May 12, 2007 - letter to the Registrar of the Supreme Court requesting that the CJ postpone ...... advised her to form a
C P
A watershed
May 12 2007 will go down as a watershed event in Karachi’s history. It was the day when the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who was facing a presidential reference, was to attend the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Supreme Court. The day will be remembered, however, for murders and mayhem and generalized violence that was witnessed on the roads, streets and lanes of the largest metropolis of Pakistan. About fifty people lost their lives, hundreds were injured, and property worth millions of rupees was destroyed.
H
R
The aftermath of the events of May 12 has been filled with recrimination and bitterness. There were mutually conflicting claims about responsibility and culpability, and attempts at initiating processes of legal and political accountability. This report does not presume to pre-empt or anticipate the outcomes of the processes of accountability that have been initiated in the courts and elsewhere. Its aim is more limited. It attempts to create a record based on newspaper reports, testimonies and accounts provided by eyewitnesses and affidavits relating to the events in Karachi on May 12. Much of the material used in this report is already in the public domain. In the politically charged atmosphere that prevailed in the city, “facts” became contested almost as soon as they were first reported. This report does not start with a particular brief for or against any actor. As a starting position, it takes at face value what was said, observed and reported. It tries to corroborate various factual accounts through a method of triangulation wherever possible. Where there appear to be unresolved contradictions between various accounts of the same event, the conflicting accounts are reported. The report does, however, provide analysis of events, patterns of action, and the responses of various players present or active in the events of May 12. It is hoped that the factual reporting and the analysis provided here will be augmented, improved and corrected as more witnesses and stakeholders come forward and Nobody was afraid of displaying guns or using them. provide their inputs into the report.
1
1.
Leading up to May 12
1.1
Rising Political Tension War of words:
The period leading up to May 12 saw rising political tensions. The Chief Justice’s (CJ) programme to visit Karachi received wide publicity from around May 5 onwards when he made the 26-hour long road journey in a mammoth procession from Islamabad to Lahore. The chain of events in Karachi began to unfold after the announcement of the CJ’s visit to Karachi on May 12th to address the Sindh High Court Bar Association in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court. The chronology of events as it developed is as follows:
C P
The MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a party that is part of the ruling coalition in Sindh and at the centre and is generally considered as the government in Karachi) held a press conference and demonstration at the Karachi Press Club on May 5th evening against what they claimed was the politicization of the CJ case1. In the press conference, MQM leader Shoaib Bokhari said: “This constitutional issue of the presidential reference has been converted into a political issue by the opposition parties and certain lawyers’ organisations which are trying to create a crisis-like situation in the country for their ulterior political motives,”
H
R
The same evening, three independent television news channels went off the air in Karachi, Hyderabad and Nawabshah, blocking the live coverage of the CJ’s caravan from Islamabad to Lahore. Officials of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) denied any instructions had been issued to stop the transmission of the channels. They said that these channels were not seen only in southern parts of Sindh, and if Pemra had issued any instructions, the transmission would have been blocked all over the country. There were accusations that a political party in the ruling coalition had forced cable operators to stop transmission of the channels. However, MQM denied having played any role in the blocking of the transmission2. On May 6th, the Sindh PPP (opposition party) General Secretary, Nafees Siddiqui, stated in a press conference that ARD (Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, formed by opposition parties) and civil society organizations would accord a historic welcome to the CJ. The Sindh ANP (opposition party having strong influence among Pakhtuns who have a large population in Karachi) President, Shahi Syed also announced that the people of Sindh would warmly welcome the CJ on his arrival on May 12 and that a central reception camp would be set up at Natha Khan Goth from where their rally would proceed towards the airport3. On May 8th, MQM founder Altaf Hussain addressed party workers from London and said: “… if conspiracies are hatched to end the present democratically elected Government then each and every worker of Muttahida Qaumi Movement … will stand firm and defend the democratic government.” He also announced the holding of an MQM rally on May 12th, the day the CJ was to arrive. On May 9th, Sindh Home Secretary Brigadier Ghulam Mohammed Mohtaram wrote a letter to the Registrar of the Supreme Court requesting that the CJ postpone his visit to Karachi. The letter stated that the event, which otherwise would have been an event exclusively for the judiciary and the bar was drawing political interest; that all political parties, including those in the opposition and the government, were planning to hold rallies on that 1
Dawn May 6 (a) Dawn May 6 (b) 3 The News 7 May (b) 2
2
day; and that tension in the city was on the rise and law-enforcement and security agencies were unanimous in their assessment that there could be armed clashes and bloodshed. In response, the CJ’s chief counsel Aitzaz Ahsan reiterated that the CJ would attend the programme in Karachi as scheduled4.
C P
There followed a spate of statements by political leaders from all sides in the build-up to May 12. On May 9th, PML-N (opposition party) Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra declared that the lawyers campaign was a national movement for the independence of the judiciary and rule of law and nobody can stop it. He urged the MQM to change its May 12 rally in order avoid any untoward situation. Later in the day, in an address to the Karachi Bar Association, Iqbal Jhagra warned the government that any obstacle in the way of the peaceful rally on the arrival of the Chief Justice would not be tolerated5. Some MQM ministers, such as Babar Ghauri, were recalled from vacations for the party rally. On May 10th, several opposition legislators in the National Assembly charged that there had been aerial firing throughout the night in Karachi and, expressing apprehensions about a clash on May 12, called upon the MQM to call off their rally6.
R
The MQM responded the next day. FarooqSattar, Deputy Convener of the MQM Rabita Committee, charged that the opposition rally on May 12 would be illegal and unconstitutional and accused the opposition of mischief7. He further said that the opposition had brought the CJ’s issue on to the streets and the MQM has only accepted the challenge and will show the world its strength8
H
The abject hostility of the MQM, one of the coalition partners in the Sindh government, to the CJ and the opposition had ominous overtones, as indicated by the choice of language. Even as the bloody day of May 12 was waning, Waseem Akhter, Advisor to Tansport as usual was a favourite target for rioters. the Sindh Chief Minister on Home Affairs accused the Chief Justice of taking tea at the airport while people were being killed9. And his chief, Altaf Husain – speaking from London – said: “Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, the Sindh Home Secretary requested you to postpone your visit, but you didn’t listen. You stuck to your decision of coming here, and because of you, a number of people were killed. Are you satisfied now?”10 There were conciliatory statements too. MQM founder Altaf Hussain instructed his supporters to remain peaceful11. MQM Deputy Convenor Farooq Sattar said that there was no 4
Dawn May 10 (a) Dawn 10 May (b) 6 The News 11 May (a) 7 The News 12 May (b) 8 Daily Times 12 May (b) 9 See Dawn, “ Riots disrupt Karachi calm”, May 13, 2007; Daily Times, “CJ responsible for deaths: Waseem”, May 13, 2007 10 Daily Times, May 13: 2007, “You were told not to come here but you didn’t listen: Altaf to CJP” 11 Jang 12 May (c) 5
3
chance of a clash between the rival rallies. This was also echoed by PML-Q (the main party in the ruling coalition) President Chaudhry Shujaat 12. On the other side, Bar association leaders announced that only lawyers should come to the High Court and that political party workers and the general public should maintain their distance from the lawyers’ contingent13. This appeared to be a concession to the MQM, whose main criticism of the lawyer’s movement was that it was being use by political parties for their own agendas. At the end of the day, however, it appears that conciliation failed to prevail. From words to action:
C P
By May 10th, the war of words had graduated to limited action on the ground. Several incidents – some of them apparently unrelated to the rival rallies -- were reported that indicated rising tensions in the city. Early on May 10th, unidentified gunmen fired on the house of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President. Munir Malik and bullets narrowly missed his daughter14. The same day, the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) sealed the private law office of Munir Malik, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on the grounds that there were violations of building law regulations. The Sindh High Court promptly ordered the premises unsealed.
H
R
The same day, two alleged terrorists were arrested from the Korangi area who said that they belonged to MQM Haqiqi and that their party had directed them to carry out terrorist actions on May 12.15. The “Pasban” organization called for a shutter down strike in parts of the city on May 11th to protest against power failures and street crime16. One person was killed in the Falaknaz Apartments area on Sharah-e-Faisal in a clash between those calling for a shutter down and those resisting it 17. Malik Amir, a private security guard at a Western Union mobile shop on Shahra-e-Faisal was shot dead by 5 unidentified men when he refused to shut down the shop18. Police removed reception camps set up by opposition parties in connection with the rally of the Chief Justice in parts of the city. Capital City Police Officer Azhar Farooqui said that the reception camps were removed under an administrative order by the home department. However, the Chief Minister’s Adviser on Home Affairs Wasim Akhtar said the reception camps were removed irrespective of party affiliations19. On May 11th, there was also a drive-by shooting near Abbasi Market in the Model Colony area at three young men, who were setting up a reception camp. One of the men, Asghar Shah, died on the spot, while the other two – Shioz and Liaquat – were wounded. One report claimed that Ashgar Shah was a former activist of the Punjabi-Pakhtun Ittehad (PPI), another claimed that he was a worker of PML(N)20. The same day, at least 125 people – including members of the PPP, PML-N, MMA
12
Jang 12 May (b) Jang 12 May (g) 14 The News 11 May (a) 15 Jang 11 May (a) 16 Dawn 11 May (a) 17 Express 12 May (b) 18 Daily Times 12 May (f) 19 Dawn 11 May (b) 20 Daily Times 12 May (f) 13
4
and other opposition parties – were arrested for the “public good”21. In the early hours of the morning, one lane of Shahrah-e-Quaideen, leading to the Quaid’s Mazar, was found to be dug up. Area residents and shopkeepers claimed that there was no sign till Friday midnight that there was to be any earthwork on the road. Mohammed Arif, KWSB Chief Engineer Zone BII said that KWSB had no pending work scheduled on the road. Jamshed Town Administration spokesman also expressed ignorance as to who had ordered the digging and why it had been carried out 22. The same day, armed cadres of a political party hijacked 19 buses belonging to the University of Karachi, NED University of Engineering and Government College of Technology across the city23.
