ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah on Thursday opposed banning the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), saying the new leadership should be allowed to handle the political situation. He said that anyone showing any support for Altaf Hussain would be considered an anti-Pakistan element, as his diatribes against the country were unjustified and unacceptable. Talking to the media at the Parliament House, Khurshid Shah said he was not in favor of banning the MQM. “Let the new political leadership handle the situation, as it has distanced itself from Altaf Hussain.” He said that the new MQM should be allowed to operate, and hoped that the situation would be clear within six months. Khurshid Shah said that British High Commissioner Thomas Drew, who called on him on Wednesday, informed him that the British government had received a reference from Pakistan about Altaf Hussain that would be examined. To a question, he said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is a democratic party, and it supported democracy during the sit-ins of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT). However, he warned that if the National Assembly rejected the bill regarding Panama leaks, the united opposition might launch a movement against the government.