19 June 2004	Saturday	30 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, June 18: Opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly and provincial chief of the Pakistan People's Party Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, slammed the government for its failure in protecting citizens' life , has vowed to continue the protest against the killing of Munawwar Suhrawardy until the arrest of culprits.

Addressing enraged party workers at Regal Chawk on Friday, Mr Khuhro termed Mr Suhrawardy's assassination 'complete failure of the federal and provincial governments', and demanded them to step down.

The rally was addressed also by Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Aftab Shahban Mirani, Rashid Rabbani, Rafiq Engineer, Khalil Qureshi, Haji Muzaffar Shujra and other leaders. The participants chanted anti-government slogans and demanded punishment to culprits.

"When they can arrest the terrorists who had attacked the corps commander's convoy, why cannot they arrest the killers of Munawwar? This country has not been created to ensure safety and security of a few generals... and establishing their over lordship," the PPP leaders said.

Mr Khuhro expressed surprise that the armed men managed to escape after killing Mr Suhrawardy in broad daylight, and pointed out that the government was trying to hoodwink people by issuing sketches of the killers and not arresting them.

He said that Mr Suhrawardy was the second most important leader who was killed in recent months but the government had failed to apprehend the killers. He warned against taxing the patience of the PPP and declared that if the killers were not arrested, his party would launch a movement throughout the province.

Mr Khuhro declared that PPP activists were not afraid of bullets and murders and they would continue their struggle for democracy despite assassination of their leaders and colleagues.

"Munawwar was our dear brother... he was killed only for his courage, boldness and struggle for the restoration of democracy... his murder will not demoralize us," he added.

He urged PPP activists to assemble in front of Sindh Assembly building on Saturday in the morning to protest against Mr Suhrawardy's assassination. "Despite change of faces in Sindh, still Karachi is burning and people are being killed brutally," said Syed Qaim Ali Shah, adding: "When terrorists are in rule, how can law and order be improved?"

They have made a cosmetic change in Sindh, which proved useless after the recent incident of terrorism in which Munawwar Suhrawardy was brutally killed." The emotionally charged workers raised slogans against Gen Musharraf and Sindh Chief Minister demanding their resignation.

The other speakers claimed that the government was aware of its failure in protecting life and property of citizens and maintaining law and order in Karachi but the 'military dictators' patronizing them were not in a mood to provide relief to masses.

Heavy contingents of police and Rangers were present at the venue of the rally. However, they did not intervene when the protesters resorted to cause damage to public property.

SOYEM: The soyem for Munawwar Suhrawardy is being held on Saturday after Zuhar prayer at Makka Masjid, Hyderabad Colony, Karachi, adds PPI. Separate arrangement has been made for women at the residence of the deceased.