11 October 2004	Monday	25 Shaban 1425

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KARACHI, Oct 10: Opposition leader in National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman has demanded immediate arrest of the killers of Mufti Jameel Ahmad Khan, Maulana Nazeer Taunsvi and other ulema , and urged the government to expose those involved in eliminating eminent religious scholars.

The Maulana, who arrived here from Islamabad on Sunday to attend the funeral of Mufti Jameel and Maulana Taunsvi, who were killed in a terrorist attack on Saturday, was addressing a crowded press conference at Binnori Town. He also addressed the mourners at the funeral.

The opposition leader held the government and intelligence agencies responsible for the killing. Terming the ulema's death 'a great tragedy', he expressed astonishment over the government's inability to trace out the culprits in such heinous acts, pointing out that those involved in attacks on Gen Musharraf and Karachi corps commander could not escape arrest.

None of those involved in the killings of Mir Murtaza Bhutto, Hakim Mohammad Said, Mufti Nizamuddin, and many other prominent figures could have been arrested so far, he added.

He was of the view that there was a single gang of terrorists carrying out assassinations and bomb blasts right from Karachi to Sialkot. He condemned the government for its total failure in protecting the life and property of citizens.

The government, he said, was efficient and proficient enough to detect a smallest foul that might have been committed by any of its opponents, but virtually blind in finding a clue to those indulged in bloodshed across the country.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, secretary general of the MMA and chief of the JUI of his faction, severely criticized the rulers for the oppression against their own countrymen at the behest of the United States.

He said: "Death of a religious scholar may not be taken as the death of an individual, but elimination of an institution." He declared that the mission undertaken by the ulema would be accomplished at all costs.

He deplored that the entire state machinery had been mobilized to ensure safety and security of a single person, the prime minister, who was on a visit to Karachi on Saturday.

"It seems as if the law-enforcement agencies are supposed to protect the ruling clique only, and had nothing to do with the life and property of citizens," the opposition leader said.

He also deplored that the secret agencies had been keeping a close eye on political and religious leaders instead of terrorists. The government's attitude of turning a blind eye to the elimination of ulema and other prominent figures created the impression that it's secret agencies were equally involved in such acts of terrorism.

He argued that when the government was capable to locate and arrest 600 'Al Qaeda activists' just to appease the United States, why could not it arrest a handful of terrorists responsible for assassination, carnage and devastation.