KARACHI, Dec 1: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s leader, Altaf Husain, said on Sunday there were reports that the government was trying to eliminate “no-go” areas, but cautioned the party activists to remain vigilant that such effort was not sabotaged by disruptive elements and the objective might not be achieved for several years.

Speaking to the Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation’s (KKF) annual gathering for distribution of essential items among the needy and the poor, Mr Husain advised his supporters to avoid clash, and emphasized that violence would not solve the problems and misery of the affected people.

The KKF chief, Shaikh Liaquat Husain, said items worth more than Rs17.5 million were distributed among the needy from all walks of life and from various ethnic groups and provinces.

Mr Husain declared amnesty for those people who had joined the Haqiqis under duress and visited their offices just to make their attendance. He advised his supporters to ensure that despite differences no one belonging to the rival faction should be victimized. He said ideological difference did not mean that one should attack homes of the rivals.

Mr Husain said when General Pervez Musharraf had promised to eliminate the “no-go” areas the MQM had welcomed the gesture and its senior leaders and activists visited those areas. But to utter their surprise Haqiqi activists indulged in alleged terrorist activities. In order to avoid clash the Muttahida pulled out of those areas because it had desired that law-enforcement agencies would do their work and the Muttahida would be allowed to do its job in those areas.

He said the Muttahida did not believe in the politics of confrontation, and advised his supporters to be vigilant against agent provocateurs and report the matter to their respective offices, if they spot any such elements.

Deputy convener of the MQM Dr Farooq Sattar rejected the perception that the party had deviated from its manifesto by focusing on the “no-go” areas, instead of solving the problems being faced by the people on the basis of which it was elected.

He said by eliminating the “no-go” areas the MQM was striving for a stable political dispensation in the province, which was not possible due to premature removal of governments in 1990, 93, and 97.

The MQM also rejected the perception as misleading that it was using the current situation as a ploy to get concessions.