15 May 2004	Saturday	24 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, May 14: Acting President of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Qazi Hussain Ahmed on Friday reiterated his demand that theMuttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) be disbanded and declared a 'terrorist organization'.

Addressing a crowded press conference at Idara Noor-i-Haq on Friday afternoon, the MMA leader also called for the dismissal of Sindh governor. The criminal cases, withdrawn under an administrative order, against the governor be reopened and the trials be initiated, Qazi Hussain Ahmed insisted.

He further demanded that the chief election commissioner be sacked for his failure in honouring his oath and in meeting his constitutional obligations.

The MMA chief said that withholding of the by-elections results was not enough, and added that the by-polls be declared null and void and be held afresh, now under the supervision of armed forces.

He demanded that the entire record of the May 12 by-elections be sealed and a judicial inquiry into irregularities be ordered.

He called for the suspension of all those TPOs and SHOs who, according to him, facilitated rigging, terrorism, killing, plunder and other such activities by MQM activists. An inquiry also be instituted against these officers, he added.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed further demanded transfer of the concerned high-ups of police in the interest of peace in the city because, he alleged, without their consent, their subordinates could not have dared to indulge in unlawful activities.

He expressed his gratitude over the peaceful observance of the strike on the call of the MMA on Friday, and said that the citizens had thus demonstrated their determination not to surrender to the terrorists and continue to play their role in the struggle for democracy.

The MMA leader referred to the situation in Gharibabad, Sharifabad and Liaquatabad where, he claimed, the armed groups belonging to the MQM had set up private posts to prevent the MMA workers who had been active on by-election day from returning to their homes. He alleged that these groups were also not allowing the MMA activists residing in these localities to come out of their homes and move freely.

He warned the administration that if it failed to ensure safety, security and free movement of people in these areas, he himself would lead MMA workers' caravan to enter into the localities and if any untoward incident took place, the responsibility would rest on the government.

He expressed the view that the MQM had lost popular support and was now totally relying on the might of its armed terrorists and patronage by Islamabad.

Qazi Saheb said that the successful strike proved the people of Karachi were fed up with the MQM and wanted a change. If a durable peace was not restored in the city, he added, the country could not make economic progress or attract foreign investment.

Insisting that a ban on MQM was vital to ensure peace, he gave the example of Thursday's incident of firing on the participants of the funeral prayers. "As people were offering collective funeral prayers for six workers, armed activists of the MQM suddenly came from behind and opened an indiscriminate fire, injuring many people."

Those present at the press conference included Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, Allama Hasan Turabi, Hafiz Muhammad Taqi, Muhammad Hashim Siddiqui, Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, Mumtaz Memon, Nasrullah Shajee and Sarfraz Ahmed.