July 04, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 29, 1429

KARACHI, July 3: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has expressed concern over ‘attempts to Talibanise’ Karachi and fan flames of fanaticism, sectarianism and extremism in the metropolis.

According to a statement issued after an emergency meeting of the party’s central coordination committee in London on Thursday, “the members expressed their deep concern over settlement of jihadi extremists from all over the country in Karachi through a deliberate and sustained process”.

It claimed that a conspiracy to ‘Talibanise’ Karachi had been hatched.

It alleged that the settlement of extremists was being carried out under the patronage of “certain elements of the agencies of the establishment”.

“These elements are not only illegally occupying land in different localities of Karachi but also resorting to loot and plunder, theft, kidnapping for ransom and extortion,” it said.

It said the elements were also writing sectarian slogans on the walls in different parts of the city.

The committee demanded that the government should take stern action against all groups involved in such criminal activities, especially the forces using the city as a springboard to further their extremist agenda.