Altaf turns 60: MQM chief questions talks with Taliban

For Altaf’s birthday, his pictures were displayed and balloons and white doves were released amid fireworks.

KARACHI:

Chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has requested the prime minister to ponder over the decision of holding talks with the Taliban and keep the current situation in mind.

“Will we keep picking bodies of our soldiers as the militants go on increasing their demands,” Altaf Hussain as he addressed a crowd on his 60th birthday at the Jinnah ground on Tuesday.

For Altaf’s birthday, a stage with spotlights and a screen displaying his pictures was set up and balloons and white doves were released amid fireworks.

“The government should hold talks with the Taliban, but it should also consider the terrorist activities of the militants and consider at what expense it wants to hold dialogue,” he said.

Paying tribute to Major General Sanaullah Niazi and others killed in Upper Dir, he said that the deaths were a big loss for the country and the Pakistan Army.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2013.