemas on October 14 if they fail to make their stand on this issue public.
The MQM chief had termed the incident “blatant terrorism” and called for the perpetrators behind the act to be brought to justice. He appealed to the president, prime minister and Interior Minister Rehman Malik to take serious notice of the attack and take action against those involved.
The 14-year-old child activist from Swat was attacked by armed men on October 9 when she was on her way home from school.
An outspoken critic of the Taliban and vociferous proponent of female education, Malala won international recognition for highlighting Taliban atrocities in Swat with a blog for the BBC three years ago when militants, led by radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah, burned girls’ schools in the valley.
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At least for once, he should criticise the Target Killers in the same tone!!!
Altaf Bhai, Why dont you say it boldly and openly that Mullahism is the bane of this nation and country.They have preached not islam but hatred in the name of Islam and no body should be calling them Imam and praying after them.It all started with Z.Bhutto,Zia al Haq against Ahmadis ,when they were declared non muslism and now every maulvi calls others a Kafir Get rid of this peer-e-tasma pa and society will be better of without these rabid and demented clergy.
brave statement by altaf hussain ......... Excellent! Expose them all, please.
I never thought I will say this. But Altaf Hussain proved to be thousand times better than Imran Khan and other pakistani politicians in his statements and stand against militancy. Great job Altaf Bhai. We are 100% with you on this matter.
Malala also has a challenge for Mr. Altaf, " As she stood and faced the terrorists, you should also come back to Karachi and physically stand by your people" Hurling challenges from a remote corner doesnt speak well of a leader of a political party.
Altaf Hussain has spoken the truth. It is evident like daylight and nighttime that the one-eyed mullahs are hand in glove with the Taliban. They think these murderers will be the champions of society. That is where they are very sadly mistaken. Salams
@Aik Pakistani: It seems you still live in the dark that is why everything in front of you look ´KALI´open your eyes then you can differentiate between the light and the darkness
@Karachitie: As Karachiite I witness he is the only one who raise voice against target killing because most of the victims of target killings belongs to his party I think you do not live in Karachi otherwise you do not put salt on the wounds of Karachiite!!!....be genuine and get your facts correct!
deobandi moluvi is responseable for this incedent.they have soft corner for jehadies.
In 2008 I voted for PML-N. This time my vote is going for MQM...
Deapite being a PTI supporter and knowing about MQM's actions in the past,I would still appreciate the current stand of Altaf Hussain and MQM against religious fanaticism. Even though a number of conservative relgious scholars did condemn the attack but I guess Jawed Ahmad Ghamidi is the only person who talks against religious extremism in the most convincing way.I hope that Altaf Hussian has got some genuine intention and not showing the boldness because of living in a secured environment there in UK. Moreover,I wish MQM also stops mixing all Pashtuns with Talibans and terrorism too,and realize that educated and literate individuals exist in other ethnicities as well. I am saying so based on the way many MQM supporters continue to act and pretend, and how the party has been distorting history.
Why cant every politician condemn what happened to Malala in this way?
@True Muslim Paki: And? I am also a British Citizen...does that make me less patriotic? I only became a British Citizen because my family immigrated to the UK over 15 years ago, and to seek benefits like healthcare, tuition assistance, financial assistance, etc., we chose to accept British Citizenship. Does that make me a traitor to my country? I do not fault Altaf Hussain or any other political leader for seeking asylum, especially if their life is at stake. I use to criticize Altaf Hussain all the time for not returning to Pakistan, but after what happened to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, I can no longer blame him for not returning. I am also a PTI supporter, and will probably would vote for PTI if I could, but I also like MQM and Altaf Hussain also. I just wish Altaf Hussain would tone down his speeches, because sometimes his style of speaking (yelling) can get very annoying.
@True Muslim Paki: You will support for Taliban Khan who is trying to travel in two boats of liberal and conservative and it does not make any sense to people of Pakistan. Someone is far but close to the heart is much better someone is closer and faraway from the hearts of the people of Pakistan
@Shehryar: I think he is taking a bold stand against the religious extremism than Taliban Khan! and he is the only one who has courage to say that and no matter whether he is here or in exile but he is doing much better job for Pakistan than politicians living physically on the land of pure......and they do not show any purity towards the major grievances of the people of Pakistan so keep your nut thought with you and it would not give anything to people of Pakistan.
