KARACHI, Sept 12: Over 160 Muttahida Qaumi Movement supporters filed their affidavits containing eyewitness accounts of the May 12 events.

The deponents have blamed the opposition parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party, the Awami National Party and the Jamaat-i-Islami, for the violence.

Advocate Nawab Mirza of the MQM said the deponents were ordinary citizens and since they witnessed the May 12 incidents, they submitted their affidavits to help the court identify the troublemakers. He said more people might come forward to file their affidavits.

The court has invited eyewitness accounts of the events.

Meanwhile, ANP leaders Shahi Syed, Amin Khattak and Aman Khattak have also filed their affidavits, blaming the MQM for incidents of violence.

The SHC has constituted a seven-member bench in exercise of its suo motu powers on a reference by its registrar. The bench adjourned its hearing to Sept 17 in the face of a massive MQM gathering in the court premises on Monday. The proceedings were further adjourned to Sept 24 because one of its members, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, is proceeding on ex-Pakistan leave to attend a human rights conference in Hong Kong.

The court administration has made strict security arrangements for the proceedings. The provincial government has been asked to provide additional security. Entry to the court on the day of the proceedings would be by passes issued by the SHC office.