R
C P
Due to mounting anxiety, market associations, traders, and transporters decided to close for business on May 12. And in a late night announcement, the Sindh government declared May 12th a public holiday24. Fearing violence, the Sindh Home Department declared emergency at the seven public-sector hospitals in the city25. Even the Sindh High Court, acting on a petition, ordered the federal and provincial governments to provide complete security to the CJ wherever he desires to go during his visit to Karachi on Saturday.26
H
Tavel by automobiles was not safe.
1.2
Official Security Plan
Given widespread explicit concerns in official, opposition as well as private circles that there might be violent clashes in Karachi between rival supporters of political parties on May 12, several types of official responses were discerned from press statements. The Home Affairs Advisor articulated two distinct types of security threats that were expected on May 12. First, there was a possibility of a suicide bombing by a network of terrorists, which he said the government was trying to break. Second, he felt that there might be violence if charged supporters of the opposing rallies came face to face27. The letter from the Federal Interior Secretary, Syed Kamal Shah, to the Registrar of the Supreme Court cited three types of security threats: (a) clashes between rival rallies; (b) targeted attacks on key government and opposition leaders; (c) terrorist ambushes of rallies.28 Reportedly, this letter did not refer to the threat of a suicide bomb attack.
21
Jang 12 May (l) Daily Times 12 May (e) 23 Daily Times 12 May (f) 24 Dawn 12 May (c) 25 Daily Times 12 May (c) 26 The News 12 May (c) 27 Jang, 12 May (m) 28 Express 11 May (b) 22
5
A high-ranking group at the Governor’s House was monitoring the situation on a daily basis.29 This group included the Governor, the Chief Minister, the provincial advisor on Home Affairs, and senior officials of law enforcement agencies. Details of the security plan were not made public; however, press reports indicated some specific actions. These included the division of policing activities in the entire city into three zones, each headed by a DIG, the deployment of and patrolling by Rangers and police, and installations of CCTV cameras and aerial surveillance at various locations, including Sharah-e-Faisal. It was specified that Section 144 was not imposed30.
C P
Interestingly, one report as early as May 7th had recounted that the government had decided to fix cameras around the city courts for complete monitoring of the CJ during his arrival in the city on May 12 and, further, that a monitoring device with a range of 5-kilometre distance, which could also tape a voice, would also be fixed at the main gates of the city courts.
R
At a meeting on May 11, apparently at the Governor’s House, several “security” and “political” options were discussed for preventing confrontation between rival rallies of supporters of the CJ and the MQM respectively. The “security” options included offering a bulletproof vehicle, identifying potential points of conflict between the rival rallies, stationing Rangers and paramilitary forces at those points, and placing security forces in a state of high alert31. The “political” options included delaying the Chief Justice’s flight, requesting the CJ to return due to the tense situation, offering to fly him to the city centre in a helicopter, and allowing his supporters to take him in a rally after the end of the MQM rally32 . Interestingly, all of the various options reported in the press take it for granted that the MQM would not be asked to make any changes to its plans. 1.2.1 Commandeering of Vehicles and setting Roadblocks
H
The most conspicuous “security” preparation for May 12 was the commandeering of vehicles and the setting up of roadblocks in various parts of the city from the evening of May 11 onwards. Commandeered vehicles included container trucks and trailers, trucks, watertankers, Suzuki pick-ups, coaches, buses, mini-buses, and rickshaws. The commandeered vehicles were placed strategically to block roads, streets and lanes and their tyres were deflated to prevent them form being moved. As referred to earlier, between 7:00-7:30 am of May 11th, 19 buses belonging to the University of Karachi, NED University and Government College of Technology were hijacked by armed MQM cadres from Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Jamshed Quarters, Karimabad, Korangi Road, Malir Jinnah Square, National Highway, Nazimabad Board Office, Nazimabad Petrol Pump, New Karachi, North Nazimabad, Numaish Chowrangi, Shahrah-e-Faisal, and University Road. The drivers were also taken away along with the buses33. Armed MQM workers also commandeered a large number of private vehicles from transporters and other tradesmen. In most cases, owners or drivers of the vehicles were instructed to remain with their vehicles. This was done in an organized way with “military” precision. MQM unit offices collected the vehicles, along with their documents, and parked 29
Jang 12 May (l) Dawn 11 May (b) 31 Jang 12 May (m). 32 Jang, 12 May (m) 33 Jang 12 May (d) 30
6
the vehicles at designated collection points. According to Ashiq Husain Khan Niazi, General Secretary of Karachi Goods Carrier Association, armed persons in the presence of police and rangers seized heavy transport at gunpoint. According to Maddad Khan, General Secretary of the KPT Transport Carrier Association, armed groups started lifting vehicles at gunpoint from Landhi, Malir, Ghani Chowrangi, Ranchore Lines, Baloch Colony, Port Qasim and other areas from Friday afternoon till Saturday early morning. According to Amir Kalam of the Karachi Trucks, Trailers and Brokers Association, when their organization contacted the Inspector-General of Police, he expressed his helplessness34.
C P
Suzuki pick-ups and rickshaws were commandeered by MQM’s local unit offices from tradesmen in the surrounding localities of Bohra Peer, Ranchhore Lines, etc.35 The commandeered vehicles were used to blockade key roads and access point in the city. The Sindh government had ordered Shahrah-e-Faisal, the road from the airport that the Chief Justice would have to take to proceed to the city, and all link roads to be declared as a ‘no-go’ area for workers and supporters of opposition political parties. It also ordered the police to arrest every person on Shahrah-e-Faisal found with party flags and/or portraits of party leaders36.
H
R
It placed the commandeered vehicles to block Shahrah-e-Faisal and all its intersections and link roads; rendering it completely inaccessible to motorists and even to motorcyclists37. The access to the airport from the city center was blocked at Natha Khan Bridge near Drigh Road Station. Heavy contingents of police were present and the police beat several people, protesting against the setting up of the barricades. Containers were laid across Shahrah-eFaisal at various points between the airport and COD. Vehicles were also parked across Korangi Road at various points. A container truck was parked across the city-bound carriageway on Clifton Road before Teen Talwar junction. Both carriageways of the Clifton Bridge were blocked using minibuses.38 Roads around Quaid-e-Azam’s Mazar as well as approaches to M.A. Jinnah Road were also blocked at various points south of Civil Hospital. Vehicles were also placed between M.A. Jinnah Road and I.I. Chundrigar Road. In some cases, roadblocks were Containers were used to blockade roads. more makeshift, e.g., moveable steel fences were used, so that roadblocks could be moved quickly and easily. MQM cadres had taken over the task of directing traffic.39
34
Dawn 16 May (h) Eyewitness account, HRCP observer. 36 The News 12 May (a) 37 Dawn 13 May (i) 38 Eyewitness account, HRCP observer. 39 Eyewitness account, HRCP observer. 35
7
Road blocks, using containers, rickshaws and moveable steel fences, were placed by the police on all access roads leading to the Sindh High Court The area around City Courts on M.A. Jinnah Road was barricaded using smaller vehicles – mostly, Suzuki pickups.40 1.3
Evaluating the Security Plan
R
C P
From reported statements it is clear that the authorities identified at least four distinct types of security threats on May 12. These were articulated by responsible officials in the days leading up to May 12. The four types of security threats that were identified were: 1. Clashes between rival supporters and their rallies 2. Targeted assassination attempts on key individuals 3. Suicide bomb attack on CJ and members of his entourage 4. Terrorist ambushes of political rallies It appears that three types of security measures were taken. 1. Dissuade the CJ from making the trip to Karachi, or to modify his programme. This it appears was the primary focus of the efforts of government functionaries. 2. Place police contingents along the routes of the rallies and use helicopters and CCTVs for surveillance; with additional police contingents and Rangers acting as backup. 3. Pre-emptive measures such as the declaration of a public holiday and emergency alerts at hospitals.
