04 June 2004	Friday	15 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, June 3: An Ulema convention has condemned the increasing lawlessness, anarchy and conspiracies of pitting Muslims against each other in the city.

In a resolution adopted at a moot, oragnised by the Idra Noor-i- Haq, on Thursday with Syed Munwwar Hasan in the chair, the convention recalled the tragedies which took place in May in which scores of precious lives were lost, including of eminent scholar Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai.

It observed that US local agents were implementing its agenda and attempts were being made to pit Sunni-Shia Muslims and create a rift among Pakhtoons and Mohajirs on ethnic grounds.

The matter not only deserves hatred but should also be a matter to ponder for those responsible for national security. The convention resolves to maintain peace in Karachi and would leave no stone unturned to foil the conspiracy to make Karachi a riot-affected city.

Endorsing the call for a strike on Friday, the convention announced to boycott the so-called "harmony rally" planned for Sunday by the Sindh governor. Jamaat-i-Islami secretary-general Syed Munawwar Hasan in his presidential remarks said Karachi was the city of Mujahids and they know how to face terrorists.

Mr Hasan said until there was a governor who was wanted in cases by different police stations, there was no possibility of elimination of terrorism from the city. He paid tributes to Ulema for foiling the conspiracy of terrorists and proponents of ethnic politics of foisting Shia- Sunni riots.

"In Sindh, Sunnis and Shias are equally victim of state-sponsored MQM terrorism, but MMA, which is a name of a mission, could not be stopped from its struggle of promoting democratic values and culture and reaching their destination.

Mr Hasan said by observing a countrywide strike, the people would express their sentiments for stopping the on-going terrorism under the US pressure. He called for stopping the action against people in Wana and said that Gen Musharraf and his colleagues were indulging in an action which the British rulers could not do.

The JI leader called for resolving the Wana issue through negotiations and with the help of Jirga. Hafiz Taqi said that since Gen Musharraf had come to power, Karachi had become a victim of terrorism.

Maulana Khan Mohammad Rabbani said a few political grabbers were bringing a bad name to Karachi and the US agents were working to create dissension among religious forces and to promote ethnicity and nationalism.

Qari Mohammad Osman said people and Ulema were not prepared to lift any more bodies, as such these killings be stopped. The country, he said, was facing threats which called for unity and harmony in the country.

Allama Arshad Zahid said that Karachi which was the city of light had been turned into a city of darkness. He said the provincial government should accept its failure and resign.

Qari Raza-ul-Mustafa said that Jewish lobby was trying to pit Muslims against Muslims and this challenge could only be faced through unity in their ranks. Others who addressed the convention included Maulana Intizar-ul-Haq Thanvi, Agha Mehdi Turabi, Maulana Abdul Karim Abid, Qari Abdul Mannan, Allama Azmat Ali Hamdani and others.