KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement said on Wednesday that conspiracies were being hatched to stop the MQM from freely carrying out political activities.

Speaking at a press conference, senior MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that the MQM was taking part in the upcoming general elections from all over the country, but hurdles were being created in its way.

He said the situation in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, was going from bad to worse. “Shia and Sunni scholars, doctors, teachers and other important personalities, including noted social worker Parveen Rahman and Prof Sibt-e-Jafar, are being gunned down in the unending wave of sectarian targeted killings.”

He said MQM workers and leaders were also being targeted in the city and the killing of MPA Manzar Imam and several MQM activists during the first three months of the current year indicated a conspiracy.

“Though Shia and Sunni are living in the entire country, we believe that the sectarian violence is aimed at dividing the people of Karachi on sectarian lines, as targeted killings on sectarian grounds are occurring in the city alone,” he said. “Besides, several MQM workers and sympathisers have been killed in order to circumscribe the political activities of the MQM.”

He said that without any reason those against the MQM always accused the party of indulging in terrorism, but all these political and religious parties were now quiet over acts of terrorism in Karachi.

Talking about extortion-related crimes, Dr Sattar said there was a surge in the activities of Lyari gangs, which were sending extortion slips to traders, industrialists, shopkeepers, transporters, doctors, lawyers, and others and attacked those who refused to pay extortion money. “Their audacity can be judged from the fact that they even kidnapped police and Rangers personnel a few days ago and killed them.”

Criticising the law-enforcement agencies’ failure to stem violence, the MQM leader said it appeared that there was no institution in Karachi for establishing peace and protecting citizens’ lives.

He said it was ironic that terrorists struck in the city despite the presence of thousands of personnel of police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies.

He appealed to President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take notice of the killing of innocent people, including MQM workers and religious scholars, and order arrest of the killers. He also asked the government to take measures for protecting the life and property of the people.