Altaf cautions govt on talks with Taliban

LAHORE: MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday warned the ruling PML-N government to carefully handle peace dialogue with the Taliban militants, as the country’s future will be at stake if the issue of terrorism stayed unresolved. In a telephonic address from London to a crowded Sufi conference at Doongi Ground on Wahdat Road, Altaf said terrorists had no religion. He said targeting innocent people and ‘namazis’ belonging to any sect couldn’t be justified. Altaf said Islam spread in the subcontinent due to the efforts of the Sufis who always taught love and tolerance to people. On the other hand, he said the terrorists were killing innocent people in the name of Islam. He said Shariah never allowed anyone to attack the shrines of saints. Condemning terrorist incidents, he said extremists beheaded soldiers, attacked Malala Yousafzai, murdered a woman lawyer and flogged innocent girls. Altaf said all these incidents clearly reflect a mindset that had nothing to do with Islam, as it always preaches love, tolerance and brotherhood. He said the Holy Quran had ordered Muslims to fight against cruel elements. He read out verses of Baba Bulleh Shah and thanked the Punjab Government for its cooperation in the holding of the conference.