KARACHI, June 21: The chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, has said that no-go areas in Landhi and Korangi had been eliminated and if Haqiqi “terrorists” tried to come back, people from the whole province would come to rescue the area residents.

He was addressing a big NA-255 by-election rally of Dr Farooq Sattar on Saturday in the Landhi football ground. His address was welcomed by a display of fireworks and slogans.

Mr Hussain declared that nobody would be allowed to extract bhatta from the area residents. He said that respect to all especially women would be ensured.

He reiterated amnesty for those, who were forced to change loyalties during 1992 operations. He thanked the governor, chief minister and security agencies for removing no-go areas from Landhi, Korangi and other localities.

He assured that development work would be implemented in the area, where the people had been taken hostage by the terrorists for years. The people were informed that 17 development projects were initiated for the people of Landhi and 14 for the residents of Korangi.

Mr Hussain said that despite the rule of Haqiqis for more than 11 years, people of the area were still with him. He claimed that 1993, 97 and 2002 elections were the indicators of support for Muttahida among the people of the constituency.

Mr Hussain also lashed out at the religious parties, who he said were misguiding the people with their double standards. He accused them of abetting those SHOs, who had been patronizing terrorists during operations.

About Thal canal project, he said that it was detrimental to the interests of Sindh and it should be stopped forthwith, as it would turn the province into a desert. He appealed to the federal government to take notice of the serious concerns of the people of Sindh.

Earlier, Muttahida’s candidate Dr Farooq Sattar said that his first priority would be to eliminate the fear of terrorism from the mind of people, besides addressing their basic needs.

Deputy convener, Nasreen Jaleel, also addressed the gathering and said that the days of terrorists had been over.