14 May 2004	Friday	23 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, May 13: Shia scholars on Thursday staged a sit-in at the Sindh High Court against the killing of innocent people. The sit-in was staged under the auspices of the Shia Ulema Council Pakistan (Sindh chapter).

As the Ulema reached the high court premises, they were stopped at the main entrance. However, Ulema managed to enter the premises and went to the office of the chief justice in the high court building.

The protesters, led by Allama Syed Qambar Naqvi, met the principal secretary to the SHC and the registrar of the court. They tried to meet the chief justice, but his protocol staff asked the Ulema that they would have to seek an appointment first.

On this, the Ulema's delegation submitted their memorandum with the registrar of the court. Addressing the gathering inside the court building, Allama Qambar Naqvi said that they were ready to give their blood for the existence of the country.

Allama Hasan Turabi urged the chief justice to implement the punishments awarded to those involved in the killing of Shias. He asked the chief justice to take a suo motu notice of the bomb explosion in Hyderi mosque. Maulana Shabbir Hussain demanded that the government should step down.