KARACHI: Condemning the Taliban school of thought, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar said that the attack on Malala Yousufzai was the final wake up call for the people of Pakistan.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday in Karachi, Sattar said the Taliban are not just terrorising people in the name of Islam but are also trying to prevent Pakistanis from acquiring an education.
Quoting the sayings of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), the MQM leader said the Holy Quran and the prophet (pbuh) stressed the importance of education for both men and women.
He warned that countries that are not equipped with education and modern technology cannot prosper.
“Nations that lack advancement are dependent on other countries,” he said.
Pakistan’s Talibanisation
Farooq reminded the audience of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain’s warning against Talibanisation of Pakistani cities particularly Karachi few years back.
“Sadly, political and religious leaders, intellectuals, journalists did not take his warning seriously and accused him of spreading fear,” he said.
He said that now the Supreme Court of Pakistan has taken notice of this issue and asked authorities to take appropriate action.
Quaid’s Pakistan
Highlighting the need of rebuilding Pakistan according to Quaid-e-Azam’s vision, Sattar said that the founder’s August 11 speech speaks volumes of the kind of country he intended to build.
“He [Muhammad Ali Jinnah] never wanted to create a theocratic country, he wanted to build a liberal, secular nation,” Sattar stated.
The deputy convener said the people of Pakistan need to decide whether they will allow Taliban to impose a lifestyle on them which is against the ideals of the founder of the country.
“Taliban are blowing up schools, attacking security officers, not accepting our constitution; they are a threat to Pakistan’s survival, they are trying to build a state within a state” he said.
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Wake Up Pakistan My Vote Is For Jinnah's Pakistan Bcoz I Want Pakistan As A Liberal & Progressive State, Where Every1 Have Right To Speak Without Any Fear
Thanks MQM
We want Jinnah's Pakistan but not the MQM's version, BTW Altaf Bhai himself called separation the biggest mistake and asked Indians to give us urdu speaking people refuge if we have to migrate again
keeping everything aside army operation is the need of the hour in Karachi.
we should eliminate all taliban, even if we have to use every and all military equipment
@ amjad making laws and implementing laws are two different things. There are 72 types of Islamic laws (72 sects). Which laws you want to make. Decide first.
The problem with a statement like this is not its substance, which is irrefutable. The problem arises from the perceived lack of ability of the government of which the MQM is a part, to do something meaningful about it.
I request to Imran Khan to please save the people of karachi and should send names of candidates for upcoming elections...we want change not MQM.
MQM is the only party who is taking the Taleban head on but the rest are totally silent and are too afraid to speak against the TTP. The religious parties and PTI are as such Taleban's apologists so they don't matter at all in the war against terrorism. I am afraid that Qaid's ideology quoted by the right minded leaders is no longer relevant in Pakistan as same has been replaced by late Zia's fanaticism which appears to be irreversible as of now. The people of Pakistan who are suffering at the terrorists day in and out are now resigned to their fate as nobody is coming to their rescue. That leaves only one institution in Pakistan the military who can still save the country from the coming disaster which appears to be imminent. Kayani who praised Malala no ends, describing her bravery as a source of strength for his men to fight terrorism in the country suddenly appears to be disinterested now as operations in NW have been postponed or can be considered as shelved and no ground operations have been launched against Taleban except for some insignificant air-strikes. What is the military waiting for as innocent people are getting killed by Taleban at regular intervals and forty thousand have already been brutally murdered by these barbarians ? How could seven thousand Talebans enter Karachi without being detected by the intelligence agencies ? Are the military and intelligence agencies totally unaccountable to the civilian govt for their failure to control terrorism even though billions of dollars have been spent and can be considered as wasted on war against terrorism ? Is the civilian govt also not responsible for the current situation by shamelessly defending the military in OBL fiasco and as well as their failure to defeat the TTP ? Is the military waiting for a total anarchy in Pakistan to take over the reigns of the country ?
How many wakeup calls Pakistan or it's people need, MQM itself was/is wakeup call but people are still sleeping.
disagree jinnah wanted a democratic state he knew majority of the population in pakistan is muslim hence they would not make any law which is against quran and sunnah
MQM only party in Pakistan that has had the guts to openly take on the Taliban. Bravo Mr Farooq Sattar. You are a voice of sanity amidst all this madness.
The question is when will MQM leadership will wake up? MQM and its allies needs to first cleanse their own acts and hearts. Because of MQM and its allies childish behaviour militants have gained stronghold in Karachi and Sindh.
It is high time that these so called liberals and democrats should not fool themselves and score political points rather geinuinely work together by eliminating such laws that promotes militant attitude. Starting with joint electorate in up coming elections and then breaking the back of Mullahism by amending laws that promotes intolerance.
@Najeeb-ur-Rehman: You're mistaken. There are Taliban in KHI and it's a major source of revenue for them
Truly the only party who have the guts & courage to stand up against these terrorists & thugs who are out to destroy Pakistan. Altaf Hussain & MQM the whole country support you. High time that other political parties learn something from MQM.
Leave the KPK issue with their elected representatives and do something for Karachi for which you got the "mandate" as now city is in worst crisis.
Rebuilding Pakistan as per Quaid dream didn't your leader called it the biggest mistake in history?
And so are you in name of liberalism.
God Bless MQM, the only party with the guts to stand up to the terrorists.
What about thousands of killed in drone attacks, target killings, bomb blasts..rapes, robbery, rampant street crime and so on?? That meant nothing?
And you woke up now??
this statement is a breath of fresh air.
In 64 years of political history of the Pakistan. It has been it mostly bring down and given bad name by the politics, politics and their self-centered agenda……Taliban came to know just recently while the political history is almost 60 years old. The rates of corruption, injustice, killing, blame game, power politics, dishonesty, self-made political cases and jails, making fool of innocent nation by the name of ethnicity, group, party etc. are the real values and moral history of the Pakistan Politics. The Political history of Pakistan is full of dishonesty and lack of true and real leadership. Blaming Taliban for the bad name and propaganda war and one side media propagation is totally unjustified and great lie. The role of Pakistan political parties along with support of establishment has been brought the day crisis in the country. Hence the responsibility of Pakistan destruction goes to the role of politics, political parties along with some blind hidden forces. Thus don’t make the people fool for next 64 years.