KARACHI, July 5: The Naib Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami and Senator, Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, has warned that if terrorism and killings were allowed under state sponsorship, the country’s solidarity would be threatened. Prof Ahmad, who was addressing a crowded press conference at the Idara Noor-i-Haq on Tuesday afternoon, said despite target killing of their party’s leaders and activists, they would not runaway from the field and would fully participate in the local bodies’ election.

He said talks were being held in this connection with other parties to reach an understanding for fielding joint candidates.

He pointed out that their colleague Tajammul Hussain, who was gunned down on Sunday morning while going for Fajr prayers, had been getting threats before.

Prof Ghafoor, who was flanked by ex-mayor of Karachi Abdul Sattar Afghani and JI Karachi Chief Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, demanded the dismissal of Sindh Governor and withdrawal of the Home Department from the MQM forthwith.

He feared that otherwise the May 12 history might repeat itself when nine MMA workers were killed during by-elections in four constituencies in Karachi.

The JI leader lamented over the attitude of authorities who had booked over 100 persons including ex-Nazim Niamatullah Khan only for raising slogans against Nasreen Jalil.

Ironically, he said that cases were not registered against nominated persons in the target killing of JI leaders and workers Mohammad Aslam Mujahid, Jamal Tahir, Farhan Asif and Tajammul Hussain while FIRs were registered only against unknown people.

In reply to a question, he said that if the government felt necessity to call the army for assisting in holding elections, it could be done under constitutional provision.

He pointed out that Sindh was the only province where posting and transfers had taken place even after announcement of the election schedule.

Fearing that conditions in the city might worsen if the present situation persisted, the JI leader said the entire city had been turned into no-go areas for the government opponents.

The swords of terrorism, extortions, murders and plunders, he said, were hanging over the heads of the citizens.

Snatching of mobile phones and cars had become the order of the day, and all decisions were being taken at the Governor’s House, with the government machinery being used to crush the opposition.

Prof Ghafoor said it was only in Karachi that after the appointment of caretakers, the offices of local bodies were taken over by a coalition party.

The DCO of Karachi had no say and the chief minister had announced that the MQM was responsible for law and order situation in Karachi, as the home department was with it.

Dr Mairaj said that political workers had been receiving threats. But, the rulers kept on claiming that the situation was normal and peaceful.