KARACHI, May 12: Condemning those responsible for the tragic incidents of May 12, 2007, representatives of many political parties gathered at a conference on Saturday called by the Jamaat-i-Islami sought a peaceful solution to the violence that has been prevailing in Karachi for years.

The conference titled ‘May 12 mayhem — outcome of the reconciliatory policy; targeted killing and restoration of peace and harmony in Karachi’ was presided over by Jamaat-i-Islami chief Syed Munawwar Hasan.

Participants of the conference adopted a resolution demanding of the government that perpetrators of the May 12, 2007 mayhem be exposed and apprehended.

The event saw the political leaders setting aside their own differences for the moment to join hands in favour of bringing peace back to Karachi.

Speaking on the occasion, JI Karachi chief Muhammad Hussain Mahenti lamented that Karachi had earned an identity of terrorism. “The city of over 20 million people is in big trouble these days, trouble which began in 1986 and reached its height on May 12, 2007 when roads were blocked to prevent the public and lawyers from welcoming the then deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan. I’m sure all the parties attending today’s conference want to see an end to terrorism, targeted killing and extortion here,” he said.

Seasoned politician and central leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Raja Zafarul Haq said on the occasion that it was time for a joint struggle to save the country.

“The situation of Karachi is being discussed all over the world and it is giving a very bad impression about the country abroad.

Foreign investment has stopped due to the situation in Karachi alone,” he said.

Former foreign minister and vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that he along with the people of the country had lost faith in the national assembly, “The NA has just become a debating club. They don’t care about the problems of the people. How to save their own seats is what is more important to them now. All they do is shield a convicted prime minister,” he said.

Sindh chief of the PML-N Syed Ghous Ali Shah said that the nation that stood behind the CJP in 2007 was looking to him to stand behind them. “The CJP should take action and the people will back him once again,” he said.

In his presidential address, JI chief Munawwar Hasan said that it was the fifth military operation that was being carried out in Balochistan.

“Military operation is the root cause of people’s hatred and has contributed to enhancing problems there,” he said.

He said that he was asked if the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, too, had been invited to the national conference. “We could invite the MQM provided it acted like a proper political party. Political parties have different culture and directions but terrorist organisations have other agendas,” he said, adding that he was well aware of the MQM’s work.

“The MQM should stop the culture of targeted killing, packing dead bodies in gunny bags, extortion and killing of its opponents,” he said.

“The charter of democracy and reconciliation policy is useless as it cannot deliver to the people. The PPP has been patronising terrorists on the pretext of a reconciliation policy,” he said.

“The operation in Lyari is like a continuation of the May 12 carnage,” he said and urged the people of Karachi to change their approach and bring about a change in leadership through the power of their votes.

Awami National Party’s Shahi Syed said that talk was no good and wished for some action in doing away with the negative elements. “We hear about democracy, but we really don’t see it,” he said.

Mir Hasil Bizenjo from Balochistan said that he didn’t get to hear as much firing in Balochistan as he did in Karachi. He regretted even after a weeklong operation in Lyari, the law-enforcement agencies said that they couldn’t get past Cheel Chowk. “Any other government could have overpowered the criminals of their country but not our government.”

Malik Matloob Ali Awan of the Sunni Tehreek said other tragic incidents such as the Nishtar Park carnage in 2006 had also followed the May 12 incident but there had been no proper inquiry on any.

Mahmood ul Hasan, the president of the Karachi Bar Association, said that just condemnation of the Black Day would not be enough. Instead of fighting each other, the parties should join hands to look into the endless injustices going on for so long.Mirza Yousuf Hussain of the Muslim Muttahida Mahaz said that the judiciary was still not free.

PML-N leaders Mushahidullah Khan, Saleem Zia, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Sindh United Party chief Jalal Mehmood Shah, former Karachi nazim Naimatullah Khan, Asadullah Bhutto, Nusrat Mirza and other leaders belonging to the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Pakistan Democratic Party, Awami Muslim League, Tehreek-i-Islami, Jamaatud Dawa, National People’s Party and others also spoke.

A ‘white paper’ and a CD on May 12 carnage was also released.