Karachi, 25 February 2014: More than 100,000 people rallied in Karachi on Sunday
to call for strong military action against Islamic militants as another bomb blast
killed 13 people in the country’s northwest region, officials said.
Women,
children and members of minority communities took part in the demonstration led by
the liberal political party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, to express solidarity with
the Pakistani armed forces in their fight against Taliban insurgents.
Addressing
demonstrators by phone, the movement’s London-based leader Altaf Hussain warned that
Pakistan faced an ongoing threat from the growing menace of extremism.
"The
Taliban are a cancer for Pakistan. They are cancer for the whole of humanity," he
said. "Those responsible for endangering the security and territorial integrity of
Pakistan can never be trusted."
He cautioned policy makers and public representatives
that the Taliban are hostile toward Pakistan and will remain a threat.
A resolution
was also passed during the rally, calling on the government and security agencies
to deal with the insurgents with and iron fist. The statement strongly condemned suicide
attacks and bombings.
"Today’s gathering announces that Sikhs, Hindus, Christians
and members of other minorities are equal citizens of Pakistan," the statement read.
The
statement called for a boycott of political parties that justify the Taliban's violence.
Talks
between the government and Taliban broke down this month amid a spate of Taliban-led
attacks that left scores dead and many more injured. Source: UCAN