H
The most significant preparation for the day was the setting up of roadblocks and barricades on various roads and streets in different parts of the city. This was also admitted by Home Affairs Advisor Wasim Akhtar in a subsequent TV interview. Roadblocks and barricades could only possibly deal with the first of the four types of security threats identified by the various functionaries in the lead up to May 12, i.e., the possibility of a clash between rival rallies. This particular security threat appears to have received much of the attention of officials. As such, it is useful to examine the points where this threat was the most acute. There was considerable confusion about the route plan of the various rallies. In the case of the CJ, at least two parameters were fixed. He was to arrive at the airport and end up at the Sindh High Court. In addition, it was expected that he would address the Malir District Bar and pay a visit to the Quaid’s Mazar. His movement, therefore, was mostly to be along the National Highway/Sharah-e-Faisal axis. The MQM had announced that it would hold its rally at Tibet Centre on M.A. Jinnah Road and that it would use Numaish and Quaid’s Mazar as collection points. It further announced that its supporters will arrive at Tibet Centre from two separate directions: one, along the main thoroughfares from Liaqatabad and Nazimabad via Guru Mandir and, two, along National Highway/Sharah-e-Faisal via Shahrah-e-Quaideen. The MQM claimed that it needed the latter route in order to bring its supporters from eastern parts of Karachi, including from Thatta and Badin areas. Potentially, there were several flashpoints where the CJ’s and MQM’s supporters might have crossed each other’s paths en route to their respective destinations, either in processions, groups or individually. However, two points of potential conflict that emerged 40
Eyewitness account, HRCP observer.
8
were National Highway/Sharah-e-Faisal and Quaid’s Mazar. These were the two locations where the rival rallies were likely to cross and face one another head on. For the CJ’s supporters from Lyari, for example, the most direct route to the airport would have been through “MQM lines” along M.A. Jinnah Road. Those coming from northern parts of the city, the most direct route to the airport would cut across “MQM lines” along the Nazimabad and Liaqatabad corridors. Thus, while it was possible to find alternative routes around other possible points of confrontation along these routes, there was little possibility of avoiding contact between the rallies along National Highway/Sharah-e-Faisal and Quaid’s Mazar.
C P
If the main security threat was perceived to arise from a clash between supporters of the two rival rallies, the focus of the security plan ought to have to keep the two rallies apart – possibly by creating buffers of police and Rangers between them along Shara-e-Faisal and at Quaid’s Mazar.
Securing Quaid’s Mazar was likely to have been less challenging than policing National Highway/Sharah-e-Faisal. The Quaid’s Mazar is one single location, albeit over a fairly large area. However, it is ringed by wide double roads on all four sides and it might have been possible to allocate one road on either side to each of the two rallies; along with a large presence of law enforcement personnel acting as a buffer between the two segments.
H
R
The National Highway/Sharah-e-Faisal corridor would have been a more challenging route to secure. It was known that the CJ’s supporters would converge at Karachi Airport from two sides – some coming from the National Highway end from Gulshan-eHadeed, Quaidabad, Landhi and Malir, while others arriving from the city along Sharah-e-Faisal. MQM supporters would also need to use the same route and turn left onto Sharah-e-Quaideen to proceed towards the Quaid’s Mazar. The CJ’s supporters would have to take the same route if they also intended to go to the Quaid’s Mazar. The challenge would be to keep the rival processions separate while they were both headed in the same direction for most of their Did not know where to take the injured. journeys. Incidentally, experience was not lacking. The task of securing the Sharah-e-FaisalQuaid’s Mazar route would, in effect, have been similar to the policing of separate and potentially conflicting Shia and Sunni processions along M.A. Jinnah Road during Moharram. The city police have been eminently successful in maintaining peace by ensuring that there is a time-lag between the Shia and the Sunni processions. The Shia procession has already dispersed by the time the main Sunni processions start entering MA Jinnah Road. (a) (b) (c)
There are three salient aspects in the securing of Muharram processions in Karachi: maintenance of a time-lag between processions traveling in the same direction prior planning and cooperation between leaders of both sides, and active presence of law enforcement personnel as the principal mediators between rival groups. Unfortunately, however, if the authorities feared violent clashes between rival rallies as 9
the main security threat, the lessons of Muharram policing appear not have been much in evidence in the preparation for May 12. In fact, some of the known preparations for May 12th were in direct contradiction to the lessons of successful policing of Moharram processions. While there is some logic in setting up roadblocks and barricades to channel rival processions away from one another and to restrict the number of entry points into the main procession route, the setting up of barriers across the main route of the rallies – i.e., on Sharah-e-Faisal – appeared to make no sense at all. Rather than facilitating the passage of the two rival rallies, the barriers actually ensured that none of the rallies could actually pass.
C P
There is no evidence either of a serious attempt at negotiating a time-lag between the two potential rival rallies. There was an indication that among the options being considered by the government one included allowing the CJ to move from the airport after the MQM rally had ended. It is not known if this option was pursued with any seriousness. There is also no evidence that the authorities made any attempt to persuade the MQM to alter the route or timing of its proposed rallies along the National Highway/Sharah-e-Faisal corridor. As it turned out, there was no MQM rally along the National Highway/Sharah-e-Faisal corridor towards the Quaid’s Mazar and M.A. Jinnah Road. It is, therefore, quite likely that the authorities had already decided that there would not be any rival rallies along the route. The objective, it then appears, was to obstruct opposition rallies.
H
R
The roadblocks were also the wrong instruments for dealing with the other three security threats, as perceived by authorities. Again, as the experience of VVIP movement along the Shara-e-Faisal corridor shows, avoiding any of the three kinds of threats requires blocking of entry onto Sharah-e-Faisal from the side roads and unimpeded flow of traffic along the corridor. While the former procedure was carried out, i.e., entry onto Sharah-e-Faisal from the side roads was restricted, the placing of barriers across Shahrah-e-Faisal created ideal conditions for an assassin, a suicide bomber or a terrorist aiming to target or ambush anyone.
2.
Flashpoints on May 12 and After
At least 34 people were killed and 140 injured on May 12th alone as parts of Karachi turned into battlegrounds41. The main areas that saw fierce clashes between rival groups were along the National Highway/Shahrah-e-Faisal corridor, as well as in other parts of the city. The situation was so grim that the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) receptionist asked those enquiring for their loved ones to first check the morgue42. An overall picture of the May 12 events is reconstructed in this section using published accounts and individual testimonials of victims and eyewitnesses. An attempt is made to identify flashpoints, or locations where violence and casualties are known to have taken place, and to provide an account of what happened at these various locations during the course of the day. The earliest reports of violence relate to the difficulties experienced by lawyers in reaching their designated meeting points in the City Courts, the Sindh High Court and the Malir District Courts respectively. This violence was threatening but mostly non-lethal. However, from around midday onwards, many segments of the National Highway/Sharah-eFaisal corridor experienced intensive use of firearms and a large number of casualties and injuries caused by firing. Violence then spread to other parts of the city from around 1.30 pm 41 42
Dawn 13 May (i) Daily Times 14 May (b)
10
onwards, with areas such as Patel Para/Business Recorder Road, Benaras Chowk, Sohrab Goth, Lyari, Keamari, Malir Halt, and Baloch Colony Bridge flaring up and remaining tense through the night and into the next day. 2.1
City Courts
C P
According to eyewitness accounts obtained by HRCP43, scores of young men – several of them armed and/or carrying MQM banners – surrounded the City Court premises and commandeered vehicles were used to block all entrances and exits to prevent lawyers from going in. However, about 150 lawyers – including several women lawyers – managed to gather at the City Courts. Lawyers reported using a number of means to get pass the MQM pickets. Some changed their clothes from the usual black jacket to other colours and pretended not to be lawyers. Others arrived either the night before or very early in the morning, after parking their vehicles at safe distances and walking past the barricades. However, they found themselves besieged in the City Courts premises and subjected to verbal abuse by picketers. The lawyers contacted DSP Malik Manzar and SHOs of City Court and Risala police stations for security, but to no avail.
H
R
The lawyers attempted to march towards the Sindh High Court in the form of a rally in order to join their colleagues already gathered there, with the intent to proceed from there to the airport to receive the CJ. The rally was stopped at a barricade created by placing a container across the road. Some of the lawyers managed to reach as far as the Paper Market, but had to retreat when the MQM picketers began to fire in the air. The rally began to disperse, but the picketers caught up with some of the lawyers and subjected them to physical abuse. Two women lawyers were slapped and pushed around and their clothes torn. One lawyer was beaten up and had his motorcycle, money and mobile phone snatched from him. Another was caught and a motorcycle was run over his leg causing a fracture. Some went to the morgue to look for their dear ones. Some lawyers then hid in the City Courts Bar Room, while others hid in a law chamber nearby. The lawyers remained besieged by armed MQM activists, some of whom set fire to the Women’s Bar Room in the City Courts.44 The lawyers requested the police to call the Rangers because they did not have confidence in the police’s ability to protect them. At about 3.45pm, DSP Malik Manzar informed them that he had orders from “above” that he could not help us; but at about 4.30pm, he called again to assure security, but asked the lawyers to leave the City Courts. Finally, on the intervention of Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani, the Town Police Officer phoned to say that the Rangers would not come, but that the lawyers could leave in police mobiles. At about 5:00pm, the lawyers were taken from the City Courts to Sindh High Court. On the way, armed MQM picketers hurled abuses at them in the presence of the police, who failed to take 43 44
FF5, FF6, FF8, FF11. Ummat 16 May (b).
