22 May 2004	Saturday	02 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, May 21: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief, Altaf Hussain, on Friday slammed the MMA and PPP allegedly for conspiring to plunge the province in another vicious cycle of ethnic and sectarian strife in order to achieve their, what he called, 'diabolic agenda'.

"While the religious parties are trying to plunge Karachi into Pukhtoon-Mohajir clashes, the PPP is striving for a Sindhi-Mohajir confrontation in the interior of Sindh," remarked Mr Hussain while addressing MQM workers' general convention here via telephone.

Mr Hussain, who had been accusing Jamaat-i-Islami of being involved in the Hyderi mosque blast, reiterated the demand that the JI be disbanded for working against the national interests.

The Muttahida chief criticized the religious parties in the MMA fold for 'fomenting sectarian unrest and dissension'. While Mr Hussain was pouring scorns on the religious parties and PPP, the emotionally charged audience chanted slogans against the religious parties and leaders, particularly Qazi Hussain Ahmad of the JI.

He warned that if the JI did not mend its ways, the MQM workers might lose patience. The situation could change drastically, he added, if he allowed his followers to respond to the JI.

He, nevertheless, called his followers to remain calm and exercise restraint because the MQM stood for peace and amity with all. He observed that people had lost faith in the religious parties which, he alleged, were exploiting Islam and not addressing the problem being faced by masses.