KARACHI, Sept 5: A number of gatherings were held by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Sunday under its mass contact drive launched in Karachi as well as other cities.

According to a press release, the MQM coordination committee, its senators, ministers, advisers, MNAs, MPAs and other leaders took part in these gatherings. The Muttahida leaders informed people at these gatherings about the "conspiracies" being hatched against the party, added the press release.

It stated that the gatherings had been organized by the Society Sector Unit 60; Pak Colony Sector Unit 192; North Nazimabad Sector Unit 178; PIB Colony Sector Unit 50; Malir Sector Unit 101; Ranchore Line Sector Unit 21; North Karachi Sector Unit 137-A; Orangi Sector Unit 123; Lines Area Sector Unit 196; and, New Karachi Sector Unit 141. Gatherings had also been organized in some other localities, it said.

The press release claimed that people from all the provinces were represented at the well-attended meetings. The leaders said that the workers and supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, after going through many ups and downs, had become a very committed lot and no "conspiracy" could make them change their loyalties.

They said that the people who dreamt of finishing off the phenomenon of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had been wiped off themselves. They said that the manner in which Sindhis, Baloch, Pathans and Kashmiris had assured the party of their support during the meetings showed that Altaf Hussein was widely respected. They said that all the anti-Muttahida "plots" would be thwarted through unity and discipline.

JEWELLERS' TEAM: A delegation of jewellers called on the coordination committee members in Khurshid Memorial Hall, Azizabad, and expressed concern over the situation emerging following the KBCA action of sealing the jewellery workshops in Saddar Town.