11
any notice. 2.2
Sindh High Court (SHC)
There was a meeting between Sindh High Court Bar Association offcials led by its President, Abrar Hasan, and Preedy/Saddar police officials led by Jam Zafarullah Dharejo on May 10th in the Sindh High Court Conference Room to discuss security arrangements for May 12th. Among other measures, it was decided that only inner and outer gates at Passport Office side would be used for entry and exit. Accordingly, police had blocked the roads leading to and around the Sindh High Court to prevent access.
C P
However, according to eyewitnesses, the Sindh High Court was literally taken over by about 2,500 MQM armed activists.45 Some of the High Court judges had to leave their official cars and make their way through intimidating activists and climb over the court’s back wall in order to reach their chambers. Some lawyers, attempting to enter the building, were reportedly verbally and physically abused. At about 09:00am, CJ Sindh High Court arrived in his car. According to eyewitness reports, alleged MQM workers gathered around his car, restricted his movement towards the High Court and started hitting his car. However, lawyers interfered and thus he managed to enter the building.
H
R
The 300-plus lawyers who had managed to reach the High Court premises implored the CJ to provide protection from the menacing crowd. Accordingly, he summoned the IG Sindh and Home Secretary. One report said that the Corps Commander and DG Rangers were also summoned, but declined to appear on account of the security situation46. Only the IG Sindh and Home Secretary came, but claimed they were unable to do anything. At noon, according to an eyewitness, the provincial Minster of Transport telephoned the President of the SHCBA and said that the CJ should go back because their lives could be in danger from the protesting crowds. There is a slight gap in reporting between the afternoon and the lifting of the blockade; therefore, it is not known how some of the lawyers left the SHC. The blockade of the SHC was finally lifted at 8.00 pm when lawyers and others CJ supporters were allowed to enter the Court compound.47 Mohammed Tahir Naveed, Town Police Officer (TPO) Saddar, in his deposition before the Sindh High Court48 confirmed the decisions reached at the above meeting, denied that “the entire High Court premises was surrounded by a mob”, but also admitted that “Unfortunately, some miscreants managed to reach the controlled entry point and accosted bona fide users of the Sindh High Court. As a result some advocates and members of the staff, faced uncalled for inconvenience which is regretted.” 2.3
Malir District Court
According to eyewitnesses,49 roads to the Malir District Court were blocked from 7 am onwards. Some lawyers had to walk there, as rickshaws were not taking people to the area. Many of them did not wear the black jacket to avoid harassment. One female lawyer reportedly did not wear her uniform and instead wore an off-white suit and hijab so that no one would harass her on the way to the Malir District Court. Some lawyers were stopped by 45
Dawn 12 May (d). The News, May 15; Express, May 16 (c); Jang, May 16 (c). 47 FF1. 48 A62 49 FF7, FF15, FF16, FF17. 46
12
armed MQM activists at Quaidabad. President of the Malir Bar, Zahoor Hussain Mahar was badly beaten, and his car was damaged. Flags and banners in his car, meant for the protest, were also taken away.50 He was rescued by some lawyers and brought to the Malir District Courts in an injured state at around 10 am. Some lawyers who had already reached the Courts managed to contact SHO Jameel Akhtar of Shah Lateef Town to intervene, but to no avail.
R
C P
The main roadblocks affecting the Malir area were in Quaidabad. Traffic from Landhi, Quaidabad, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Steel Mills and from cities and towns in Thatta and Badin districts needs to pass through the Quaidabad junction in order to get to Malir and onwards to Karachi city centre. Although this area was far away from the planned venue of the MQM public meeting, the party had announced that it would use this route in order to bring its supporters from these very areas into the city. The CJ supporters had planned to bring rallies The dead were left on roads for hours. through this route too. In fact, the Quaidabad junction was blockaded by armed MQM cadres. Testimonies of a number of Malir lawyers, and the experience of the president of the Malir Bar ( Zahoor Hussain) attest to this. There was violence in other parts of Quaidabad too. In particular, the house of Zahoor Hussain came under fire early in the day.
H
By around 10.30am, about 150 lawyers had gathered at the Malir District Court. Supporters of political parties were gathered outside the courts as it had been decided that only lawyers would be allowed to enter. Soon news starting coming from the City Courts and SHC that the lawyers gathered there would not be able to reach the airport to receive the CJ. Lawyers at the Malir Court, who had initially planned to receive the CJ at their Court, then decided to go to the airport to meet the CJ there. Between 11.15-11.30am, lawyers and political activists started marching towards the Airport in order to receive the CJ. Some of the lawyers joined the rally in their vehicles. At Malir-15, they went past armed MQM activists who were chanting slogans. After that point there was a steady presence of MQM activists and vehicles with MQM flags. The lawyers’ rally was accompanied for a while by a police mobile, which suddenly disappeared as the rally went pass Malir railway station. At Kala Board, the road was blocked using buses and other vehicles. The men in the vehicles were all armed. The rally was first fired upon from behind the boundary wall of T&T Colony near the Bhitai Rangers base gate. The initial firing was in the air and of low intensity. The rally participants regrouped and started again. At that stage, MQM activists started firing directly into the rally, particularly at the vehicles. According to Amanullah, Advocate, he and his two fellow passengers left his vehicle and came out with their arms raised. While the other two lawyers who were with him managed to escape, an MQM activist managed to catch hold of Amanullah and shot at him at point blank range with a pistol. The pistol failed to fire and Amanullah managed to escape. He heard a round fired behind him and saw the bullet strike a political party activist. Amanullah managed to run across a railway gate to a safe spot where some other rally participants were already present. He finally managed to reach a house near Malir Halt by 6:00pm where a 50
Ummat 16 May (c)
13
number of lawyers and political activists and lawyers were present. At about 6:30pm, the police arrived and escorted the stranded lawyers to Malir Court. The police vehicles also came under fire and MQM activists continued to roam around outside the Courts and fire in the air for some time. Some of the injured were taken to hospital under the protection of media representatives.51
C P
According to Syeda Ulfat Shah, when the vehicle in which she was riding came under fire from T&T Colony, near the Bhitai Rangers base, she and her colleagues abandoned their vehicle and raised their arms. Some people called out to them from behind the boundary wall of T&T Colony to come over to them, saying they would not be harmed. When Syeda Shah and her colleagues went over to them, they were made to sit down and one man armed with a pistol was posted to guard them. According to her, the men there had a great amount of firearms and ammunition, including petrol canisters and petrol bombs. The same group had snipers on the upper floors in buildings around T&T Colony, who were receiving instructions on cell phones to fire upon supporters of particular political organizations.52 The first reported case of use of hand grenades in an attack on ANP and PML(N) rallies came from Malir Halt. Over 18 people were injured, including PML-N leader Tariq Khan. Because of the firing upon the rally at Malir Halt, many advocates and political workers were not able to proceed further along their route. Sharae-Faisal: Aisha Bawany/FTC Flyover
R
2.4
H
The area between Aisha Bawany School and the FTC flyover on Shahrah-e-Faisal was the site of violence from midday till around 3:00pm. One of the rallies heading towards the airport from the direction of the city centre to welcome the CJ found its way to this point on the Shara-e-Faisal. The rally consisted of an estimated 300-400 vehicles and over five thousand supporters, including women and children, of various political parties. The main constituents of the rally were activists of the PPP and the ANP. There were also other participants who were not directly affiliated with political parties, and these included members of trade unions and community organizations. According to some accounts there were two main rallies that merged into one as they travelled along Sharah-e-Faisal. One group consisted of PPP leaders and activists most of whom had started their journey from Lyari in south Karachi. They had been prevented from a more direct route along M.A. Jinnah Road due to barricades put up by MQM activists guarding approaches to their own rally to be held at Tibet Centre. Prominent PPP leaders who were leading this rally included Naheed Khan, Safdar Abbassi, Fauzia Wahab, and Jameel. The PPP contingent was joined at the Jinnah Bridge (near Tower) by an ANP-led rally that had commenced its journey in Orangi. The ANP rally too was unable to take a more direct route to the airport due to barricades and alleged lathi-charge and tear-gas shelling by the police at the Habib Bank Chowrangi in the SITE area of west Karachi. The rally led by PPP leaders proceeded across Jinnah Bridge and moved vehicles and containers parked across the bridge quite easily as these were unmanned. It went along Maulvi Tamizuddin Road, past Club Road, and onto Sharah-e-Faisal at Metropole. At the Sheraton-PC junction before Club Road and again at the Metropole Hotel junction, policemen on duty waved the rally forward. The rally arrived at the FTC flyover at around 11.30am and found its progress blocked due to the setting up of road-blocks under the flyover. The road51 52
FF15. FF17.
14
blocks consisted of buses parked across the road, with their tyres deflated. There were no law enforcement personnel or other persons staffing the road-blocks. However, some participants of the rally reported that they were tear-gassed by policemen positioned inside a police station located across the road from Aisha Bawany School.
C P
The front of the rally was close to FTC flyover while its rear was some 500 meters down the road beyond Aisha Bawany School. The rally came under fire from gunmen, allegedly MQM activists, positioned on the FTC flyover and in the surrounding buildings in the Lines Area that overlook Sharah-e-Faisal. There was return firing also from the participants towards the back of the rally, some of whom were armed. According to eyewitness accounts, it became difficult for the rally participants to move forward, because of the firing and the road-blocks in the front, or for them to withdraw safely, due to the firing from the rear.
