Altaf 'salutes' army as MQM holds rally supporting armed forces

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday evening supported the Zarb-i-Azb operation and said that he "salutes" the endeavors of the Pakistan army, DawnNews reported. The MQM chief was addressing a rally held by his party to show solidarity with the army. Speaking to participants, including political workers and citizens, via video-link from London, the MQM chief said that the entire nation is behind the army in the Zarb-i-Azb operation in North Waziristan which is weeding out terrorists. "The terrorists want to enforce their version of the sharia using Klashnikov and swords. To destroy a country, seeds of hatred are sown," he said. During the speech, Altaf said that the people of Pakistan must show unity during the ongoing operation. He further lauded the sacrifices of soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation. The MQM chief said that his party wants to establish a society where everyone has equal rights and religious freedom regardless of the faith they followed. He further stressed that MQM wants a 'real democratic' setup in the country. All help should be provided to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have had to flee North Waziristan in the aftermath of the operation, he stressed. Referring to former president General (retd) Pervez Musharaf's case, the said that Article 6 is not just one, but rather it has section A, B and C too. All those who supported Musharraf must be taken to task as well, he said. Members of other religious and political parties also attended the rally, including representatives from the PML-N, PPP, APML and PML-F. Veteran politician and Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) minister Rubina Qaimkhani also attended the rally and addressed the participants.