I have always maintained that no nation can ever be worthy of its existence that cannot take its women along with the men. No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men. There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a great competition and rivalry between the two. There is a third power stronger than both, that of the women. [Speech at Islamia College for women, March 25, 1940 by M.ALI Jinnah "Father of the nation" (PAKISTAN)]
Altaf hussain always a great leader, working for the empowerment of women and spreading education.
Altaf has shown more guts and courage by explicitly coming out against this cowardly attack. FAR better than Imran Khan who meekly tweeted against this incident. Even his tweets were weak and did not confront TTP.
Not only the ulema but even PTI agenda stands exposed. PTI is sympathetic to terrorist organizations. That much is clear now.
Easy for anyone to speak that loud when they are "out of the country"
The only leader who has guts
I just love the words of wisdom that this nut sends our way every week. So courageous to issue your amazing speeches sitting in your London apartment with a British passport. Please stay there with your gang of asylum seekers and keep us entertained with your phone calls. Don't come back and "bless" Karachi.
Altaf Bhai, we don't need your advice. You are a UK citizen, so bother about UK.
& we will support PTI .
Now you know why the most educated class in Pakistan (Urdu speaking Mohajirs) time and time again vote for the MQM.
They are already exposed with their tight lips!
Well said Altaf bhai! Only you have the power to make things work in a country like Pakistan
Since pakistani ulema's are themselves infected with Taliban Virus I request through this paper that Deoband ulema and Jama Al- Azhar Ulema's decleare Taliban and its Supporters Kafirs and wajibul qatl.
Let Altaf Bhai come back and lead the nation in the fight against these brutes.
As usual, Altaf Hussain did not stutter the words but openly and clearly stated his views. Unfortunate, it is not common trade in Pakistani society in general and political/religious leadership in particular. He blamed Talban but let me tell you that it is not only Talban who are responsible for it; it is you, me and the “silent majority” who let these monsters to develop to the present state. We let these extremist to grow exponentially. In the beginning we directly or indirectly encouraged them by keeping quit or justifying their actions. Now we are facing the consequences. Unfortunately, there are many religious minded people who are still not ready to call a spade a spade. Had we stopped this religious extremism and fanaticism at the time when it started first time in Pakistan against Ahmadis in 1950s, we would not have seen these days. We fed them by bowing to their propaganda and demands without realizing the long term consequences. Now it is time to pay the price. I am sure that even our coming generations will be suffering from this mind set because we have not realized the real root cause and obviously did nothing to roll back to a normal moral and ethical society. May Allah bless this country!
For sure Altaf Hussain bhai always plays an important role and have most clear against statement against the brutal act of Taliban. We remember that he was the only leader who spoke against the Increase of Talibanization in Karachi. Pay his best part he again have a bold stance on the attack on the Pride of Pakistan Malala YousufZai. We all are with Altaf Bhai
I agree with this principled and bold stand. Thanks a lot for that. Afia is not the only daughter of Pakistan, Malala is a true Pakistani innocent kid. Afia is not even a Pakistani citizen, she has given up her citizenship for the US. Remember all the venom against dual citizens when they are elected? However, our hearts ache only for Afaia and not Malala. Thanks for exposing these rightwing terrorists and their touts.
If Altaf Bhai keeps issuing statements like this one, I might become an MQM supporter despite all it's faults.
Jama'at e Islami exposed. This hypocitic party is trying to confuse the nation in order to justify the Talibaan's firing on Malala...
All religious political parties should be banned like in Bangladesh and all madrasah should be taken over by government and converted in public schools. I hope 80 percent of the problem of extremism would be resolved by these two steps only.
@Afzaalkhan: Altaf Bhai has done much more for this country than any mullah, dead or alive. And if you say that he han't done anything and has harmed the country, even then he hasn't done one hundredth the harm that these mullahs have.
I agree with Altaf on this issue. It is also time for moderates to seize the Islamic agenda from the extremists. I was hoping to see a lot of peaceful protests against such brutality.
So when Ulema asked you not do ethnic divide. did u listen? when Ulema talks about obscenity you ridicule them. Funny when Ulema talk about lot of other things they are ridiculed and laughed off and then you ask them to do something or stand exposed. What have you done in Karachi?