R
A number of deaths and injuries took place as a result of the firing. Most of those who died or were wounded were ANP and PPP activists. There are no confirmed reports of casualties caused by the firing carried out by ANP and PPP activists. It is possible that the other side escaped serious injury because they were better positioned.
Volunteerism helped.
H
There are conflicting accounts in the precise run-up to the start of the violence. Some accounts suggest that the rally participants were first subjected to tear-gas shelling from the police station across the road. Another account holds that the vehicles that had reached the FTC flyover were attacked by stones and rocks thrown at them from the flyover. Then firing was initiated from the FTC flyover and surrounding buildings by suspected MQM activists, and that the ANP and PPP armed activists retaliated by using their own weapons. According to this account, the ANP and PPP activists were trying to find a way around the road-blocks when they came under fire from above. Initially both sides carried out aerial firing, before escalating to direct firing. An alternative account holds that when the ANP and PPP workers realized they were no longer able to proceed further due to the roadblocks, some of them started to smash and set alight the vehicles that had been used as roadblocks and started aerial firing. This was followed by firing from positions above – from the bridge and from the surrounding buildings. The two accounts differ in the precise circumstances leading to the drawing of firearms and their first use. One account has the MQM activists starting the firing, while the other holds that ANP and PPP activists initiated the firing. There is little disagreement, though, that the use of firearms started at around midday and continued for a couple of hours till the rally participants remained on the road. As the dead and the injured were evacuated to the nearby Jinnah Hospital there were reports of further clashes around the hospital. According to one PPP leader, when the injured party activists were taken to the Jinnah Hospital, MQM activists again opened fire.53 There 53
The News, 13 May: (a)
15
were also scenes of mob violence outside the Jinnah Hospital as angry opposition political activists attacked police personnel and people whom they suspected of being MQM activists. There were no reports of serious injury, however, in the fighting outside the hospital. 2.5
Sharae-Faisal: COD Flyover/Baloch Colony Flyover
C P
Another rally of CJ supporters consisting mainly of political leaders and activists belonging to the PPP and ANP, alongwith some supporters of PML-N and Tehreek-e-Insaf, was stopped further along the Sharah-e-Faisal. This rally had started from a meeting point in the DHA area and had proceeded along Korangi Road, across Kalapul, and had entered Sharah-e-Faisal at FTC using not the flyover which was blocked but the side lanes. This rally had negotiated its way past road-blocks through various means. At one point, along Korangi Road/Kalapul there was a vehicle parked across the road with its tyres deflated. The rally participants replaced the deflated tyres and moved the vehicle. None of the road-blocks on Korangi Road nor the FTC Flyover were then manned. There was a police barrier just before the Baloch Colony flyover, but the police did not attempt to stop the rally.
R
The opposition rally reached the COD/Drigh Colony Station flyover at around 11.30am – coincidentally, around the same time as the rally that had started at the Jinnah Bridge reached the FTC flyover. The road was blockaded at this point using containers and heavy vehicles and manned by activists carrying MQM flags. Senior party leaders including Nisar Khuhro, Qaim Ali Shah, Khurshid Shah, Raza Rabbani, Naveed Qamar, Nabil Gabol, Sherry Rehman and Waqar Mehdi, who were riding the front vehicles, led the PPP rally. After the PPP vehicles, there were vehicles with ANP activists and supporters, and these were followed by PML-N and TI activists and supporters. All of the vehicles carrying supporters of various parties carried their respective party flags.
H
The front of the opposition rally stopped some 150 meters short of the MQM manned roadblock and motorcycle riders with the rally drove ahead. These front riders were attacked with stones thrown by MQM activists positioned on the flyover above. Within minutes, firing was initiated. One of the first persons to be struck was Sherry Rehman’s guard who had stepped out of the vehicle, when the rally had come to a halt54. He was himself carrying a firearm and received a bullet in his leg. MQM activists were positioned on the flyover, inside the Drigh Colony railway station, and in some of the buildings located some distance away from the main road, but with a view of the road. Armed PPP and ANP activists were firing their weapons from their vehicles or from behind the cover of other rally vehicles on the road. The firing started just before midday and continued for around two hours, till the opposition rally participants began withdrawing to the rear. The withdrawal took some time because there appeared to be little coordination between the front and the rear of the rally about when to withdraw. The firing made it difficult to evacuate the injured to hospital, as ambulances were not being allowed to get through either. Stray MQM activists, who happened to be riding by on their motorcycles, came under fire on the stretch between Drigh Colony and Awami Markaz. PPP/ANP activists tore down MQM banners from buildings around Awami Markaz and set them alight55. As the opposition rally participants started the journey back, they came under intense fire from the Baloch Colony flyover and surrounding buildings, where armed MQM activists had taken up positions. This was between 2:00 and 3:00pm, or around two hours after the 54 55
Express 13 May: (h) Daily Express, 13 May: (h)
16
violence first started at midday.56. There were several casualties. Syed Ahmed Shah, member of the Central Council of the ANP, received six bullets. He was taken to the hospital but died on the way. Firing from an armed group on top of the Bridge also left a member of Pakhtoonkhwah Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) dead. Some of the dead included people who might have been saved had it been possible to evacuate them promptly to the hospital. Most of the casualties from this flashpoint eventually ended up in Jinnah Hospital. There were no reports of casualties among MQM activists from this flashpoint.57 2.6
Sharae-Faisal: COD/Natha Khan Bridge/Kala Board
C P
MQM activists had taken control of the entire stretch of the road, including all flyovers and pedestrian bridges, along the National Highway/Shahrah-e-Faisal corridor. Their cadres had also secured positions on adjacent buildings. However, there was one stretch between Natha Khan Bridge and Kala Board, where the situation was different. This section of the corridor, overlooked by high-rise apartment buildings on one side (e.g., Falaknaz Apartments), includes Shah Faisal Police Station, Natha Khan Bridge, approaches to Shah Faisal Colony and approaches to Goth Natha Khan. The section is crucial for controlling access to the airport.
H
R
Here, while MQM activists controlled the road and the barricades at COD/Drigh Road Station and Natha Khan Bridge, opposition supporters inhabited adjacent buildings. This stretch saw MQM activists come under fire at a number of points. There had already been a clash at Falaknaz Apartments the day before when a security guard had been killed when armed Pasban (an affiliate of Jamaat-e-Islami) activists had tried to enforce a shutter down strike.58 On May 12th, firing started at both the COD/Drigh Colony and the Live TV coverage made a channel a target for Kala Board flashpoints at around extended firing. midday. Soon after, the armed men controlling the Natha Khan Bridge came under fire from Falaknaz Apartments and surrounding neighbourhoods. Resultantly, MQM activists on the Natha Khan Bridge abandoned their positions and were seen crawling across the bridge to avoid fire.59 There were also clashes here between police and armed activists belonging to opposition parties. Unlike at COD/Drigh Road Station and Baloch Colony, where no police or Rangers presence was witnessed, police were present in the Natha Khan Bridge area. In fact, the Shah Faisal Police Station is located within this segment, and one of the first firefights took place within 50 meters of the police station. It was also reported that policemen, including, senior officers such as DIG Operations Mushtaq Shah, and the TPO, were locked up inside the Shah Faisal Police Station. The police were only issued with batons and teargas shells and had 56
Jang 13 May: (k) Jang 13 May: (k) 58 Express, 12 May (b) 59 Express, 13 May: (h) 57
17
therefore refused to come out of the station.60 There were some armed police present, nevertheless, and they were forcibly confined along with their officers in the police station compound.
C P
The senior officers requested additional support from outside and armed police personnel arrived on the scene and broke the lock in order to secure the release of the officers. Constable Abdullah, the head of the Shara-e-Faisal Investigation Unit, was disarmed by some armed MQM activists who snatched his police-issued SMG rifle. When Constable Abdullah informed his senior officer, DSP Chaudhry Sohail Faiz,61 the DSP called up a senior MQM member on his mobile and the weapon was promptly returned. A senior police officer also reportedly phoned up PPP leaders caught in the firing across the roadblocks at COD/Drigh Road Station and urged them to withdraw in the interest of their personal safety. He reportedly told the PPP leaders that the police were unable to provide them with security.
R
A number of casualties occurred in this segment of the National Highway/Shahrah-eFaisal corridor. Three MQM activists were killed near Wireless Gate62. Several were killed or wounded in the Natha Khan Bridge area. There were conflicting claims about the identity and affiliation of the casualties sustained here. MQM claimed that three of the dead were activists of its Punjabi-Pashtun Organizing Committee (PPOC), who had come there to take part in their rally. A fourth person – Sarwar from Badin – was also claimed by the MQM as its member. He was also claimed by the PPP to be its worker.63 The deceased man’s family in Badin, however, reportedly denied that he had any political affiliation and said that he had gone to Karachi to work in a factory and was an innocent victim of the bloodshed. An Edhi driver, Faiz-ur-Rahman, taking the injured from Kala Board area to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, himself fell victim to bullets.64 The firing from both sides was so intense that the dead and injured lay on the road for hours.
