April 15, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 8, 1429

KARACHI, April 14: The Jamaat-i-Islami on Monday called for fresh probes into various violent incidents that had occurred in the city over the years including the Nishtar Park blast, the violence that had erupted on May 12, 2004 (bye-election day), May 12, 2007 and the recent tragic incidents of April 9.

The JI also urged the implementation of the Murree Declaration for the restoration of deposed chief justice and other 60 judges at the earliest.

These demands were put forward by the secretary-general of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Syed Munawwar Hasan, during a press conference held here at the Idara Noor-i-Haq.

He was of the view that lingering economic issues could not be resolved without the supremacy of the constitution and restoration of the judiciary to the pre-Nov 3 position. Besides, he added, the supremacy of the parliament was not possible in the presence of Article 58-2(B).

The JI leader deplored that all the autocratic rulers who had imposed themselves on the country had abrogated the constitution only once but President Pervez Musharraf had trampled the constitution twice.

He said that joining hands with those political parties who had backed Musharraf for eight years could not be termed reconciliation.

Welcoming the 100-day programme announced by the newly-elected prime minister, he called for a relief package for the common man.

He said that the announcement of restoration of students’ unions, trade unions and labour unions and the repeal of a ban under the

Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) was nothing without initiating concrete steps.

Calling for the removal of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, he urged the appointment of a non-political governor. Mr Hasan said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement must apologize for the incidents that had occurred in the city during the last 10-15 years.

Ghafoor addresses lawyers

The Naib Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami, Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, addressing the Malir Bar said that a commission comprising retired judges should conduct a probe into the April 9 violence.

He urged the federal law minister to visit Karachi. The JI leader said that the legal fraternity was being punished for their struggle for the restoration of the judiciary.

JI leader Asadullah Bhutto called for compensation to the Karachi and Malir bars and said that once again terrorists had become active in the city.

Meanwhile, JI leaders Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Liaquat Baloch, Laeeq Khan, Nasrullah Khan Shaji, Hameedullah Khan advocate, Yunus Barai, Sarfraz Ahmad and others offered condolences to Dr Farooq Sattar on the demise of his father.