KARACHI, Sept 10: Deploring the murder of a high court lawyer and storming of the Sindh High Court by activists of a political party, the provincial leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party termed these incidents part of a diabolical conspiracy of the military-led dispensation to wipe out the opposition.

Leaders of the PPP Sindh chapter expressed these views during a meeting held at the residence of the PPP Sindh president, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, on Monday.

Mr Shah alleged that the main objective of the storming and siege of the SHC premises by activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a major coalition partner, murder of senior advocate Raja Riaz and manhandling of advocate Mohammad Ali Abbasi was to make it clear to the nation that any voice of dissent would not be tolerated and would be silenced by force.

The meeting also warned the government against the use of such tactics and urged that those involved in such acts be arrested immediately.

Deploring the arrest of workers and leaders of the PML (N) and deportation of its leader Nawaz Sharif, the meeting drew an analogy between the events of Sept 10 and May 12.

Today strong arm tactics had been used in Islamabad to once again banish Nawaz Sharif in defiance of the apex court order, while on May 12 the MQM activists had besieged the SHC in Karachi to pressurize the bench, they said.

The meeting was attended by Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro, Aftab Shahban Mirani, Provincial Information Secretary Dr Fahmida Mirza MNA, Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Rashid Rabbani and others.

Meanwhile a PPP Women’s Wing general body meeting with its president MNA Ruqaiya Khanum Soomro in the chair discussed the return of the party chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

Expressing concern over the murder of advocate Raja Riaz, the information secretary of the wing and MPA, Shazia Marri, urged the relevant authorities to arrest the culprits.

She also expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order in Sindh, especially in Lyari and others areas of Karachi.

The meeting also strongly condemned Chief Minister Ghulam Arbab Rahim’s remarks against women.