H
The few members of the PIA staff that were able to reach the airport confirmed they had been stopped and ordered to produce their ID cards by armed MQM activists while the police looked on. 2.7
Airport
As stated earlier, all roads leading to the airport, particularly Sharah-e-Faisal, were blocked by containers and heavy vehicles by midnight of May 11-1265. Passengers booked on out-bound flights could not reach the airport and passengers arriving on in-bound flights were stranded at the airport66. A small number of CJ supporters did manage to reach the airport through various means. Some had stayed overnight in localities close to the airport such as 60
Express, 13 May (n) and Express, 13 May (h) Express, 13 May (n) 62 The News 13 May (a) 63 According to Express, 13 May (h) he was claimed an ANP worker. A report in Ummat 14 May (c) indicated that the PPP claimed that Sarwar was kidnapped from Korangi no-6, Ali Brohi Goth near the boundary wall of the Navy compound. He was shot five times in the head and the chest. Jang, 14 May (c) also speaks of Mohd Sarwar as PPP, while Jang, 14 May (e) reports Mohammad Sarwar as an MQM worker. It is possible that there was more than one person with the same name, but the confusion also indicates that the parties were engaged in a propaganda war to claim “victims”. 64 A more detailed account of the circumstances surrounding the death of Fiaz-ur-Rehman is provided further below. 65 The News, May 12 (a) 66 The News 12 May (a) 61
18
Gulistan-e-Jauhar and the PIA Colony and were able to walk to the airport terminal. Some managed to walk past the barricades very early in the morning before the arrival of MQM activists or police personnel. As the day progressed, however, even the limited entry points that were open to pedestrians or two-wheelers were more stringently blocked. Those attempting to cross these barriers were subjected to physical assault.
C P
While the main approaches to the airport from the National Highway/Shahrah-e-Faisal corridor were blocked using heavy vehicles and containers, at least two local or “back-street” approaches from Pehlwan Goth67 and PIA Colony were blocked by police mobile vans. When a small group of CJ supporters managed to reach the Gulistan-e-Jauhar roadblock, police prevented them from going any further by baton charging and firing in the air. Some of them were also arrested68. Opposition party activists, who had arrived in PIA Colony the night before in anticipation of road-blocks – and had stayed there overnight in homes of their supporters who happened to be local residents – collected and began to proceed towards the airport. They came under heavy firing from MQM activists. Rangers and Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel guarded the airport perimeter itself. These law enforcement personnel ensured that, beginning the evening of May 11th, the terminal, approaches to the terminal, and car parks were kept clear of all unauthorized persons, i.e., anyone other than bona fide staff and passengers69.
H
R
When the CJ’s flight arrived at midday, CJ supporters at the airport tried to hold a rally in order to welcome him. Soon after a group of around 150 armed MQM activists were allowed through the security cordon and reached the Arrivals area of the airport terminal. There were skirmishes with CJ supporters outside, in which several people were injured. There were also reports of people being held hostage at gunpoint around the arrivals area. At one stage, MQM activists Celebrating freedom to kill fellow beings? attempted to break into the Arrivals hall where the CJ was confined. ASF personnel finally intervened and persuaded the MQM activists to back off. 2.8
Patel Para/Business Recorder Road/Aaj TV
The corridor to be used by MQM rallies – from north and central Karachi towards M.A. Jinnah Road – was relatively peaceful during the early part of the day. There were few reports of incidents along this corridor. The Business Recorder Road segment of this corridor saw some sporadic violence in the morning, when some unidentified men burnt tyres and stoned vehicles. An MQM rally also
67
Express, May 13 (h) Express, May 13 (h) 69 Jang 12 May (l) 68
19
gathered at about 10:30am at Guru Mandir near Business Recorder House and eyewitnesses reported seeing some vehicles with armed young men. After 1:00 pm, however, the situation took a more violent turn. There were reports of an attack on an MQM rally led by Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town Nazim Wasi Jaleel as it went past the Patel Para area. It might be recalled that the Patel Para area has a large concentration of ethnic Pashtun residents. The afternoon saw the Patel Para/Business Recorder Road area become a free fire zone between rival political parties. Armed MQM activists were located at the Guru Mandir end of Business Recorder Road while their rivals, presumably Pashtun, were firing from the Lasbela Chowk end. The clashes led to one death70 and injured more than 8, including a 10 year-old boy71. Additionally, dozens of rickshaws were set on fire.72,73
2.9
Paposhnagar
C P
The firing in this area was filmed live by Aaj TV, which then itself came under attack by armed MQM activists. The account of the attack on Aaj TV is detailed in section 3.6.
R
Sakhi Rehman, a resident of Pahar Ganj in North Nazimabad was a victim of coldblooded murder near the Chandni Chowk area. At about 3 pm,74 he along with his three friends Sikander, Nawaz, and Rehmat Shah – employed at a hosiery factory in Metroville – left work early, because they learned that the situation in the city was tense. Upon leaving, they saw that there was no available transport to take them home. According to Sikandar, they decided to walk and take a shortcut to their respective houses. When they reached the Chandni Chowk Bridge and began to ascend it, they saw about 20-25 young men on the bridge armed with TT pistols and Kalashnikovs. These young men interrogated them and demanded to see their NICs. Only Rehmat Shah had his NIC. After explaining their whereabouts and that they were not affiliated with any political party, they were let go.
H
A few minutes later, however, they encountered another large group of young armed men who also interrogated them. But this time, after making them wait about 15 minutes, they handed Sakhi and his friends over to two other armed men, and ordered them to be taken under the bridge by the tree. Once they got to that area, they saw two other people being taken there. Many of these armed men were receiving instructions on their cell phones, and their captors were told to take Sakhi and his friends to the ‘women’s park.’ Once there, they were ordered to sit in a row with their heads bowed down. At this point, Sikandar and his friends ran to save their lives, with the armed men shooting at them. Sikandar and Rahmat Shah, running in different directions, managed to escape.75 Nawaz and Sakhi Rehman (and another unknown hostage) were held in a house down the road. There is no report of how they were taken to this house and whether it was immediately after their attempt to escape. Here, “They shot us one by one at point blank range. I looked into the eyes of my friend, Sakhi Rehman, as he was shot in the chest. I heard his anguish, I saw his pain. I pray to God not to let anyone see what I’ve seen,” said a tearful Nawaz. 76 70
Jang 13 May (i) Ummat 14 May (c) and Express 14 May (a) 72 Jang 13 May (i) 73 Express 13 May (h) 74 Ummat 15 May: (d) 75 Daily Times 15 May (a) 76 Daily Times 15 May (a) 71
20
After seeing his friend get shot, Nawaz knew he had to run away, and he got up and fled as bullets flew. Fortunately he managed to escape unhurt. “Area residents saw all that was happening but didn’t do anything. Even the police, who were about 500 yards away, acted like spectators,” said Nawaz. 77
C P
Meanwhile, Sikandar ran towards Paposhnagar and once there, ran into another group of young armed men who stopped him and beat him. Suddenly, one of the men from the Chandni Chowk bridge came on his motorcycle and took Sikandar back to the women’s park, as he had recognized him. At the women’s park, Sikandar saw two dead bodies, one of whom was the unknown person who was brought to the bridge earlier. He did not see Sakhi’s or his friends’ bodies. Ten minutes later, he was asked to sit and bow his head down, and two bullets were fired at him. Sikandar put his arm on his face and was shot in the arm, and seemed to have become unconscious. Presuming he was dead, he was dragged by his assistants to a nearby drain and left there for an hour and a half until he heard some voices and asked for some water. According to Sikandar, some people from “Tableeghi Jamaat” found him and took him to the hospital.78
2.10
R
Sakhi Rehman’s body was found dumped in a drain. He was brought to Abbasi Shaheed for formalities. According to local residents, Sakhi Rehman had never been involved with any political party. Altaf Hussain, in his Open Letter to the People of Pakistan, lists Sahki Rehman as a Pashto-speaking MQM worker who was martyred on May 12. This is particularly ironic, considering that his killers were suspected of being from that very party. Benaras Chowk, Qasba, Aligarh Colony, Manghopir Road
H
Contiguous areas in the west and north-west of Karachi – Benares Chowk, Qasba Colony, Aligarh Colony, Orangi and Manghopir Road – were sites of intense violence from the afternoon of 12 May onwards. Violence continued in these areas into the next day, and even after that. The abductions and executionstyle killings reported for Paposhnagar above might also be regarded as being part of the violence that engulfed the west and north-west of Karachi. While there are no clear accounts of the precise timing of the start of violence in this area, various TV channels started reporting violent The killing of an advocate on May 12 is announced. incidents from around 2 pm onwards. There were two reports of violent incidents that might have taken place earlier in the day. Both were related to the passage of political rallies through areas dominated by rival groups. MQM sources reported that ANP and Jamaat-Islami workers had fired on rallies going from Orangi to Tibet Centre wounding 4 people. They also alleged that 8 MQM workers were abducted at gunpoint.79 ANP and trade 77
ibid. Ummat 15 May (d) 79 Jang, 13 May (i) 78
21
union sources, on the other hand, had reported that they had been prevented from moving from the Habib Bank Chowrangi area in west Karachi through MQM-dominated areas in order to get to the airport. It is presumed that since both these alleged incidents related to rallies going towards their respective destinations, they must have occurred some time in the morning.
