LAHORE, May 21: Opposition leaders on Monday asserted that bloodshed in Karachi on May 12 had laid the foundation of disintegration of the country under a conspiracy hatched by the regime.

They said that on that day armed men operated in unison with law-enforcement agencies who just abdicated their constitutional duty leaving people at the mercy of fascist elements.

Speaking at the end of a combined opposition rally outside the Lahore High Court on The Mall, they sought registration of criminal cases against Gen Pervez Musharraf, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, MQM chief Altaf Hussain and all those responsible for the carnage.

The call for the rally was given by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA).

Representatives of the PML-N, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf, Awami National Party and the Khaksar Tehrik attended the rally.

The Pakistan People’s Party was only party conspicuous by its absence.

MNAs Liaquat Baloch and Hafiz Salman Butt (Jamaat-i-Islami), Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Malik Mohammad Pervez (PML-N), MPA Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, PTI's Mian Sajid Pervez and Shabbir Syal and ANP secretary-general Ehsan Wyne spoke on the occasion.

They said that the federation was facing danger of falling apart after the operation in Balochistan, Fata and the NWFP which resulted in alienating the people of smaller provinces.

They criticised Gen Musharraf for doing politics in uniform.

They said the regime was patronising fascist forces and it was manifest from the administration giving a free hand to armed MQM men to unleash a reign of terror on a rally which was peaceful.