KARACHI, April 7: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has urged people of Pakistan to remain united and prepare themselves for a struggle against “unjustifiable extremism and fanaticism in the name of Islam.”

According to a press release, Mr Hussain said this while talking to office-bearers of the party from Pakistan at the MQM International Secretariat in London on Saturday.

“People of Pakistan strongly believe in tolerance, harmony and respect for humanity and, therefore, they will not accept or allow in the ‘kalashnikovi’ Shariat,” he remarked.

He observed that over the past few days, coercion, extremism and terrorism in the name of Islam was being witnessed in Islamabad, where peaceful shopkeepers were terrorised, threatened with the acts of violence, ransacking of shops, damage to vehicles and misbehaviour with womenfolk.

“These acts are not only a sheer violation of the teachings of Allah Almighty and the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), but also bound to maligning the image of Islam,” he said.

Mr Hussain said that it is the basic responsibility of the state and the government to ensure safety and security to citizens and safeguard their life and property, as well as freedom.