KARACHI, April 8: Rejecting the imposition of ‘Sharia’ and a parallel judicial system by Lal Masjid in Islamabad, Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has declared that the people of Pakistan will fully support the government if it takes on religious extremists.

“No stick- or Kalashnikov-wielding mullah has the right to tell us what is Islam. I want to tell those imposing Sharia that we are Muslims and fully prepared to resist them if they reach other cities of the country,” said Mr Hussain in a telephonic address to a public meeting held at the Jinnah Ground here on Sunday.

A large number of people, including women, attended the gathering.

The address was simultaneously relayed to gatherings held in over 20 cities and towns in the country.

Carrying portraits of the party chief, the participants raised slogans rejecting what they called the Kalashnikov Sharia and condemning religious extremism.

The focal point of Mr Hussain’s address was the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa issue.

“We do not want to fight, and we are against violence, terrorism and extremism and believe in religious tolerance. We respect all seminaries, but I want to tell those fanning hatred that people are not afraid of them and not wearing bangles,” he declared.

He said that in the presence of the Supreme Court, High Courts and other courts, the setting up of Sharia court by the religious extremists was tantamount to running a state within the state.

“Whatever is going on in the Lal Masjid in Islamabad in the name of Sharia is an open conspiracy against President Pervez Musharraf, the prime minister, the government and the 150 million people of this country,” he added.

He said that he did not know if President Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the federal cabinet were aware of the facts behind the imposition of the Kaklashnikov- and stick-wielding Sharia in Lal Masjid.

“In Pakistan, the establishment has been using Islam as a shield for its vested interests and once again a nefarious game is being played by unknown elements in the establishment, who are directly or indirectly involved in it to serve their vested interests and the interests of foreign powers,” he said.

He criticised statements given by various government functionaries that the government was giving concession in dealing with the issue of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa due to the presence of women and children there.

“Why they did not give such concession when the army launched an operation in former East Pakistan. They did not pay attention to women and children while the launching military operation in Balochistan and tribal areas. And even in 1992, they did not consider the presence of women and children when they launched the worst of army operation in urban localities of Sindh,” he said.

The MQM chief said that the people of Pakistan had unanimously rejected the stick-wielding Sharia, adding that there was immediate need for measures to avert any further damage.

He called upon the president, the prime minister, intelligence agencies and policymaking institutions representing the establishment to save the country from disaster and did not allow anyone to use the country and its people to serve the interest of any foreign power.

Mr Hussain announced holding of a rally on April 15, in Karachi to denounce the people behind the enforcement of the stick-wielding Sharia.

He said a conspiracy was being hatched to foment Shia-Sunni riots in the country on the pattern of Parachinar. He urged the people to get united to foil the conspiracy.

With regard to a possible attack on Iran, he said that no one should use the people of Pakistan against Iran.

He also appealed to genuine Ulema, lawyers, doctors and professionals to come forward and raise their voice against those enforcing their own brand of Sharia to save the country from disaster.

He paid rich tribute to organisations and individuals who had condemned the events in Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa.