KARACHI, June 24: The chief of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, has termed the murder of Mufti Atiq-ur-Rehman target killing and a continuation of Muhammad Aslam Mujahid’s murder series to push Karachi into anarchy.

The MMA chief, in a statement faxed to Dawn, said the ‘enemy’ was continuously targeting peaceful Karachi through its agents, so it could fatally wound the economic jugular vein of Pakistan.

He recalled that lawlessness and killing incidents in Karachi had started with the formation of the MQM — Altaf group.

He held the Altaf group responsible for anarchic conditions through its fascist designs aimed at murdering ulema, religious scholars, so that Karachi could be crippled economically and socially.

Mr Ahmad also accused Governor Ishratul Ibad of patronizing the workers of the MQM, and its ministers and advisers, who were involved in lawlessness, murders and plundering.

He said that killers of dozens of political and social workers in Karachi including the murderers of Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, Mufti Atiq-ur-Rehman and Aslam Mujahid had not yet been arrested.

He said the federal government had failed to check terrorism, killing, plundering and lawlessness of the MQM, and bodies were again being found in bags in Karachi. It appeared as if the federal government, president and the chief of army staff had given them a free hand, the MMA chief said.

He added that the enemy of religion and its agents through the murder of Mufti Atiq-ur-Rehman wanted to trigger sectarian riots in the country.

The bomb blast in Madinatul Ilm was also part of the sectarian conspiracy, which was foiled by the conscientious citizens of Karachi, he said.

Offering condolences to the bereaved family of Mufti Atiq-ur-Rehman, Mr Ahmad paid rich tributes for his religious services and cause of Islam.

Meanwhile, JI Karachi chief Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui expressed his heartfelt sorrow over the murder of Mufti Atiq-ur-Rehman, and termed it a national loss.

Holding the provincial government responsible, he said fear and harassment was being created in Karachi and preparations were being made to push the city into a pool of blood.