KARACHI, March 17: Opposition leaders and parliamentarians belonging to the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (N) and some nationalist parties on Friday warned the city and the Sindh governments against demolition of ancient villages and katchi abadis in Karachi.

In case anymore makeshift homes were demolished in future, opposition parties would block roads leading to the Governor’s House and the CDGK Secretariat, they said while speaking at a protest demonstration after Friday prayer at Safoora Chowrangi, Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

The call for the protest demonstration against the city government’s demolition activities was given by the MMA and was addressed by its Sindh President MNA Asadullah Bhutto, Allama Hasan Turabi, Maulana Abdul Karim Abid, MPA Nasarullah Shajee, Younus Barai, UC Nazim Karim Bux Gabol, PPP leader Mir Ismail Brohi, Qazi Ahmed Noorani and others.

Participants of the demonstration chanted slogans against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), its self-exiled leader Altaf Hussain and demanded removal of the city nazim, suspension of provincial government and immediate halt to demolition activities. They were holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands of halting support to land mafia, end to demolition activities, ban on Muttahida Qaumi Movement and suspension of the present city government.

Speaking on the occasion, MMA MNA Asadullah Bhutto accused the MQM of victimizing residents of ancient villages and katchi abadis for not giving votes to the MQM during elections and added demolition of these colonies was carried out to please the land mafia.

He said that all the opposition forces including the MMA were in support of poor villagers and others, whose houses and makeshift structures were razed by the city government and would continue struggle for their rights.

MMA MPA Nasarullah Shajee said that today the oppressed people of Sindh announced to wage a war against the Muttahida-led provincial and city governments and now any activity against poor people of Sindh would not be tolerated.

He demanded of the authorities to pay compensation to people whose houses were demolished in addition to ownership rights and lease of lands on which they had their homes.

Other leaders including Hasan Turabi and Abdul Karim Abid said that the MQM wanted to create rift between people of Sindh by resorting to such activities.

Sindhi nationalist leaders bitterly criticized the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and its leader Altaf Hussain and said that he was enjoying all the luxuries of life but could not see people of Sindh living peacefully.

Heavy contingents of police and Rangers had been deployed during the protest at the Safoora Chowrangi and the adjoining roads to avoid any untoward situation.—PPI