15 May 2004	Saturday	24 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, May 14: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has blamed the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for the acts of violence taking place on Friday which, according to it, were sponsored by the alliance of religious parties.

In two statements released to the press on Friday, it also praised the Karachiites "for foiling the alliance's bid to hold a successful strike". The Muttahida's statements was released by the convener of its coordination committee, Dr Imran Farooq.

The violent incidents, said the statement, had shown that the Jamaat-i-Islami believed in politics of violence. Armed activists of the Jamaat had taken the law into their hands right from Thursday night.

It added that many shops had been shut at gunpoint. And the people who did not want to close down their businesses were beaten up, alleged the statement.

In another statement, Dr Farooq said the people of Karachi had used peaceful means and by the end of the day it was apparent that the MMA was unsuccessful in its bid to hold a strike.

Whatever transpired on Friday had made it clear that the Karachiites had rejected the MMA call, added Dr Farooq.