KARACHI, May 21: Demanding an independent commission of inquiry into the May 12 killings, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement said on Monday it would produce relevant evidence, including footage of armed opposition workers engaged in acts of violence, before the commission.

Addressing a news conference at the party’s headquarters, MQM leaders Haider Abbas Rizvi and Faisal Subzwari rejected the claim of PPP leader Sherry Rehman that she was not familiar with the armed man who clung to her vehicle near the COD bridge and fired into the air on May 12.

They claimed that according to the footage two armed men, clung to Ms Rehman’s vehicle, subsequently went inside the vehicle.

The same footage was screened on Monday.

“If she does not know who these people were, why did she allow them to come inside the vehicle?” Mr Rizvi questioned.

He said it was well known that a PPP militant wing, which went by the name of Al-Zulfikar, had not only hijacked a plane but also fired rockets on oil terminals and committed acts of terrorism. He asked PPP leaders and other opposition parties to admit to their mistakes and allow the citizens to live in a peaceful atmosphere.

Mr Subzwari reiterated the demand for an independent inquiry commission to find out who the real perpetrators of the May 12 bloodshed were. He condemned the PPP for its demand for the dismissal of the government and holding of elections.

He asked human rights groups, women rights associations and civil society organisations to take serious notice of the incident.