KARACHI, May 28: Speakers at a seminar on Monday stressed the need for formation of a civil society alliance to save Karachi from terrorism. The seminar was organised by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz at a local hotel to mark the ninth anniversary of nuclear tests and to discuss the prevailing situation in Karachi in the backdrop of May 12 incidents. Leaders of political and religious parties, representatives of Karachi Bar Association and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan addressed the seminar.

The speakers expressed serious concern over the issue of terrorism saying that Karachi has been handed over to a particular terrorist group while common man has been deprived of his basic rights. People were even denied the freedom of expression, they said.

Holding General Musharraf, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and federal and provincial governments responsible for the May 12 bloodbath, they demanded registration of cases against all those responsible for the May 12 incidents which claimed dozens of lives and left scores of people wounded.

They condemned General Musharraf for not ordering any inquiry into the May 12 incidents. However, they praised the Sindh High Court for taking suo motu notice in this regard. They criticized MQM and its leadership for what they call terrorising citizens.

The Secretary-General of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Iqbal Haider, urged the parties to resign from assemblies to make the re-election plan of General Musharraf impossible.

PML-N leaders Salim Zia and Sardar Rahim, chief of Pakhtun Action Committee Shahi Syed, Sunni Tehrik leader Shahid Ghauri, Balochistan National Party leader Habib Jalib, Karachi Bar Association Secretary-General Naeem Qureshi, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf leader Zubair Khan and others spoke at the seminar.