12 June 2004	Saturday	23 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, June 11: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Friday held protest demonstrations after Friday prayers at Lasbela Chowk and Lyari against the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi and killing of 11 persons in an attack on Corps Commander's motorcade.

Holding banners and placards, the protesters demanded removal of governor and shouted slogans against the provincial government. They also demanded arrest of terrorists involved in the killing of Mufti Shamzai, bomb blasts in mosques and firing on Corps Commander's motorcade.

Addressing the protesters at Lasbela Chowk, MMA leader Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui said that firing on Corps Commander's motorcade proved that people threatening Election Commissioner were behind the incident, as they reacted within 24-hours of their threat. He claimed that those involved in Maj Kaleem case too were behind this attack.

Dr Siddiqui said, "If the terrorists arrested from a provincial minister's official vehicle were not released, law and order could have been maintained." He alleged that people involved in killing of 11 MMA activists on May 12th by-elections in Karachi were behind the terrorist activities.

"The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has carried out such kinds of attacks in past and this time too, they attacked motorcade of Corps Commander in their particular fashion," he alleged adding that the federal government was being black-mailed by a pressure group and leaving people of Karachi at the mercy of terrorists.

"We strongly believe that the governor, who is a proclaimed offender, patronizes such activities in the city. That is why we say unless he is removed and arrested, peace can't be restored in the city," he added.

According to him, Muttahida's provincial ministers and advisers had arranged recruitment of a number of terrorists in police department, who in turn carry out acts of terrorism on orders from their leadership sitting abroad.

Speaking at the demonstration, MMA leader Nasarullah Shajee held the governor responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi. He said that instead of providing relief to the masses the Muttahida concentrated more on ending cases, pending against its "criminal activists", who in turn transformed Karachi into a lawless city.

After Friday prayers, a protest demonstration was held in Lyari against the provincial government. Addressing the protesters, MMA MNA Muhammad Hussain Mehnti and others demanded governor's removal and registration of cases against the Muttahida leaders.

Muhammad Hussain Mehnti said, "Firing on Corps Commander's motorcade is in reaction of declaring by-elections null and void by Election Commission of Pakistan." Meanwhile, Jamaat-i-Islami Nazima Rabia Alam termed the attack on motorcade a failure of provincial government.

She alleged that the Governor's House was promoting terrorist and criminal activities in the province and peace could only be restored with removal of the governor. She said that the elements involved in killing of 11 activists of MMA during the by-elections, be arrested. -PPI