April 10, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 3, 1429

KARACHI, April 9: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has said that attacks on MQM lawyers and violent incidents in Karachi are part of a well-thought-out conspiracy and the party will foil all conspiracies against the newly formed government and the process of national reconciliation.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar also appealed to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to take all-out measures to ensure law and order in the city. He also said the MQM would cooperate with the government in this regard.

He said that on Wednesday the party’s lawyers organized a peaceful protest demonstration on the premises of the Karachi City Courts against the manhandling of former federal minister Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi in Lahore.

Dr Sattar said “rogue elements” of the Karachi and Sindh Bar associations attacked the participants of the demonstration after they had dispersed peacefully. “We strongly condemn such open acts of terrorism. Attacks on our lawyers and the violence were carried out by those who wanted to blackmail the newly formed government, which has the people’s mandate,” he added.

He said an MQM MPA and a senior lawyer were also attacked when they shifted injured lawyers to the Civil Hospital Karachi. “We hold the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), the so-called civil society and leaders of bar associations responsible for the attacks.”

The MQM leader questioned the role of police and Rangers which, according to him, remained silent spectators when MQM lawyers were being tortured.

He said the champions of the so-called campaign for the independence of the judiciary had tried to blackmail the previous government and now they were making the new government hostage. “We will not allow the conspiracy being hatched against the government and the process of national reconciliation to succeed,” he said.

He condemned the incident in which five persons were burnt alive by saboteurs who set a building near the City Courts on fire. “This incident was one of the worst examples of terrorism,” he added.

Dr Sattar appealed to the people to remain peaceful and foil all conspiracies with their unity.