QUETTA, Aug 20: Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain on Saturday appealed to people in Balochistan to get rid of ‘hypocrite religious elements’ to curb sectarianism and hatred in society.

Speaking over telephone from London to party workers at Millat Hall here, the MQM chief said ‘mullahs’ had been rooted out by people of Karachi.

He said the MQM would back the just struggle of Balochistan’s people against oppressors and exploiters.

He held the leaders of religious groups responsible for sectarianism and accused them of dividing Muslims in the country to gain political power by promoting extremism and hatred in the name of Islam.

The MQM chief lauded the people of Karachi for rejecting the religious groups and urged the Balochistan people to defeat the retrogressive elements.