KARACHI: Chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain has said that political parties should continue their protests against drone attacks until the government decides and announces to shoot them down, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to a delegation of party members from Pakistan and members of MQM’s Coordination (Rabita) Committee in London, Hussain said the parties protesting against drone strikes should also declare ‘jihad’ against terrorist organisations like Al Qaeda, Taliban and other banned organisations adding that, that is when his party would join them in their protests.

The MQM chief moreover demanded that Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf Pakistan (PTI), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) should immediately declare that in case of another drone attack instead of holding rallies and sit-ins and protesting on governmental level, they would protest in front of President’s House, Prime Minister House, General Head Quarters (GHQ), all headquarters of the armed forces, and the embassies and high commissions of US, Britain and Nato member states until death. These protests should continue until the government orders the armed forces to immediately shoot down any drone(s) entering Pakistani territory borders, he said.

Hussain also offered that the MQM would join such widespread protests if they were to take place.

The MQM chief said despite all the protests, drone attacks were still happening and that the time had come “to demand the shooting down” of these drones.

On Nov 24, Hussain had said that if the government and armed forces of Pakistan fail to stop terrorism, citizens would be justified in declaring ‘jihad’ in order to defend themselves.