NEW YORK, May 12: The Human Rights Watch on Saturday condemned acts of violence in Karachi and the failure of the government to ensure security for citizens.

It urged the government to restore peace and security in the city and to apprehend and charge the perpetrators of the acts regardless of party affiliation.

In a statement the HRW said: “This situation has arisen because of the

Sindh government’s decision to prevent the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, from addressing the Sindh High Court Bar Association in Karachi.”

The MQM has effectively prevented the Chief Justice and his entourage from entering Karachi and political activists from parties supporting him from receiving him.