NAWABSHAH, May 23 Provincial Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said on Sunday that targeted killings in Karachi were part of a conspiracy against the government and urged Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to take suo motu notice of the May 12 , 2007, carnage in the city.

Talking to journalists after attending a meeting of Sindh Bar Council, Mr Soomro said that PPP workers knew how to handle the situation arising out of targeted killings.

He said that in Punjab judges were recruited on the recommendation of the chief minister but Sindh chief minister's recommendations were ignored. Such an attitude and double standards, he said, were giving rise to doubts and suspicions.

He warned that different standards for Lahore and Larkana would not be good for the country.

Mr Soomro said that suo motu notices were being taken on several issues and the CJP should also take notice of the May 12 tragedy to help the government arrest culprits and punish them.

He said that more than 250 people had been arrested in connection with targeted killings. Pakistan People's Party believed in strengthening institutions and would never allow anyone to derail democracy, he said.

He said that Sindh Bar Council at its meeting held here passed a unanimous resolution expressing confidence in steps taken by President Asif Ali Zardari.

But Ali Mohammed Dahiri, president of the Shaheed Benazirabad district bar association and vice-chairman elect of the SBC disputed the minister's claim and said that no verbal or written resolution had been presented at the council meeting by any member. Only issues related to the bar council and legal fraternity were discussed at the meeting, they said.

On Saturday, addressing members of Shaheed Benazirabad DBA, Mr Soomro said that every institution should work within its limits. The PPP has great respect for judiciary and rendered sacrifices for its independence with the belief that it will strengthen democracy.

He said that President Asif Ali Zardari was an “iron man” but some elements were against him because of his Sindhi cap.

The minister said that lawyers' colonies would be established in all districts and lawyers would be provided easy loans to construct their houses. More than 1,000 law officers would soon be recruited in Sindh, he said.

He said that lawyers would have medical facilities equivalent to the entitlement of grade-18 government officers and women advocates would be paid Rs10,000 for each case pertaining to women prisoners.The minister handed over a cheque for Rs100,000 to the president of the DBA Ali Mohammed Dahiri and announced a grant of Rs1 million for the bar in the next financial year.