KARACHI, July 7: Civil rights campaigner Syed Mohammad Iqbal Kazmi, who was arrested by police in cases of cheating on June 12, announced on Saturday that he would withdraw the petition he had filed in the Sindh High Court against Muttahida Qaumi Movement leaders and the Sindh government following the May 12 killings if his family was given adequate security.

Prior to his appearance in the court of a judicial magistrate, he said unidentified people were threatening his family and getting the landlord to get the house vacated. “I am ready to be hanged, but my family should be provided security,” said Mr Kazmi, looking extremely demoralized and stressed-out.

The Darakhshan and Al-Falah police stations booked him one year ago for issuing dud cheques to at least three people. Police say Mr Kazmi was an absconder in another fraud case.

Speaking about the cases filed against him, he alleged that he was being punished for the petition he had filed in the Sindh High Court about the role of major political and government figures in the May 12 violence and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Ordinance.

Mr Kazmi said: “People will soon hear Iqbal Kazmi died of a heart attack. In our country, everybody knows how post-mortem reports are prepared.”

Mr Kazmi submitted an application to the court of the Judicial Magistrate-IV (South) saying that he no longer reposed trust in his counsel and did not want him to plead his case. He also requested that the date be changed. JM Zulfiqar Ali extended Mr Kazmi’s judicial remand till July 11.

Mr Kazmi complained that his counsel, Naheed Afzaal, was trying to prolong his case without taking him into confidence. “Lawyers are supposed to take steps in consultation with their clients but my counsel did not do so and I have decided to appear in person in all my cases,” he said.