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| 11 March 2004 | Thursday | 19 Muharram 1425 |
Sindh in grip of protests
KARACHI, March 10: Widespread protests were reported from all parts of Sindh on Wednesday, during which the government was bitterly criticized over the killing of PPP MPA Abdullah Murad
, breakdown of law and order and systematic undermining of democratic institutions and culture.
In Karachi, the Pakistan Peoples Party and other opposition parties staged a sit-in outside the Sindh assembly, despite police barricades, and castigated the government for the murder of the sitting MPA.
The protesters held Gen Pervez Musharraf and the provincial government responsible for the murder and demanded death of killers. They were also highly critical of Muttahida leadership for what they called "irresponsible" statements and levelling false allegations against the PPP.
On the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday, PPP activists held protest rallies throughout Sindh. Meanwhile, Sindh Assembly speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah has summoned the session of the provincial assembly on March 19 on a requisition of the opposition.
People break LEA barriers, stage sit-in at PA building: PPP's protest day
KARACHI, March 10: Despite police barricades and other obstructions, enraged activists of the PPP and other opposition parties staged a sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly building on Wednesday, castigating the government for the killing of a PPP MPA, Abdullah Murad.
The protesters held General Pervez Musharraf and the provincial government responsible for the MPA's killing and demanded capital punishment for the killers.
Heavy deployment of law-enforcement agencies was witnessed in many parts of the city, especially around the Sindh Assembly and in the adjoining areas. All roads leading to the venue of the sit-in had been blocked with huge containers, water tankers and other vehicles.
Deputy Secretary of the Sindh Assembly, Mujeeb Ahmad Junejo, in a letter addressed to the DIG Operations, had requested stringent security in and around the assembly building saying: "if the crowd, which may include MNAs/MPAs, tries to enter in the building, necessary force may be used as it has been informed through unknown telephone calls that they will cause damage to the assembly building."
However, the protesters carrying flags and beating chest broke through the barricades and managed to reach the assembly building. They force their way into the building and hoisted party flags in the corridor, and banners on the main gate. They, however, did not cause any damage as was apprehended in the deputy secretary's letter.
The protesters, including MMA MPAs and activists of the ARD component parties, ANP and PDP, demanded removal of the provincial government. Addressing the protesters, PPP Sindh chief and leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmad Khuhro described Abdullah Murad's killing as 'an attack on democratic dispensation' and said it was a warning to those political forces which were pursuing politics of unity among people.
He called for an all parties conference to deliberate upon the dangerous situation which, he believed, had developed owing to a conspiracy hatched by some elements to plunge the province into another ethnic bloodbath. The plot, he alleged, was to distract attention from the real issues, such as the NFC, water, nuclear programme and the country's sovereignty.
He urged all democratic forces to join hands in chalking out the future strategy for foiling the jingoistic plan of the dictatorial regime. Mr Khuhro was critical of the allegations levelled against the PPP by MQM chief and declared that the PPP would not be cowed down by such threats.
He demanded of Gen Musharraf to explain that why had he imposed on Sindh the elements who did not believe in peace and respect.
The PPP leader slammed the government for not registering the FIR which the deceased MPA's relatives had wanted to lodge. "The denial speaks volumes about the government's intentions."
He also criticized Speaker of the Sindh Assembly for not summoning the House earlier and fixing the session on the last mandatory day. An urgent sitting was demanded by the opposition because it wanted to expose the culprits in Mr Murad's killing and discuss his killing as well as the breakdown of law and order in the province, he added.
Mr Khuhro declared that the PPP would not stop the struggle until the culprits were punished. PML-N leader Mamnoon Hussain, a former governor, demanded of the judiciary to take suo motu notice of the MPA's killing and the government's refusal to register the FIR as desired by his relatives.
He claimed that Mr Murad had been killed because he was trying to expose the killers of two young girls of Gadap. PPP leader Syed Qaim Ali Shah deplored 'threats' and false allegations against PPP, and said that people wouldn't be tamed by such threats from the elements within the government.
Describing the MPA's killing as a 'well-conceived conspiracy', he said: "We have faced jails and Martial Laws ... and we have the ability to deal with terrorists, too."
Makhdoom Jameeluz Zaman of the PPP, condemning the killing, alleged that the whole system was being managed from the Governor House to foster a particular party's agenda. "If someone is planning to capture the MPA's seat by eliminating him, he is sadly mistaken," he remarked, andsaid that if the party so decided, he would contest for the vacant seat.
Nasrullah Shaji of Jamaat-i-Islami called for a common stand against those who were pursuing politics of terror and bloodbath. He alleged that Gen Musharraf was playing with the destiny of the country by installing such elements at the helm of the affairs. Killing of political opponents, he remarked, amounted to state terrorism.
Sardar Rahim and Salim Zia of PML-N also deplored the killing and called for a joint struggle. They claimed that the ARD had exposed traitors. Others to addressed the protesters included Prof N. D. Khan, Rashid Rabbani, Muzaffar Shujra, Rafiq Engineer, Nuzhat Pathan, Sajid Jokhio and Sassi Palejo and others.
Before staging the four-hour sit-in, a large number of activists, including women, gathered at the Arts Council roundabout at around 2:30pm and raised slogans against the Gen Musharraf, Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali, Sindh government, MQM and Altaf Hussain.
Some of the protesters had to be taken to hospital when they fainted due to exhaustion. Police and Rangers had reportedly clamped an 'unannounced curfew' in many areas, including Lyari, Chakiwara, Lea Market, Kalakot and Malir, and resorted to baton-charge on PPP activists.
Some PPP MPAs accused police of using brutal force and resorting to crackdown in Lyari, Safoora Goth, Malir and adjoining areas to prevent people from joining in the sit-in.
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