28 June 2004	Monday	09 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, June 27: Central leader of Jamat-i-Islami Senator Ghafoor Ahmad slammed the Sindh government's ban on the entry of two leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and demanded removal of Governor Ishratul Ibad for being what he called partisan.

Speaking at a news conference, held at the Idara Noor-i-Haq on Sunday night, Prof Ghafoor accused police of committing excesses against the MMA activists, who wanted to participate in the 'peace march'.

He said that the government was using section 144 to disturb peace in the city, which, otherwise, was used to maintain law and order

He said that refusal of the government to register an FIR regarding the killing of the MMA activists during May 12 by-polls, was indicative of the partisan role of the Sindh governor and of the party to which he belonged.

He also claimed that about 3,000 MMA activists were arrested from different parts of the city and said this was not a good indicator for democratic dispensation of rights.

Prof Ghafoor alleged that plainclothes security people manhandled the elected representatives and other activists of the MMA on M A Jinnah Road near the Radio Pakistan.

He said that Maulana Umar Sadiq, Nasrullah Shaji and Mairajulhuda Siddiqui were beaten up by the plainclothes 'terrorists,' while other MNAs were also manhandled.

He alleged that police had raided the houses of many MMA activists and leaders, though they were not involved in violation of the section 144.

He alleged the government was bent upon destroying peace in the province and the country for facilitating the agenda of those who were pulling the strings from London, to advance the objectives of the US in the region.