KARACHI, June 21: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) leaders on Tuesday said that certain elements of Karachi were allegedly bent upon using violence to keep the masses away from the polling stations during the coming local bodies’ polls. Addressing a large number of MMA women activists on Tuesday in front of the Karachi Press Club MMA MNA Mohammad Hussain Mehanti and other leaders alleged that the Sindh governor and provincial home minister were backing criminal elements. They demanded their dismissal.

The MMA women activists had gathered protest against the sacrilege of the Holy Quran by the US army, target killings of MMA leaders Aslam Mujahid and Jamal Tahir, and the growing incidents of lawlessness and terrorism in the city.

Criticizing the Sindh government for its alleged failure to control the law and order situation in Karachi, they demanded that it should step down.

They accused the government of patronizing terrorists involved in violence and killings in the city.

Demanding the arrest of killers of MMA leaders Aslam Mujahid and Jamal Tahir, the speakers deplored that 22 days had passed but no FIR had been lodged yet.

They also condemned the failure to arrest the killers of renowned religious figure Mufti Shamzai.

Mr Mehanti alleged that a certain political party of the city was responsible for terrorism, and added that if the wave of terrorism was not stopped it would ruin the economical activities in the city.

The MMA leader held the US government responsible for the desecration of the Holy Quran.

Terming the US government a terrorist state, he said by desecrating the Holy Book, it had proved that it was involved in terrorism and extremism. He demanded that those responsible for the act be arrested and punished.

The MMA would continue its protests against the desecration of the Holy Quran, he said.—PPI