C P
These earlier incidents notwithstanding, accounts from various sides appear to concur that the most intensive violence – involving and affecting large numbers of people – started in the afternoon. Benares Chowk was an important flashpoint, where large numbers of ethnic Pashtuns had gathered in protest against the attacks on the pro-CJ rallies earlier in the day. There was intense exchange of fire between ethnic Pashtuns in Benares Chowk and MQM supporters (presumably ethnic Mohajirs) in Aligarh Colony in the Qasba area. These clashes took on overt ethnic tones, as people of “Mohajir appearance” were stopped, beaten and humiliated at Benares Chowk. Violent treatment was meted out to people of “Pakhtun appearance” on the other side. At least two people died and several were injured as a result of the clashes in these areas. Three policemen were among the wounded. 80
R
According to eyewitness reports, Rangers were not patrolling Qasba Colony despite the ongoing violence. A mob set a hotel on fire as well as 3 motorcycles and two shops.81 There were reports of people being attacked in their homes and being forced to leave their areas. Deputy Convener of the MQM, Dr. Farooq Sattar, claimed that people in Qasba Colony were attacked, tortured and injured by terrorists who wanted to engineer ethnic riots in the city on the pattern of what had happened in 1986.82 However, another report claimed that it was MQM supporters who were firing at innocent people in Qasba Colony. The Benares/Qasba area also bore the brunt of the violence on 13 May. It was reported that the police maintained a low profile all day, and only ventured into the area at around 6 pm with the help of an armoured personnel carrier (APC), and made some arrests.83
H
Several types of casualties were reported from this area over the period of 12-14 May. One 24-year-old Noorani Khan s/o Juma Khan was reported killed in cross-firing between rival MQM and Pakhtun gunmen on 13 May. It was not clear if he was himself a party activist, or if he was simply caught in the crossfire. Another person, a 60-year-old man Mohammad Ali was found dead in the same area. The circumstances of his death were also known or reported. An MQM activist Ashraf who was wounded in the area succumbed to his injuries in the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Somewhat further to the southwest of the Benares/Qasba area, there were several reports of gruesome killings in the Manghopir area. Newspapers of 13 May reported that two people had been killed in the Manghopir area on 12 May.84 One was identified by the Pakhtun Action Jirga leader as 25-year-old Sher Ali s/o Yahya and was killed in the Kunwari Colony area. It is not clear if the PAJ had claimed Sher Ali as one of their activists. Another body was found near Nusrat Bhutto Mor in Manghopir. The deceased was thought to be 27 years of age, but the circumstances of his death are not known or reported. The 14 May newspapers reported the recovery of two unidentified bodies from near Javedan Cement Factory in Manghopir. Both were men who had been blindfolded and had 80
Dawn 14 May (g) Ummat 14 May (c) 82 Dawn, 14 May (f) 83 Ummat 14 May (c) 84 Express 13 May (h) 81
22
their hands and feet tied before being killed.85 The bodies bearing torture marks were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, and from there to the Edhi morgue. It is quite likely that these men had been killed the day before on 12 May.86 They were later identified as Dilawar s/o Khudai Nazar and Islamdin s/o Abdul Rauf, residents of Qasba colony.87 There was no followup report indicating if there was any link between this find and the story of execution-style killings a day earlier in the Paposhnagar area.
2.11
Lyari
C P
An off-duty police head constable, 48-year-old Mansoor Ahmed was caught by a mob and beaten and then shot dead in the Manghopir area on 13 May.88 He was returning home to Qasba Colony after finishing his duty at the IG Operations Office. His motorbike was also set on fire. A statement by Altaf Hussain identified the deceased as an MQM activist.89
The southern neighbourhood of Lyari, in the old city of Karachi, was the site of conflict over a number of days. This was also the only part of the city where there were reports of the use of lethal weapons on the part of the law enforcement agencies, leading to three deaths.
R
There was tension in and around Lyari from the night of 11 May onwards, as it became clear that roadblocks were been erected in the city. A large number of political activists and their supporters had gathered in Lyari to take part in the pro-CJ rallies. They found their route to the airport blocked by barricades manned by MQM supporters. The opposition rallies that did manage to reach Shahrah-e-Faisal/National Highway corridor included many activists from Lyari.90
H
Agitation started in Lyari and other surrounding parts of the old city in the afternoon of May 12 as news spread that opposition rallies had been ambushed on the Shahrah-eFaisal/National Highway corridor. It was reported that PPP activists attacked a police “15 Madadgar” post in the Aath Chowk area.91 The policemen fled and the post was set on fire. In Keamari, also in the south of the city, an MQM office was ransacked. MQM offices and HRCP Chairperson could not leave the Karachi airport. properties associated with MQM activists were attacked and set on fire. One of these was a medical store in the Sarbazi area where three people were also assaulted.92 Armed youth set up road blocks, burnt tyres and threw stones at passing vehicles. The violence in Lyari spilled over the next couple of days. On 14 May, there was a call 85
Ummat 14 May (c) Express 14 May (a) 87 Ummat 14 May (c) 88 Ummat 14 May (c), 89 Jang 16 May (b) 90 See account above of rally stuck at Aisha Bawany, Shara-e-Faisal. 91 Dawn 13 May (i), Express 13 May (h). 92 Dawn 14 May (f), Ummat 14 May (c). 86
23
for a strike, and youths belonging to opposition parties (mostly PPP) went around the area trying to enforce the strike. There are conflicting reports about what happened next. According to some sources, the police and the Rangers appeared on the scene and attempted to force residents to open their shops. There were skirmishes which led to firing on the part of the Rangers, in which two minors (one aged 10 and the other aged 17) lost their lives.93 Another account suggests that the Rangers used their short-lived “shoot-on-sight” orders to fire on youths who were trying to enforce the strike.94 The official account, however, is at variance with both these stories. It holds that the deaths were caused in the cross-fire of an ongoing gang-war in Lyari and that the Rangers did not fire upon the people.95 Other flashpoints
C P
2.12
Violent incidents were reported from other parts of the city besides the main flashpoints identified above. There were violent protests in the Sohrab Goth area, which is the main entry point into the city for traffic from upcountry, from the afternoon of 12 May onwards. Roads were blocked and vehicles stoned by supporters of Pashtun ethnic organizations. Passengers were forced to disembark from vehicles and were beaten. While no serious casualties were reported it is suspected that people thought to belong to the Urduspeaking community were targeted in particular. In the Federal B Area the funeral procession of an MQM activist Babar Changezi turned violent, and a number of Pashtun-owned shops including a bamboo yard were set alight.
H
R
On 13 May, opposition party supporters protesting against the May 12 events attempted to block the roads at Quaidabad. Saif-ur-Rehman aged 18 was killed by police firing on demonstrators.96 ANP leaders claimed that the youth was a member of their party. His family members reported that Saif was wounded and died as a result of delay in taking him to the hospital. When they approached a Ranger’s contingent for help they were told to “take him to Jinnah Hospital” which is over 20 km away.97 A dead body was found in a sack in Port Qasim Road with a short note saying: “mukhbari ka anjam” or “informer’s end”.98 However, the area police, quoting the relatives of the deceased, stated that the murder was a result of personal enmity.99 There were attacks on MQM offices in a number of outlying areas of Karachi, and in other towns and cities of Sindh, in Quetta, and in a number of cities in Punjab. These attacks did not lead to any deaths or injuries.
3.
Patterns of Violence
3.1
Roadblocks and sieges
The Sindh High Court, City Courts, and Malir District Court were under siege by MQM activists on May 12. There are many detailed accounts from lawyers, attempting to enter these buildings or already present, of political activists violently enforcing the siege. Some of these political activists were reported to be armed and they beat lawyers and/or attempted to kidnap them. The siege went so far that activists set the Ladies’ Bar Room on 93
Dawn 15 May (e). Dawn 15 May (d). 95 Dawn 15 May (e), The News 15 May (c). 96 Ummat 14 May (a), Dawn 14 May (g). 97 Express 14 May (a). 98 Express 15 May: (i) 99 The News 15 May: (c) 94
24
fire in the City Courts.100 Given the activists’ presence and early arrival to the Courts, there is evidence that the sieges were planned and designed to prevent the lawyers from receiving the Chief Justice. Additionally, there was no law enforcement agency present at any of these locations to prevent the siege. Karachiites faced many hurdles moving around that day because of the roadblocks that had been set up for the rallies. These roadblocks were placed throughout the city on major roads and junctions such as Shara-e-Faisal and around the Courts. Interestingly, only a few of the roadblocks were manned by law enforcement agencies whilst others were manned by MQM activists, or not at all.
3.2
Ambushes
C P
Many of these roadblocks led to an effective division of the city between areas of MQM support and areas expected to be for the CJ and the opposition. Roadblocks were intended to facilitate movement along the corridor through the Former District North via former District Central into MA Jinnah Road. Instead, the roadblocks created traffic jams from areas in the former District West from going across this corridor. They also blocked traffic from southern parts of the city from going through MA Jinnah Road and the City Center towards the airport. In addition, they blocked most of the points of entry onto Shahrah-eFaisal/National Highway corridor, which itself was blocked at various points.
