KARACHI, Oct 30: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has demanded a swift and impartial inquiry into the military operation on Sunday-Monday night in Bajaur Agency, bordering Afghanistan, which left about 80 people dead. The pre-dawn attack on a madressah was dubbed by the Pakistan army as an Al Qaeda-linked militant sanctuary.

Expressing grief over the loss of lives, Mr Hussain said the killing of 70-80 people was not an ordinary incident, adding that neither the parliament nor the people had been taken into confidence before carrying out the operation.

Mr Hussain, whose party is a part of the ruling coalition in the Centre, noted that the attack had been carried out on the day when a peace deal was to be concluded in Bajaur Agency on the pattern of the one formalised in North Waziristan.

BLOOD DONATION: Expressing concern over the increasing number of people getting infected with viral haemorrhagic fever, including dengue, Mr Hussain asked his party workers and supporters to proceed to the Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation headquarters in large numbers and donate blood for the patients.

In a separate statement issued from London, he asked MQM workers, legislators and local government members to hold corner meetings in their respective areas to educate people on preventive and curative measures.