[DEBATE] : Musharraf regimes unleashes violence in Karachi

[glparramatta]

(Below: media release from Labour Party Pakistan and a graphic account

of yesterday's violence by a leading LPP member in Karachi.)

Govt, MQM responsible for Karcahi killings: LPP

* Red salute to martyrs of democracy
* Musharraf, Sindh Governor, CM should resign
* A judicial inquiry be set up to probe killings
* LPP to observe Black Day and support General Strike

Lahore (PR): The Labour Party Pakistan (LPP) strongly condemns the thug
violence employed by the MQM, in collaboration with the government, thus
costing scores of precious lives in Karachi on May 12.

In a press release issued here, LPP Secretary General Farooq Tariq while
holding Musharraf regime, Sindh government and MQM responsible for the
killings in Karachi, has paid tributes to the political activists who
laid their lives for the cause of democracy as well as independence of
judiciary and valiantly faced the bullets.

He also announced to observe the Black day on the call of ARD and
appealed to the workers, trade unions and masses to observe a general
strike on Monday.

He said: ‘ The government and it's political pet MQM have been hand in
glove in perpetuating violence in order to derail the democracy movement
further triggered by the dismissal of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry'.

He demanded an immediate resignation of general Musharraf, Sindh
governor and chief minister.

He said hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy workers received Justice
Iftikhar Chaudhry on GT Road, dozens of rallies have been held by
advocates and activists all across the country since March 9 and nowhere
even a stone was cast. ‘The blood is on the hands of federal as well as
Sindh government and MQM leadership. A judicial inquiry should be
conducted to probe the killings and culprits be brought to justice', he
demanded.

Paying tributes to the democracy martyrs, he said movements grow when
watered by the blood of martyrs. He vowed to continue the democracy
struggle on the platform of his party in collaboration with other
democratic and progressive forces. (ends)


* * *

City that was besieged by the beasts and boars
(A graphic account by a leading LPP comrade in Karachi)

The whole population of Karachi was very enthusiastically waiting to
make a historical reception of Chief justice of Pakistan on 12th May
2007. All major political parties, trade unions, civil society
organizations and professional bodies had chalk out theirs plans to give
rousing well come to the honorable guest .The vibrant mood of city was
alarming for the ethnic organization who is very near and dear to
General Musharaf and Company.

They come to rescue their master through rein of terror which let loose
on peoples of Karachi since 11th May night. They have started
terrorizing and harassing activists of opposition parties and common
citizens and forcing them not to attend the rallies in respect of the
Chief Justice reception on 12th May.

Just after the sun set on 11th May they started their ugly game with the
all out support of Provincial and city government and army headed
rangers. They took the control of all the roads and inter sections that
lead toward the airport. They had started to snatch and scratch banners
and posters and uproot the reception camps of different parties. The
goons of ethnic party had made an attempt on life of Munier A malik,
Lawyer of CJ and tried to kidnap Akhter Hussein Advocate, former
president of Sindh High Court Bar Association from his home in Gulshan
Iqbal area, just to spread panic in the city.

They create an environment on fear all over the city and had made
midnight knocked on the door of opponents and threaten them dire
consequences if them did not follow them.

They put hurdles on the roads; hundreds of buses laid on shahra Faisal,
only road which connecting the city to the airport. All main points from
where workers would reach the airport blocked by the trailers, big
trucks and water tankers with punctured tyres.

All these points where policed by the well-armed hardcore members of MQM
along with army and rangers personnel. All the day they didn't let the
people towards the airport.

The high command of MQM had ordered their workers to hijack hundreds of
buses of Karachi University, NED engineering University, IBA, DOW
medical College, Sindh Medical College on one hand and forcefully took
away the buses of opponents and tortured them harshly. They attacked the
Labour Party Pakistan workers with heavy firing at Awami Merkaz where
three persons injured. After it the series of violence against the
rallies participants converted into bloody war.

They had started direct firing on thousands of participants of the
rallies when they stared to reach near airport. The incidents of heavy
firing with sophisticated weapons where reported and also seen by me at
Awami Merkaz, Star Gate, Malir Halt, Natha Khan Goth, Drigh Road
station, Goro Mandir Chowk, Nazimabad and near Baloch Colony bridge. The
terrorists of MQM had torched the offices of "AAJ TV" and "Business
Recorder" and put on fire scores of cars, motor cycles and other
vehicles parked out side the office to show their rage on live coverage
of terrorist activities of MQM.

I visited Jinnah Hospital where I saw ten dead bodies and hundreds of
injured at emergency. There are reports of 20 political workers' death
and more then 350 seriously injured till the filing of this writ up at
5.00pm, majority of dead and injured were ANP and ML (N) workers.

Chief Justice is still stuck at airport, he refused to go with officials
of governments and told them that he would go along with his hosts,the
Sindh High Court bar Association. many lawyers are still missing, office
bearers and more the 50 members of Malir Bar association were severely
tortured by the MQM workers. The ten members including Zahoor Hussain
Mehar, Voice president of Malir District bar association, who took
refuge in Mosque, which was surrounded by the gang of terrorist, were
rescued by the Labour Party Pakistan with the help of Asad But of HRCP.

Situation is very much tense every where, city is in the grip of fear
and uncertainty and ethnic tension is very high again. All democratic
peace-loving forces come forward and fly high the flag of democracy,
which is now become red with the blood of innocent workers. Today's
martyrs are heroes of democratic struggle, their blood will usher a new
era of democracy, triumph just cause and ever lasting defeat of military
dictators.

Nasir Mansoor
Labour Education Foundation (LEF)
628, Mashrik Center,
Gulshan Iqbal , Block 14,
Karachi , Pakistan
Phone # +9221-485-4643, Fax No. +9221-414-1898,
Mobile # 0300-358-7211
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"WHEN INJUSTICE BECOMES LAW, RESISTANCE BECOMES DUTY"
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