25 February 2004	Wednesday	04 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, Feb 24: Political parties have widely deplored the brutal murder of two girls in Memon Goth and demanded exemplary punishment to the culprits.

The provincial chief of the Pakistan Peoples Party and the leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly, Nisar Khuhro, MPA Murad Ali Shah, Rafiq Engineer and others while condemning the murder of Hajra, 8, and Sassi Barejo, 5, termed it a failure of the government in ensuring security to the people and solving problems of people.

They held the chief minister and his government, Inspector General of Police and other officials responsible for the murders. They also criticized police officials concerned for not registering an FIR of kidnapping of the two girls.

Deploring the incident, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has decided to observe mourning day on Wednesday. The decision was taken by the MQM coordination committee in its emergent meeting here on Tuesday.

The Jamat-i-Islami leader, Sheikh Rafiq Ahmed, expressed grief and sorrow on the killings of two girls after rape and termed it barbaric and inhuman act, adds PPI.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, he said that the brutal killings showed carelessness and slackness on part of the government. Mr Rafiq said that murder, abduction and robbery had become order of the day while the provincial government was protecting criminals instead of controlling the law and order situation. He said that deteriorated law and order situation in the province, particularly in Karachi, had exposed the hollow claims of the provincial government.

The JI leader demanded that the murderers should be arrested forthwith and punished. Commenting on the Memon Goth incident, the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy stated that the provincial government had failed to protect the life and property of citizens.

The provincial chief of ARD, Zain Ansari, alleged that mere suspension of the officials involved in Memon Goth incident by the governor was meant for their protection.

"Not only the officials involved should be arrested immediately and proceeded against, but cases should also be filed against those responsible for postings of such inhuman policemen in order to assist Reti Bajri Mafia in Gadap," he demanded.

Zain Ansari also visited the parents of the girls and assured them of ARD's support in pursuit of justice. Meanwhile, the PML leader, Nisar A. Memon, expressed great shock over the ghastly act in which two innocent girls were murdered by police personnel, adds APP. "This is the time to build up society and implement the reforms brought about by President Musharraf through Police Order-2002," he said.