KARACHI: Altaf urges followers to remain calm on Sept 9
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Sept 7: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has advised his followers to remain calm on Sept 9, as the opposition has called for a nationwide strike on that day.
Addressing the MQM coordination committee here by telephone from London, Mr Hussain said that maintaining calm on that day was necessary to frustrate the opposition’s “conspiracy to destroy peace and law and order.”
Mr Hussain criticized religious parties, saying: “On the one hand, they are enjoying the fruits of power, and on the other, they are protesting against the government. If they are really serious, they should opt out of the government before giving a call for strike.”
Mr Hussain also slammed the ARD component parties and said their decision to join in the protest had proved that they were only interested in powers by any means.
He appealed to all ethnic and minority communities to maintain calm and not to react to provocation.
After 9/11 and 7/7 events, the international situation was changing rapidly, he said, advising the opposition parties to confine their protests to the assemblies. He regretted that the opposition had chosen “the option of violence for the implementation of the agenda of the country’s enemies.”
