KARACHI, Nov 8: Muttahida Quami Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said the federal and provincial governments have failed in their duty to curb terrorism and to adopt effective measures for protecting the life and property of the people.

He advised them to explain their difficulties openly and relinquish power voluntarily if they are helpless to protect the people.

He was speaking to the co-ordination committee, elected representatives and office-bearers of various wings of the MQM on telephone at Nine Zero, according to an MQM press release issued on Thursday.

Addressing the people of Pakistan who believe in mutual co-existence, particularly the people of Karachi and the rest of Sindh, Mr Hussain said that he had been warning that the Taliban were establishing themselves in Karachi in an organized manner by securing their footholds in various parts of the city.