ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE SHOULD BE CONVENED OVER DRONE STRIKES: ALTAF HUSSAIN

LONDON: 22nd APRIL 2011

The Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has deplored and strongly condemned the drone strike in North Waziristan and express his profound grief and sorrow over the death of innocent children, women and several other people in the attack. He said that the drone strikes inside Pakistan in the name of war against terror and the killings of innocent people are in fact an attack on the security and sovereignty of the country and cannot be justified by any reasoning. He regretted that the drone strikes and the consequent deaths of innocent people continue unabated despite strong protests by the public.

Mr Altaf Hussain called upon the government and the military leadership to convene a round table conference in order to arrive at a final decision regarding the drone strikes. He said that all the religious and political parties, chiefs of armed forces and heads of institutions responsible for the national security should be invited to this conference and a decisive line of action of should be adopted in the light of their opinions in the larger national interest.

Mr Altaf Hussain further said that a public referendum should be held in order to know the opinion of the public about drone strikes so that the decision taken by the public, government and the army should be implemented in letter and spirit. He also made a passionate appeal to the religious and political parties to sink their political and ideological differences for this grave national issue and arrive at a consensus decision.

Mr Altaf Hussain expressed his heartfelt condolences over the death of children, women and other people in the drone strikes.