Altaf asks allies to take out peace rallies

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: MQM chief Altaf Hussain said on Sunday that his party workers, along with Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Q and other coalition political parties, "are ready to take out public protest rallies".

This he said during his telephonic address from London to a mammoth gathering of 'Solidarity of Democracy' rally, organised by MQM at Tibet Centre, on M A Jinnah Road, against use of unethical language by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for President Asif Ali Zardari.

He urged the leaders of all coalition political parties to organise peace rallies throughout the country to foil the conspiracies of the anti-democratic elements.

The MQM chief said that the country is passing through a critical juncture of history and confronting with internal and external threats.

He said that today's rally is for 'No Sharif Brothers, No', adding that MQM and its coalition partners are not getting afraid by 'paper tigers'. He added that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, instead of talking about government corruption, should just provide justice to Ayesha Ahad Malik first. Altaf Hussain asked the Sharif brothers to wait for their turn till next general election of 2013.

He urged the leaders of PPP and ANP to sit together and resolve the matters through discussion, as the country is passing through a critical phase of history.

He appealed to the President and the Prime Minister to recruit employees in Pakistan Railways (PR), Pakistan International Airline (PIA) and Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) on merit, so that these institutions could be made profitable.

He thanked the leaders of PPP and PML-Q for participating in the rally. PPP delegation comprised Mazhar-ul-Haq, Siraj Durrani, Waqar Mendhi, Taj Haider, Najmi Alam, ND Khan and Sharmilla Furuqi. PML-Q delegation comprised Haleem Adil and Shahrayar Khan.

MQM Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar and Ashfaque Mangi, PPP leaders ND Khan, Mazhar-ul-Haq and Siraj Durrani, and Haleem Adil from PML-Q also spoken on the occasion. MQM workers and sympathisers participated in the rally in groups, bearing party flags. A welcome camp and medical camp were set up at Naumaish roundabout for the convenience of rally participants. Rangers, police and MQM party workers were deputed on security duty at different spots and the roof of various buildings from Quaid's Mausoleum roundabout to Tibet Centre.