24 May 2004	Monday	04 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, May 23: To protest against the death of nine of its activists, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal is going to organize a public demonstration near the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam on Tuesday.

During the protest rally speakers, including Qazi Hussein Ahmed, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Prof Shah Faridul Haq, Prof Sajid Mir and Allama Sajid Naqvi will demand that the perpetrators of violence against MMA activists on May 12 be arrested without delay and the chief election commissioner be removed from his position, said a press release.

According to it, the violence was state-sponsored and the polling was rigged. The by-elections be declared null and void and that re-polling be announced, added the press release.

Meanwhile, another press release issued by the Jamaat-i-Islami stated that if the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had not indulged in violence and nine MMA activists had not been killed and 100 others injured, May 12 would not have become a "black day" in the history of Pakistani politics.

Had the polling taken place in a peaceful atmosphere, the MMA candidates would have carried the day, claimed the handout. In the meantime, the Sindh government announced on Sunday night that political parties, including the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), were free to hold meetings but only at designated places.

In a press release faxed to Dawn, a Sindh government spokesman said the government was committed to the cherished principles of democracy, freedom of expression and speech but it simultaneously had the responsibility to maintain peace and tranquillity.

Public meetings are allowed at places notified since long, the spokesman said but explained that under no circumstances meetings on roads could be allowed because such events caused traffic jams, and become a public nuisance, besides posing problems of security.

He made it clear that the government decision was in the best public interest and had no political motive.