KARACHI, Jan 15: Muttahida Qaumi Movement's founder Altaf Hussain has stated that the MQM will quit the government if an army operation is launched in Balochistan.

He said in an interview with a private TV channel that any extreme step taken in this regard would not be beneficial for the country and the nation.

When his attention was drawn to Balochistan government's reported request to the centre, inviting the army to intervene, Mr Hussain said that was an internal matter of the government of Balochistan.

Mr Hussain said that when an army operation was launched against the MQM in 1992 all the nationalities kept silent but the MQM would not do the same. "We can sacrifice ministries and government but will never sacrifice our principles. We are not interested in being part of a government responsible for bloodshed of innocent Baloch," he said.

Mr Hussain said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement coordination committee was in session and had recommended that the party should quit the government if an army operation was launched in Balochistan.

Replying to a question, he said: "Although we are a coalition partner and it is the responsibility of the government to consult the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on all important issues, including that of Balochistan, it has not been consulted on any such issue".

Mr Hussain said that similar justifications were used for the action in 1970 but that had resulted in the break-up of the country. He said a roundtable conference of all Baloch nationalist parties must be called to resolve the issues through sincere, peaceful and meaningful dialogue.

He declared that an army operation was not a solution to the issues. He condemned the attacks on gas fields. Addressing the Baloch protesters, he said: "We all are saddened on the oppression and cruelty that happened to our Baloch daughter".

He requested them to remain peaceful and said he had demanded that the government should hold talks with Baloch nationalist leaders and resolve the issue with mutual understanding.

Meanwhile, MQM Coordination Committee Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar told Dawn that the committee was monitoring the Balochistan situation and if it realized that things were heading towards a military action, it might consider opting out of the government.

When asked if the committee had taken a definite position on the issue, he said: "We are examining the situation and as soon as we are convinced that it is heading towards a military action, we could step out of the government".