KARACHI, May 22: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has condemned violence, arson attacks and killing of innocent people in the city and said that gangs of criminals rejected by the people turned Karachi into a bloodbath on the pretext of staging a rally under a well-planned conspiracy.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the MQM coordination committee said the rally was not staged to express love for Sindh, but was aimed at turning the city into a bloodbath.

The MQM said the criminals first opened indiscriminate fire and then torched parked vehicles, attacked properties in the Boulton Market, Jodia Bazaar, Denso Hall, Pan Mandi, Kharadar and markets in adjacent areas and police station with hand grenades, rockets and sophisticated weapons, killing a number of innocent people.

The party stated that those involved in these attacks were the same people who had recently attacked the police with rocket launchers, grenades, etc.

The coordination committee regretted over the failure of police and Rangers in taking a swift action against terrorists.

It also urged President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, the interior minister, governor and chief minister that the life and property of citizen be protected and the culprits arrested.

The MQM also appealed to the people to remain calm and not to react despite the acts of terrorism.