KARACHI, March 19: The opposition members of provincial assembly on sizzling Friday marched towards Governor's House to condemn government's failure in arresting the killers of sitting MPA Abdullah Murad.

The MPAs started the protest march after the Friday's assembly session while admitting adjournment motion of leader of the opposition Nisar Khuhro to deliberate on Abdullah Murad's murder and its ramifications.

The members of provincial assembly wearing black arm bands staged a sit-in on the stairs of the assembly building entrance. They chanted slogans against the government and demanded arrest of the killers. They were also carrying photographs of the slain MPA and placards inscribed with slogans deploring political victimization.

The MPAs, escorted by detachments of police and paramilitary Rangers, later marched towards the Governor's House. Addressing the protesters outside the well-guarded Governor's House, MPA Nisar Khuhro alleged that the government had not made any effort to arrest the killers of Abdullah Murad.

Terming the murder an attack on the assembly and democratic dispensation, Nisar Khuhro contended that it was the question of assembly's integrity as its members were being targeted but no arrests were made.

He said, "The home department belongs to your (governor's) party. Why don't you ask them as to why the killers of Abdullah Murad were still not caught?" he remarked.

Moreover, Nisar Khuhro alleged that the chief minister was a prisoner and demanded removal of the government. He said that Abdullah Murad had campaigned for exposing the killers of Hajra and Sassi, the two rape victims, and was determined to bring justice to them. He was also very vocal against the Kalabagh dam and the Greater Thal canal projects, said Mr Khuhro.

Leader of the opposition claimed that Abdullah Murad was among those who had vigorously protested against the theft of sand and gravel from Malir river. Due to his unremitting protest against prejudice, Abdullah Murad had been given death threats many times, he pointed out.

Deploring the government for not registering the FIR of Abdullah Murad's relatives, Nisar Khuhro said that despite such fascist tactics and atrocities moral of the party would not be weakened. He held the government accountable for the killing and said, "We want Gen Musharraf and the government to explain why he (Abdullah Murad) was killed."

He said that the murder was a part of the regime's policy of eliminating the voice of dissent, if necessary, by force, and installing its cronies through manipulated bye-elections. Mr Khuhro said the people had understood the regime's game and they could not be misguided.