24 July 2004	Saturday	06 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, July 23: Deputy parliamentary leader of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal Nasarullah Shaji and city chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui were among 11 leaders and activists of MMA detained on Friday for taking part in a rally in violation of section-144.

The other detainees included Shabbir Abu Talib, Qari Zameer Akhtar, Qazi Ahmed Noorani, Jameel Ashrafi, Javed Shah, Syed Ahsan advocate and Maulana Shafqatur Rehman.

Police moved into action when leaders, activists and supporters of MMA staged a demonstration against, what they described as, deteriorating law and order in Karachi and the government's intention to repeal Hudood Ordinance and Blasphemy Law.

As the protesters gathered outside the New Memon Masjid, Boultan Market, after Juma prayers, the strong contingent of police deployed around the mosque, started baton-charging to disperse them. A number of the protesters were picked up.

Those detained were kept at the Artillery Maidan and some other police stations in the limits of Saddar Town. However, no case was registered till filing of this report. A senior police official told Dawn that a policy decision from the provincial government in this regard was awaited.

REACTION: MMA legislators deplored the use of 'brute force' against the protesters and termed it a violation of human rights. The legislators, including Mohammad Hussain Mahenti and Abdul Sattar Afghani, in a statement claimed that the state had usurped people's right to agitate against deteriorating law and order and rampant crimes.

In this regard, they pointed out that daylight robberies were taking place every day, bandits were not only breaking into houses and depriving inmates of their belongings, but also holding them hostage.

The legislators also deplored that people were being denied of their right to protest against the unmanageable cost of living the government's designs to amend or repeal Islamic laws.

They accused the government of committing excesses against the opposition by exploiting section-144. "It is reflective of the government's fascist mentality," they alleged, adding that the government was not serious in maintaining law and order.

Meanwhile, acting city chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami Shaikh Rafiq Ahmad, while presiding over a meeting at the Idara Noor-i-Haq, has asked the authorities to release the MMA leaders and activists within 24 hours failing which, he said, protest would be intensified.

Accusing the government of creating law and order situation deliberately, he argued that if, at all, restoring peace was the rulers' aim, they should remove Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad.