KARACHI, June 10: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain strongly condemned the ambush on the motorcade of Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat on Thursday morning and blamed religious extremists for the attack.
In a statement issued from London, Mr Hussain claimed that the attack was the work of the same group of religious extremists, who were involved in the attacks on President General Pervez Musharraf.
These elements, he alleged, were also responsible for other terrorist activities, including attacks on foreign diplomats, Masjid Hydri, Imambargah Ali Raza, Rangers' mobiles, besides killings during the May 12 by-elections and several bomb blasts in the city.
The MQM leader had in the past accused the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, particularly the Jamaat-i-Islami, of complicity in the earlier terrorist attacks. While expressing condolences to the families of the deceased he also prayed for the early recovery of those injured in this terrorist attack.
Mr Hussain urged President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali and DG, ISI, General Ehsan, to take serious notice of rising terrorism in the country. It should also be investigated as to who was supplying them (terrorists) latest automatic weapons and explosives in such a large quantity, he demanded, asking that how these terrorists were reaching Karachi safely with all these weapons from the far flung areas of the country.
"These religious parties are pushing the country towards Talibanization. Even today these religious extremists are also running the Madaris, engaged in training youths for Talibanization and promoting religious extremism," Mr Hussain said.
He pointed out that these 'fanatics' had even more modern weapons and explosives than those used by the army and in huge quantities, and they had the ability to use them with perfection.
"Obviously, these religious fanatics have the patronage of forces within the country, that is why they are in a position to easily move with lethal weapons up and down the country.
As it is now abundantly clear that these religious extremists have full cooperation of 'powers' within the country, so it is vital that along with those who carried out the attacks, the elements who are aiding the terrorists should also be apprehended and punished," he stressed.
Mr Hussain stated that the constant systematic attacks on the president and the recent one on Karachi corps commander were a clear indication that there were 'organized groups' within the forces and intelligence agencies, who were patronizing the terrorists, which was not a good omen for the country's security.
He called upon the president, prime minister, ISI chief General Ehsan and other civil and military officials, not to delay in tracing the culprits "within defence and intelligence agencies" to safeguard the solidarity and integrity of the country and the dignity of these institutions.
Mr Hussain said that if the situation was not taken seriously, the lives of President Gen Musharraf and his close confidants were in real danger. "Today's attack on corps commander is a proof of this fact," he added.
He urged the intellectuals, journalists and human right activists to keep the public fully informed about the factual situation in the country. He also spoke to Corps Commander Gen Hyat and inquired about his wellbeing and assured him of his partly's full cooperation.
