ISLAMABAD, May 14: Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s deputy convenor and parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar has apologised for the May 12 attack on Aaj TV channel offices in Karachi and the treatment meted out to media people on the day.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, he said maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of the provincial government and “being part of the provincial as well as the federal government I fully accept the responsibility for what happened”.

He said the loss to property and vehicles would be compensated.

The MQM leader promised an inquiry into the firing on the Aaj TV offices and violence against the media and said the basic membership of MQM workers found involved in any action against the press would be cancelled.

During the press conference, media people sat on the floor and refused to accept refreshments as a mark of protest against the attacks on the media on May 12.

Dr Sattar criticised political parties and lawyers of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry for their allegations against the MQM and claimed that the entire nation was confused who should be held responsible for the loss of precious lives in Karachi.

However, he said, with the passage of time, answers to many questions had started emerging. He said the fears expressed in the context of the chief justice’s arrival to Karachi and the opposition’s rally had proved to be true. He accused the opposition of hatching a conspiracy to disrupt peace in Karachi and create political instability and chaos in the country in the lust for power.

He claimed that after unprecedented development in Karachi, the MQM was becoming popular in rural areas and a lot of people were joining the party. The network of the MQM, according to him, was gaining strength in the entire Sindh and the party was expanding in other parts of the country, including Azad Kashmir. That was why, he said, the MQM was becoming a threat for traditional political parties and it was in this background that efforts were being made to clip the fins of the MQM.

He claimed that only MQM rallies had been targeted on roads and no central opposition leader had reached Karachi. He said the attacks had been carried out in areas which were not the strongholds of the MQM, but where the party was gaining strength. He claimed that the MQM was a victim of terrorism because its offices in the entire country in general and in Sindh in particular were being attacked and local leaders were being beaten up, harassed and threatened. He said the decision to shut down all offices and limit the party’s activities to the central office had been taken in view of the security of party leaders and workers.

He said a temporary camp had been established at the Jinnah stadium adjacent to ‘90’ where those forced to shift to safer places were being housed and taken care of. He said the opposition’s strike was tantamount to rubbing salt into the injuries of Karachiites and would in no way help improve the situation.