July 14, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 28, 1428

KARACHI, July 13: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said that some parties and religious leaders are holding ‘illogical and unnecessary’ protests over the action taken by the government against militants holed up in the Lal Masjid-Jamia Hafsa complex.

Addressing a party meeting on telephone from London, he said the Lal Masjid administration had misused the mosque and seminary for training militants and had converted the sacred places into arms and ammunition depot, according to a press release issued here on Friday.

He said that not only civil society but ulema of various schools of thought condemned the Lal Masjid administration and rejected all their steps.

The Muttahida leader said that some political and religious parties were criticising the government for its action against the mosque militants which was regrettable. “Preaching is the right way to spread the message of Islam.”

He said that Islam did not allow anyone to target innocent citizens in the name of Islam.

Mr Hussain said that religious extremism or militancy was not the right way to spread the message of Islam. He urged upon people to adopt the way of religious harmony and moderation, instead of extremism.