KARACHI - Pakistan’s sovereignty has been endangered by the growing menace of terrorism, warranting immediate measures for security of the nation.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain expressed these views while addressing a rally organised to express solidarity with the armed forces, here on Sunday. He said that the Taliban were being used to destabilise Pakistan. He said that about three years ago at a press conference in 2011, he had warned about the terrorists gaining power and influence, but the political forces did not take the matter seriously.
The MQM chief said that the USSR and the USA remained in the cold war but never came face to face while the latter exploited the Muslims of Pakistan, Gulf, European countries and others. People were brainwashed and transported to Afghanistan. On the other hand various institutes of Pakistan were also tasked and used by charitable funds, and training camps were established. International forces introduced “New World Order” after the terrorist attacks in the US, the UK and Spain, while the fall of Iraq’s dictatorship led the country to sectarian violence, he added.
Altaf pointed out the during the Saddam Hussain’s era, people were leading a very secure life. Quoting the examples of Egypt and Syria, he said that international powers kicked off proxy wars in the region by transporting militants’ wings. He further said that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia currently facing problems, and Shia-Sunni Muslims of Lebanon, the UAE, Masqat and others are experiencing sectarianism divide. International forces want to place India in a key position to play a drastic role in the region, Altaf said, adding that Islamic regions are going to witness a massive restructuring that has never been seen in the history.
In Pakistan, Taliban are making their all-out efforts to destabilise the country, he said.  “If the nation taking the notice of the current situation did not come out to save the country, Pakistan could face an irreparable loss,” he feared. He said that his party’s rally was the biggest demonstration against the Taliban who were bombing schools and slaughtering security personnel and innocent people.
Altaf said the demonstration confirmed that the nation stood by the armed forces. He said that Islam does not allow anyone to carry out barbarism that is being practised by the Taliban across the country. He said that it is not the time for creating differences with the MQM and blaming the party responsible for everything, but it the time to get united against the anti-state elements.
The MQM chief urged the PPP-led Sindh government to establish harmony among the people and accept all communities including Urdu-speaking, Sindhis, Punjabis, Pakthuns, Balochs and others as Sindhis. Reciting slogans ‘Loyal to Taliban are traitors to Pakistan’ (jo Taliban ka yaar hei wo Pakistan ka ghadaar hei), he urged the armed forces to take stern action against the Taliban, as the entire nation would stand by them.
Calling the people of Punjab to stand against the Taliban, he said how long you (the people of Punjab) will keep chasing those who made fake promises. “Time has arrived and you have to come out of your houses to demonstrate that you reject every act of terrorism,” he said.
Altaf said the MQM is the only party that staged a massive rally expressing solidarity with the armed forces. “Taliban are cancer for Pakistan and the entire humanity, and we want elimination of these uncivilised lot and murderers of humanity,” he said.  The MQM chief further condemned the recent bomb attacks on different media houses and appealed to boycott the Taliban and their supporters.
Earlier, participants of the solidarity rally approved a resolution by raising hands. The resolution stated that Taliban and Pakistan cannot coexist. The terrorists should severely be dealt with and pro-terrorism organisations should be strictly boycotted. “We term the acts of terrorism as un-Islamic,” MQM leader Hyder Abbas Rizvi said, adding, “We pay tributes to all the martyrs who lost their lives in terror attacks.”
MQM deputy convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, addressing the participants said that the time has arrived to make decision “to choose or lose“.
“On one side, we have the dream of Allama Iqbal and on the other side, nightmares. We have to choose one as education stands on the one side and bombing and barbarism on the other. We salute our armed forces and stand shoulder to shoulder with them,” he added. Taliban has defamed Islam worldwide and MQM chief Altaf Hussain was the first leader who notified the Talibanisation, he said, adding that his party’s gathering has given a message that the people wanted Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan instead of “the Kalashnikov Sharia”.
MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari said, “We are out here to express our anti-terrorism stance, while it is a wakeup call to get united against the barbarism of the so-called Islamist groups.” He said that the Taliban supporters are also terrorists.
AMPL, MWM, PML-N, PAT, PPP and other political parties’ leaders and workers were also present on the occasion. Various religious clerics and scholars belonging to different schools of thought also took part in the rally. PPP leader Najmi Alam demanded the federal government take stern action against the Taliban instead of wasting time in peace talks.
MWM leader Ali Hassan Naqvi said, “We reject the Sharia of Mullah Umar and demand the government take action against the banned outfits.” PML-N leader Nihal Hashmi also spoke on the occasion.