Talks with Taliban: Altaf urges govt to take nation on board

Cautions govt against making decisions and advises consensual politics.

LAHORE:

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday said government should take all stakeholders on board over peace dialogue with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“I do not want to say anything about the government over [the issue of dialogue with Taliban] but it should be careful in this regard and take all stakeholders on board,” he said, addressing a Sufi Conference, organised by the MQM on Sunday.



Altaf Hussain said he wanted to see the army and people of Pakistan united on the issue. “It has become the matter of the survival of Pakistan –a matter affecting 20 crore people and their children,” he said, adding that if the nation did not change its attitude, it would to face a great loss.

The MQM chief said he wanted Pakistan, Islam and the prosperity of every citizen. “I want to come to Pakistan to serve Pakistani people,” he added.

He said no Pakistani wanted anything contrary to Islam in the Constitution of Pakistan. “However, the meaning of Islam is peace,” he said, adding that killing of children, youth and old men by attacking worship places was beyond Islamic injunctions.

Altaf also condemned the terror attack at Islamabad courts, and expressed sorrow over the death of the 23-year-old woman advocate, who had just returned from the UK to practice as a lawyer.

He said he could not understand what happened to the rulers and politicians of Pakistan who were against ‘one Altaf who is already facing thousands of allegations’.

“I want to end hatred from Pakistan and am holding the conference for this very purpose. Islam spread with the lives of Sufis and not through the sword,” he said, adding that one should feel ashamed by introducing himself as a Muslim and acting like a Satan.

He prayed for unity among armed forces and people of Pakistan and urged the government to ensure security and sanctity of shrines. He said after seeing such successful gatherings, everyone felt that the message of Altaf Hussain had won over Punjab. He also recited from the poetry of Bullay Shah and Sultan Bahu.

The MQM Coordination Committee member Khalid Mahmood Siddiqi, Allama Tanvirul Haq Thanvi, Allama Abbas Kumaili, Allama Jamil Rathore, Sahibzada Ahmed Masood Chishti, caretaker of the shrine of Hazrat Nizamudin Aolia in Dehli Sahibzada Nazim Ali Nizami, and Sajjada Nasheen Shah Abdul Latif Bhattai’s shrine Sayed Raza Shah were among other speakers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2014.