KARACHI, July 15: Founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Altaf Hussain on Friday asked the government to take action against all those madressahs which promoted terrorism in the name of jihad. In a statement, he strongly condemned last week’s London blasts and appealed to President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to “immediately disband all such madressahs which promote terrorism in the name of jihad” in the country because these jihadi organizations were not only committing acts of terrorism in Pakistan but also exporting their ideology of terrorism and hatred to other countries.

He also appealed to leaders of jihadi outfits not to brainwash innocent youth in the name of Islam and send them to different countries to carry out suicide attacks.

The Muttahida chief said it was shocking to learn that three of those involved in the London bombings were Britons of Pakistani origin. He said similar acts had been taking place in Pakistan for many years where places of worship had been targeted.

Mr Hussain said jihadi outfits had put the lives of millions of peace-loving Pakistanis at risk by their acts and maintained that such institutions which promoted terrorism in the name of Islam should be immediately disbanded or merged with regular schools, colleges and universities.