KARACHI, May 2: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has blamed “religious extremists” of Lal Masjid, Jamia Hafsa and Jamia Fareedia for the suicide attack in Charsadda, saying they had threatened to carry out suicide attacks across the country.

According to an MQM press release, Mr Hussain called Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Wednesday and assured him of his party’s cooperation in efforts by the government to eradicate the menace of extremism and terrorism from the country.

Without naming the Pakistan Muslim League and its president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the MQM leader criticised the top leadership of the ruling party and said that instead of taking action against those threatening to carry out suicide attacks, they were supporting these fanatics and trying to prove them innocent.

One section of the ruling party, he said, was openly supporting the extremists.