19 June 2004	Saturday	30 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, June 18: The opposition parties will hold a protest march in front of the parliament house on Saturday (today) against the killing of PPP activist Munawwar Suhrawardy in Karachi.

An announcement to this effect was made by PPP president Makhdoom Amin Fahim at a protest demonstration outside the parliament house on Friday. Mr Fahim said that protesters would gather at parliament lodges at 8:45am and begin their march towards the parliament house building where it would be culminated.

Earlier, members belonging to the opposition parties staged walkouts from the National Assembly and Senate during the debate on budget and gathered in front of the road outside the parliament building, where they staged a demonstration. They also chanted slogans against the government. Speaking on the occasion the PPP president said that targeted killings were taking place in Karachi every now and then while the government remained unmoved.

He said the opposition held both the federal and Sindh governments responsible for the killing of Munawwar Suhrawardy. "The hands of these governments are not clean," he said.

The security agencies were busy in providing security just to the man who was sitting on that hill, Mr Fahim said while pointing towards the Presidency. Mr Fahim, who is also the ARD chairman, said the one-man rule in the past had caused an irreparable loss to the country.

The PPP leader paid rich tributes to the late Suhrawardy for his services for the cause of democracy in the country. Tehmina Daultana of the PML-N said her party would support the PPP in its protest plan.

She said the killing of Munawwar Suhrawardy was not only a loss for the PPP but was also for all the democratic forces of the country. MMA leader Liaquat Baloch condemned the killing and said this incident proved the failure of the government in maintaining law and order in the country.