LONDON, June 14: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has offered "unconditional cooperation" to all political forces if they evolved a pragmatist approach to help the country face the current daunting challenges.

Speaking at the 26th foundation day of the All-Pakistan Mohajir Students' Organization here late Sunday night, he said that the MQM was ready to extend such a cooperation for "saving the country" provided the political forces worked out a strategy to deal with the current difficult situation keeping in view the ground realities in the country.

The participants approved a resolution in this regard by raising their hands. Altaf Hussain said that the MQM was ready to "shake hands" with all its political opponents, including former Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and PPP chairperson and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

He said all of us should tolerate one another in the larger interest of the country. Altaf Hussain said that President Pervez Musharraf took a right decision of backing the international community in its war against terrorism.

He lashed out at the religious parties and said they were misleading the innocent people in the name of Jehad and Islam. The MQM chief said that the "religious clerics" wanted to spoil the law and order situation in Karachi by holding strikes following the killing of Maulana Shamzai.

Why protest rallies were not held in the NWFP, the late Maulana's home-town, and other places as the late Maulana had followers throughout the country? he questioned. -APP