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‘Opp supporters provoked violence’

In an interview with the UK-based Daily Telegraph Tuesday, Altaf Hussain insisted that his party, the MQM, had held a “completely peaceful gathering” and that it was opposition supporters who had provoked the violence, in which at least nine MQM activists were killed. Followers of Hussain, 53, whose MQM is allied to President Pervez Musharraf’s government, were accused of playing a bloody part in the clashes with opposition supporters. “It was a completely peaceful gathering by MQM supporters that was targeted by a collaboration of three other parties.” He said he had called for peace. He claimed on Monday that his party is the only force to stand up for secular values in Pakistan. “MQM is the only party against all sorts of religious fanaticism in Pakistan,” he said. “It is these groups and their influence, which is all around, that is stopping me coming home. A sizeable majority of the army even have been brainwashed to supporting what the Taliban wants to impose.” Hussain, who spent part of yesterday speaking on the telephone to Gen. Musharraf, warned Pakistan’s leader not to make any deals with exiled leaders, such as his rival Benazir Bhutto, that would see the military ruler resign from the army. Pakistan faces a referendum on Gen. Musharraf’s rule before the end of the year and he has promised to abandon his uniform before the poll. “The situation in South Asia does not allow Pervez Musharraf to take off his uniform, for without it he will have no power at all. Because of activities next door in Afghanistan as well as our own country, the Taliban is growing very strong,” Hussain said. “He is doing his level best to fight these groups. Musharraf is a very brave man. Only he can prevent the Talibanisation of Pakistan.” Unlike former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Bhutto, Hussain is an exile whose party has consolidated its grip. But Karachi remains tense. The MQM’s most senior leader in Pakistan, Farooq Sattar admitted that his party’s image had been tarnished by “accusations of fascism and terrorism” but said this was a “misperception”.

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