LAHORE: Notwithstanding the criticism he had to face from almost all political quarters for urging the armed forces to assume charge of the country if the rulers failed to aptly tackle the Taliban issue, MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday again called upon the army “to hold the hands of the masses” in the present situation.

He was speaking by phone at a ‘Sufi conference’ organised by his party amid tight security. Police pickets had been set up almost 1km from the venue to frisk the participants before allowing them to pass by.

Because of security reasons, even a bazaar held nearby on Sundays was not permitted to be organised this time. Walk-through security gates were set up outside the Wahdat Colony Doongi Ground.

In addition to around 1,000 police personnel, party activists manned key positions in the area while the site was checked thrice for explosives by personnel of the bomb disposal squad and sniffer dogs.

Whirling dervishes presented their performance on the occasion. Ulema from Barelvi and Shia schools of thought were in attendance. Sajjada nasheens of two known Indian shrines — Ajmer Sharif and Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia — were also present.

Delegations of the PPP, Pakistan Awami Tehreek of Dr Tahirul Qadri, All-Pakistan Muslim League and Sunni Ittehad Council joined the moot to show solidarity with the MQM against terrorists.

Urging the rulers to “come out of their confusion” and be careful in holding dialogue with the militants, Mr Hussain warned that otherwise the masses in alliance with the armed forces would be confronting the extremists. He said the situation was so grave that the army should take hand of the masses and the masses should stand by the army.

He asserted that ‘right’ decisions would be essential for improving the situation facing the country.

Stressing the need for unity among various segments of society and the political parties, he said all would have to join hands for a positive change instead of making solo flights. One had to change oneself before expecting to see a changed world.

Referring to the terrorist attacks on various shrines, the MQM chief said no religious tenet permitted such an act. He lamented that innocent people were being attacked with bombs and army men were being killed in the name of Islam.

Recalling the flogging of girls in Swat by the Taliban, he said people were meted out a cruel treatment in the name of Islam. In the federal capital too a woman lawyer with hijab had been killed by the so-called champions of Islam, he added.