Wow! Not an Altaf supporter but I applaud his challenge to these muftis and aalims. Let us see how they try slip and slide out out of this challenge now!
Please don’t let some people change the issue here by injecting drones. This was a Murder of a Muslim girl by a so-called Muslim and not collateral damage. In suicide attacks tons of innocent civilians are killed besides the targets. In fact sometimes the target escapes death!!
Please beware of those trying to confuse the issue with drones. This girl was the intended target and not killed as a result of attack on somebody else!!
If militants cross the border, hit Afghan and Nato forces and sneak back in, then they are well aware that those they hit will strike back. This is war and not a game.
What would Pakistan do if Indians sneaked across and hit Pakistanis and then go back. Pakistan will ask Indian govt to put a stop to it or else. If Indians fail or are unwilling to stop them and if Pakistan had drones, guess what would happen?
As Pakistan is unable to stop Militants from sneaking across into Afghanistan then guess what would those being hit do? Those militants that cross the border over to Afghanistan put the security of the country at risk.
Civilians are killed by both sides including those who commit suicide attacks.
For those who are saying nobody should stop the militants from crossing into Afghanistan as it is their duty to help the Afghans, then why cry when the enemy strikes back with drones? You cant pick the enemies weapons for them!! You kill theirs they kill yours.
Altaf bhai I always appriciate your stand on terrorism.Would be more proper that this time you use your influence and press civil military leadership to announce comprihensive policy on terrorism which is surprisignly not there in this most terrorism hit country.
Taleban and religious leaders are two sides of the same coin so both need to be eliminated and thrown in the high seas.
Altaf Bhai is the true tiger of Pakistan...not like the fake people who go with their fanbois for cup of tea to remote places and take it as a picnic
I am a die-hard opponent of the MQM and Altaf Husain, but for the first time in my life I 100% agree with Altaf Hussain on this. The religious parties should show the same resentment towards this barbaric act as they showed it to the killings by Rymond Devis. Because the killers of Malala are no different than Rymond.
By the way, why does this so called revolutionist ask the government, oh sorry, he himself is the government, why does it fail to protect the life Malala and many others like her? Are they there to only enjoy perks and privileges on the expense of poor masses or they have any responsibility, at all? Just sounds pathetic, parties in government are claiming no responsibility and trying put the burden on the shoulders of those who have no power at all. Simply ridiculous.
These so called Ulema will never condemn Taliban because they are their ONLY hope to take them one day to Islamabad
Jiya Altaf Bhai. Only politician who actually represent us liberals. RIP PPP which now become establishment puppet. Lets hope imran will change his stance on talibanism. These Mullahs should be exposed in the public. We as a pakistani are confused nation. We dont know who our enemy is. one side we are showing support fo Malala, but on the other hand denying any action against taliban.Confused nation we are.
Expose all that are symapthetic to TTP and send them over to NWA so that they enjoy the company of their mentors.
While my thoughts and perspective on this guy cannot be repeated on a public forum, I respect him completely for his unequivocal stance in this matter....while it may be driven by his desire to marginalize a certain party in Karachi, the fact remains, his loud and clear message is refreshing and much needed.
Right thing to do.
In the recent days, this leader has been giving very sensible and courageous statements. MQM is the only party that can take on these religious parties. I have hopes that Altaf Bhai shall soon return to Pakistan as time and events are working in his favor.
hmmm I am not a huge supporter of this man but he talks sense. Non of the religious leaders said noting about Taliban ..anyone surprised? . They were quickly to react to the recent film but no one has said nothing about Talibans who kill people in the name of Islam.
brave statement by altaf hussain
Excellent! Expose them all, please.
Respects! Altaf bhai! You are really brave and outspoken
Someone is taking strong stand, unlike the Taliban Khan and Maulvi Sharif Bratheran.
Not only religious leaders , each and every leader who has not condemned the BEASTS TALIBANS for shooting Malala should be considered as "PARTNERS OF TALIBANS"
Thank you Altaf Bhai for taking firm stand. Whole Pakistan is with you.
Timely warning: Declare now either you are with Malala or Taliban.
For once I agree with his statement 100%.