January 14, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 13, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 13: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) condemning the reported massacre of 12 people by government personnel in Balochistan has demanded that a high-level inquiry be instituted into the issue and all those responsible for the cold blooded killings be punished according to law.

In a statement issued from London on Friday, the MQM chief, Altaf Hussain, said that government personnel had forcibly arrested 12 people in Loop, Balochistan, brought them out of their houses, lined them up, and then shot them dead cold bloodedly.

Pointing out that government personnel not only took the bullet-riddled bodies with them but even burnt their houses, Mr Hussain demanded that the bodies should be returned to their heirs.

The statement says that the report was unveiled during a telephonic conservation between Altaf Hussain and Zain Bugti, grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, who also informed the MQM chief that unparalleled atrocities were being committed against the people of Balochistan forcing them to leave their houses. He said over 80 per cent of the Dera Bugti population had been displaced forcibly.

Altaf has announced that a MQM parliamentary delegation would go on a fact finding mission to Balochistan and would also meet people there.

SERVING THE MASSES: The MQM chief has said the party did not believe in just forming government, but its real goal was to serve the poor masses and solve their issues.

Speaking at a meeting of volunteers working at the MQM’s International Secretariat at London, and their relatives on Eidul Azha, he said MQM’s politics was based on principles and it had always given priority to the collective interests of the masses.

He said the day was not far away when the country would be free from the clutches of exploiters and the privileged classes, and the exploited masses would get all their due rights.

KKF’S EFFORTS LAUDED: Altaf Hussain has said the MQM believed in serving the poor and that its volunteers were always ready to help out the needy.

He was talking on telephone to volunteers of the Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation working at hide collecting camps in Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Jacobabad, Naushehro Feroz, Shahdadkot, Qamber, Sanghar, Khairpur, Larkana, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Kashmore, etc, on Eidul Azha.

Volunteers and MQM activists on the occasion lauded Altaf’s stand on Kalabagh Dam and the Balochistan issue.

DEATH CONDOLED: The MQM chief has expressed sorrow over the deaths of hundreds of Hajis who died in a stampede while performing Haj. He offered condolences for the dead and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.