KARACHI, May 9: The people of Karachi are bracing themselves for a show of strength by all political parties in the city, particularly the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on May 12 when Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry will come to what is widely expected to be a rousing welcome by lawyers protesting against the presidential reference against him.

Their fears were heightened by the Sindh home secretary’s letter to the chief justice in which he said that intelligence agencies believed that the latter’s visit to the city could be attended by acts of violence and bloodshed.

While the major opposition alliances – the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy – have been demonstrating their considerable enthusiasm about according a ‘tumultuous and historical’ welcome to the CJ, the MQM and other parties in the ruling coalition have almost finalised arrangements for a ‘massive peace rally’ to prove that most Karachians were less interested in welcoming the CJ and more concerned about the independence of the judiciary.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain has reportedly directed his party workers and supporters to demonstrate their allegiance by taking to the streets that day across Karachi while the opposition parties have asked people from all walks of life to join the welcome reception to be accorded to the CJ to support the independence of the judiciary.

According to the opposition’s programme, the CJ would be received at the Quaid-i-Azam International Airport by MMA leader Liaquat Baloch who would be accompanying a large number of local leaders from the alliance’s component parties. From the airport, the CJ would be led first to the Mazar-i-Quaid.

MMA chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad has made a fervent appeal to Karachians to play their historic role once again on this occasion for the supremacy of the judiciary and constitution.

ARD Secretary General Zafar Iqbal Jhagra held a press conference on Wednesday to give details of the programme of welcome reception.

Leader of the Awami National Party Asfandyar Wali Khan has urged Pakhtuns in the city to join in the welcome procession.

In message to the president of the party’s Sindh chapter, Shahi Syed, the ANP chief said the party had always struggled for the cause of peace and democracy. He said Pakhtuns fully supported the lawyer fraternity’s struggle for the independence of judiciary and restoration of democracy.

The MQM continued its preparations for the May 12 rally “against the politicisation of a judicial matter in the name of independence of judiciary.