Warning words: Altaf wants details of all clerics

MQM workers instructed to collect particulars of religious leaders within their areas.

KARACHI:

In the backdrop of the attack on peace activist Malala Yousufzai, the chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, has called on his party members to collect details of the clerics in their respective areas.

In a statement issued by the MQM on Friday, Altaf urged all office bearers, party workers and peace loving citizens across the country to submit the details of all muftis and Ulema working in their localities regardless of their sectarian affiliations with the party’s offices within a week.

The particulars of all religious leaders holding different positions and titles such as muftis, imams and khateeb would be collected at the zonal offices from where they would be consolidated and sent to the MQM headquarters Nine Zero in Karachi, the MQM chief added.

All sector and unit office bearers were instructed to note down the names and addresses of all those clerics who refuse to share their particulars so that the list of their names could be sent to the government. “The government can itself obtain the details, as it would benefit the country and its citizens,” said Altaf.

Earlier, the MQM leader appealed to the people of Pakistan to stop offering prayers behind the clerics who do not condemn the attack on the 14-year-old Pakistani children’s rights activist.

He had given a 24-hour ultimatum to all clerics of the country to openly denounce the attack on Malala Yousufzai.

MQM’s Coordination Committee member Gulfaraz Khattak telephoned the father of Malala Yousufzai and inquired about the health of his daughter on behalf of Altaf Hussain.

He also offered every possible help in the treatment of the girl.

In Rawalpindi, a ten-member delegation of the MQM visited the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and inquired about the health of the injured activist from her relatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2012.