KARACHI, Sept 17: The chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, said that Islam was not the monopoly of the so-called religious parties and his party was not only discharging its duties to serve mankind in accordance with the commands of Allah but also had clear stand in the light of Quran and Hadith regarding sensitive issue of life.

He was addressing members of Coordination Committee, Haq Parast representatives, members of different wings of the MQM and workers at “Nine Zero” on Saturday night, where they converged to greet him on his 53rd birthday.

The Muttahida chief said that his party had always raised voice against oppressive rulers and had always practised the Sunnah of the Ahl-i-Bait and would continue to do so in the future as well, Mr Hussain added.

He pointed out that he had started the movement at the age of 23 and dedicated over half of his life i.e. 30 years to the very cause. He said the list of trials and tribulations, hardships and tragedies in the struggle of righteousness was long and during the struggle he endured enmities, disloyalty by colleagues but due to steadfastness of the colleagues and their sacrifices the party’s message and mission was not only alive but the journey of righteousness had spread over by crossing the borders of Sindh to other parts of the country including Kashmir.

Mr Hussain, at the end prayed for the late naib nazim of Liaquatabad Town, Tasleemul Hasan Farooqui, and former Haq Parast councilor of Hyderabad late Abdul Majid Khan.