KARACHI, June 2: Jamaat-i-Islami Secretary General Syed Munawwar Hasan has demanded that the federal government should concede to its mistake of handing over power to a minority party in Sindh , and instead of talking about change of face, it should give the opportunity to Pakistan Peoples Party - the single largest party - to form government.

He said triggering Shia-Sunni riots was the US's agenda, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement was implementing it in the province. Hasan, who was addressing a crowded press conference at Idara Noor-i-Haq on Wednesday, reiterated the demand for the removal of Sindh governor and advisor to chief minister on home affairs and order investigation into the release of 45 "terrorists" on parole.

He expressed hope that the countrywide strike on June 4 against killings in the city would be a slap on the face of terrorists. He said that Shia-Sunni riots which had began from Quetta were foiled through complete unity of Sunni and Shia sects.

"There is a direct government of terrorists in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, who were active in executing the US's agenda," he added, and claimed that all the killings from May 7 to 31 were outcomes of the state-sponsored terrorism of "MQM".

Hasan, flanked by Allama Hasan Turabi, Maulana Abdul Karim Abid, Hafiz Muhammad Taqi, Rashid Naseem, Yunus Barai Sarfraz Ahmad, said the federal government was equally responsible in worsening the situation in Karachi, and now talking about a change of chief minister, was no more than a hoax.

"The people of Sindh would not accept imposition of change of face by replacement of the chief minister. Instead, the government should accept its mistake by providing an opportunity to the single largest party in the house to form the government.

"We are peace-loving people and have always faced terrorism by remaining peaceful, and the June 4 strike would result in building pressure against rulers. The rallies and processions taken out on the day throughout the country would turn out to be as writing on the walls for the rulers and give a boost to the morale of people.

He recalled that the prime minister and interior minister had already admitted to the fact that enough measures were not taken for maintaining law and order in Karachi. The law enforcement agencies had failed in restoring peace because of the pressure of MQM.

Paying tributes to Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai for his pan- Islamic commitment and contributions, the JI leader said his mission would continue even after his death, as he was not an individual but a movement.

Hasan said the entire country was in the grip of lawlessness because of the policies of Gen Musharraf and no ones life and property was secure in the country. "Our own people are being invaded on the instructions of the FBI. Whatever is happening in Wana is shameful and deserves condemnation."

Stressing the need for sorting out matters in Wana through understanding and negotiations, he said the black laws which the English rulers failed to implement were now being imposed in Wana by the government.

Allama Hasan Turabi said a conspiracy was being hatched to trigger Shia Sunni riots, and the attacks on Imambargahs and the assassination of Mufti Shamzai were part of the whole plot. However, he said the Muslim Ummah was now awake and had recognised their real enemies.

Maulana Abdul Karim Abid said that rulers instead of arresting terrorists were busy in making hollow claims. He demanded the dismissal of the Sindh governor and the provincial government for openly unleashing state-sponsored terrorism.

Hafiz Muhammad Taqi said that the law and order of Karachi was destroyed since the formation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement in the city, as it was a fascist organisation.

He said if elections were held peacefully under the supervision of the army, the people of Karachi would prove that the city even today belonged to the religious parties. He said people would prove on the day of the June 4 strike that they were fed up with terrorists.