LONDON, May 20: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has blamed the establishment and what he called the political parties on the payroll of the establishment for the May 12 bloodbath in Karachi.

He said these elements had conspired to destroy the peace of Karachi and blame it on the MQM.

In an uncharacteristically mild statement issued from the MQM international headquarters about Saturday’s deliberations of MQM Rabita Committee, the MQM chief was quoted as counselling his party workers not to be provoked and closely guard their unity.

He also advised the participants to go back home and do their best to calm the situation and not to let it degenerate into an ethnic conflict.

He said the MQM was the sole liberal and democratic party of the country and it was struggling to overthrow the outdated feudal system and ‘wadera shahi’, which according to him, had entrenched itself over the last 60 years.

Azfar-ul-Ashfaque adds from Karachi: A meeting of the top MQM leadership continued for the second consecutive day on Sunday in London to review the overall political situation in the backdrop of May 12 tragic incidents in Karachi.According to press release issued from London, the meeting, which began on Saturday and continued for 11 hours without any break, might continue for Monday.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad also went to London to meet Altaf Hussain. Party sources said the governor briefed the MQM chief on the overall political situation and measures being taken by the provincial government to avert ethnic riots in Karachi.

A party spokesman said that nothing could be said at this stage about the final decision as the meeting was still going on.