06 June 2004	Sunday	17 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, June 5: Acting President of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Qazi Hussain Ahmad has declared that the alliance would not support any undemocratic move in Sindh. He reminded the government of its responsibility to bring an end to the organized incidents of target killings and bomb blasts in Karachi.

The MMA leader was addressing the families of the victims of bomb blast at Imambargah Ali Raza soon after his arrival in the city on Saturday. A large number of other people had gathered there on the occasion.

Qazi Saheb also offered prayers at the Imambargah and made an impassioned appeal to all people to forge unity in order to foil hostile forces' conspiracy aimed at dividing masses on sectarian and other lines.

He appreciated the people of Karachi for foiling the conspiracy through their unity and cohesion despite big tragedies and facing the challenge without allowing the enemies to harm the harmony.

Present on the occasion were Jamaat-i-Islami leaders Dr Mumtaz Memon, Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, Nasrullah Shaji and Sarfaraz Ahmad, as well as All Pakistan Shia Council Secretary General Allama Qambar Abbas Naqvi.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed pointed out that the MMA had brought Sunni and Shia sects together at one platform by eliminating all differences between the two. The hostile forces, he added, failed to pit the two sects against each other even by carrying out bombings at places of worships. He, however, he held the government also responsible for the tragic incidents.

He was of the view that the blasts and killings of Mufti Shamzai and other ulema was the work of a gang which could not tolerate peace to prevail in Karachi.

"By targeting Karachi, the jugular vein of national economy, the terrorists are targeting the entire country," he said.

The MMA leader condemned shelling and shooting by police on funeral processions, and urged the provincial government and the administration to pay due attention to the worsening law and order. Cosmetic changes, he said, would not help achieve the objective.

Calling for payment of compensation to the families of the deceased and injured in acts of terrorism, Qazi Saheb demanded that jobs be provided to the kin of a family which had lost its bread-earner.

"The MMA would raise the issue also in the assembly," he pledged.

Those present on the occasion raised slogans against the federal and provincial governments, as well as the United States for 'patronizing terrorists'.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed also visited the Liaquat National Hospital on Saturday where he visited Saleemuddin, the injured son of Mufti Shamzai, the Mufti's nephew and driver, and those who were wounded in the blast at the Imambargah. He went to the bed of each of the injured and inquired about his well-being.

Relatives of the victims apprised the MMA of details of the tragedies and the problems, they claimed, create by the administration.

Later, Qazi Saheb visited Mufti Shamzai's residence and condoled with the bereaved family. He also went to the Jamiatul Uloom Al-Islamiyyah, Binnori Town and met its administrator, Abdur Razzaq Iskandar.