H
R
There were six reported main ambushes that took place on May 12. Four on rallies passing through the Shahrah-e-Faisal/National Highway corridor, namely (1) at Aisha Bawany School, (2) the COD flyover and subsequently (3) on their return at the Baloch Colony flyover, and lastly the (4) Malir Kala Board area. Interestingly, these three ambushes occurred around the same time, and it appears that MQM activists planned these ambushes. However, it is unclear in each instance who fired the first shot that lead to the ensuing mayhem. (Please refer to Section 2.1 Flashpoints for further detail.) The ambushes also lead to fatalities at each of these four flashpoints. The other two ambushes were ambushes, reportedly, of MQM rallies. One of the rallies was coming from the Orangi area at Benares Chowk, but did not have any Lawyers were frustrated. reports of fatalities. The second report was of a rally at Patel Para at 2 pm. The aforementioned four incidents had certain conditions in common that facilitated the attacks. Firstly and perhaps most importantly, there was a serious lack of law enforcement agencies at all three points. Neither Police nor Rangers could be seen at the scenes of the crimes, and if present, as is the case at both Malir and Baloch Colony Bridge, they reportedly did not attempt to enforce law and order or abate the bloodshed. Secondly, rally participants faced major barriers in the form of roadblocks that restricted their mobility and access to their 100
Ummat 16 May (b)
25
desired destinations. These roadblocks literally trapped participants, when firing started, as they were unable to move forward. The roadblocks were steel containers, heavy goods vehicles, and parked buses with deflated tires; some of these roadblocks were manned by MQM activists (COD) whilst others were unmanned (Aisha Bawany).
C P
It is evident from these three incidents that there was military-style organization among the armed activists. These activists either took sniper positions in surrounding buildings and high points (such as bridges), used sophisticated weapons such as hand grenades (Malir), and again used roadblocks in ways that prevented people from moving freely. There is also some evidence of selected targeting of political activists, as many prominent leaders of PPP and ANP were not injured despite their proximity to the firing. This evidence suggests that the armed activists were well prepared and perhaps given specific instructions. Lastly, emergency services were prevented from evacuating injured persons immediately. Their assistance could clearly have prevented deaths, and dead bodies were seen lying on the streets for several hours. The other minor ambushes did not seem to be as planned as the aforementioned ones. MQM supporters returning from a rally in the Patel Para neighborhood were fired at. Patel Para is largely a Pashtun neighborhood, and it is suspected that Pashtun armed activists fired upon the MQM rally. This subsequently turned into an armed clash between the rival groups.
Armed clashes and cross-fire
H
3.3
R
There were similar incidents between rival groups in the west and north-west areas of Karachi. There was minimal police presence in these areas, and most of the violence was related to the passing by of political rallies through areas dominated by rival groups. Each rival group blamed the other for firing upon them or preventing them from getting to their final destination. Each rival group nonetheless resorted to violence.
The armed clashes witnessed on May 12 were mostly a result of the ambushes that morphed into clashes and crossfire between rival armed groups. There were two distinct types of armed clashes on that day. The first is the aforementioned metamorphosis of the ambushes on rival groups and second is the conflict that spread to different neighborhoods. While ambushes lasted for 2 to 6 hours, neighborhood violence lasted for several days.. The neighborhood violence, particularly along ethnic fault lines in the city, erupted into mob violence, such as setting a hotel on fire in Qasba Colony or setting the Baans’s 15 shops on fire in the Lyari neighborhood. This subsequently resulted in armed clashes and cross firing between rival groups. There are many reports among the different neighborhoods of Pashtun and Urdu-speaking residents being targeted, gruesome killings, and general lawlessness with free-firing zones. Again, this lasted onto the next day and in a few cases the day after under minimal security presence. 3.4
Abduction and execution-style killings
There were several cases of abductions in various areas from armed political activists preventing lawyers entering or leaving the Courts, to targeted abductions leading to torture and/or execution. Although these abductions were conducted in different manners, ultimately rival groups operated under a similar manifesto. The most prominent case is MQM armed activists holding lawyers literally hostage at the City, Malir, and Sindh High Courts. Although this is not typically considered abduction,
26
armed activists barricaded lawyers, physically harassed and threatened them in many cases. There are also cases of people being taken forcefully by armed political activists in Malir, Paposhnagar, and Manghopir. It is evident that many of these abductions took an ethnic tone. There are a few distinct types of abductions that took place that day. The majority of abductions were short term where the victim was tortured and eventually released. A second type of abduction occurred in different neighborhoods such as Paposhnagar where the kidnapping lead to not only torturing and threatening the victim, but also executing the victim. Many of the victims were unaffiliated with any political party, but were targeted along ethnic lines.
3.5
Ethnic targeting
C P
One of the motives behind abductions appears to be the possibility of “prisoner exchange”. Some people who survived abduction reported over-hearing their captors discussing over their cell phones the possible need for hostages among themselves. Although the more organized abductions were carried out by armed MQM activists, there were also unconfirmed reports of suspected MQM supporters being abducted by ANP/Pashtun activists.
R
There is emerging evidence of ethnic targeting particularly around some of the ethnic fault lines in the city. The neighborhoods that can be highlighted are Patel Para, Benares Chowk, Qasba Colony, and Manghopir. The violence was mainly between the Pashtuns and Urdu-speaking population.
H
Armed activists, on both sides, were reportedly asking people for their NICs and in some cases executing or beating those of different ethnicities. There are also reports of shooting people based on their appearances— people being targeted as Mohajirs if clean-shaven or wearing ‘pant-shirt.’ For example, Benares Chowk was an The long wait by lawyers. important flashpoint, where large numbers of ethnic Pashtuns had gathered in protest against the attacks on the pro-CJ rallies earlier in the day. There was intense exchange of fire between ethnic Pashtuns in Benares Chowk and MQM supporters (presumably ethnic Mohajirs) in Aligarh Colony in the Qasba area. These clashes took on overt ethnic tones, as people of “Mohajir appearance” were stopped, beaten and stripped at Benares Chowk. Violent treatment was meted out to people of “Pakhtun appearance” on the other side. At least two people died and several were injured as a result of the clashes in these areas. 101 3.6
Targeting of reporters/journalists
Journalists were affected by the May 12 violence, especially around the Sindh High Court area, as they dared to cover the conflict. Several reporters and cameramen were caught 101
Dawn, 14 May (g)
27
amidst the crossfire and luckily survived. A common story among journalists covering different conflicts was that some were confronted by gunmen who ignored them after learning they were journalists. However, many journalists were beaten and political workers destroyed their expensive camera equipment.102 Shockingly, the staff of the Aaj Television faced an onslaught of bullets for more than five hours. The staff appealed to the law-enforcement agencies and was only responded to after five hours with two mobile police units. 103 The attack on Aaj TV, which also houses the offices of the daily Business Recorder, began at about 1:30pm when MQM activists realized that the channel was telecasting live footage of youths flaunting guns in front of its offices on the Business Recorder Road and firing on their rivals in the Patel Para neighbourhood.
C P
The firing was carried out from the street level as well as from atop nearby buildings, including one where the Blue Ribbon Bakery is located. Heavy ammunition, including repeaters, was used in the attack. The building’s windowpanes were shattered, the satellite dish was ridden with bullet holes and bullets were found embedded in the walls of the channel’s newsroom, administration and IT offices, and the office of the Chief Executive. Employees, including newscasters and commentators, were forced to take cover; however, there was no interruption of the coverage. The attackers also set on fire cars and motorcycles in the parking lot.
R
According to Associated Press (AP), the network’s chief executive Arshad Zubairi was quoted as saying that the Aaj TV building came under fire from MQM supporters who wanted the airing of live footage of the unrest in the city stopped. “We are under attack,” senior journalist Talat Hussain said on air as he took shelter behind a wall. “We have seen no security force. No one has come to help us.”104
H
The footage also caught motorcycles, flying MQM flags, parked close to the attackers on the Guru Mandir side and cars driving up and replenishing the attackers with ammunition105. MQM activists appeared to conduct their firing in a highly organized manner, with gunmen seen grouping into successive four-person formations one behind the other. As soon as the first four-person formation would run out of ammunition, they would retreat to a bus parked near the Blue Ribbon Bakery to reload while the next row took position. They appeared to work as a team, alongside other youths who acted as pointers, and yet others whose task it was to reload and supply loaded weapons to the gunmen. According to an eyewitness, whenever a bullet hit the intended target they would shout “Woh Mara” – “Jiye Altaf” - “Jiye Muttahida”. According to Mr. Arshad Zuberi, the management and staff contacted the following officials for help: 1. DG Rangers, Major General Javed Zia 2. Governor Sindh 3. Sindh Industries Minister, Adil Siddiqui 4. Home Secretary, Brig. Mohtarem 5. Mr. Babar Ghauri, Minister for Shipping 6. Federal Interior Minister, Aftab Sherpao 102
Dawn 13 May (i) Express 13 May (a) 104 ibid. 105 HRCP Fact-finding Report based on interviews with Ahmed Zuberi, Managing Director, other senior management and technical staff. 103
28
7. 8. 9. 10.
Federal Minister for Information Secretary Information, Anwar Mahmood Mr. Farooq Sattar, MQM Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Khalid Saeed
Later, at about 6:00pm, he received a call from a member of the President’s family in Karachi who finally sent help.
3.7
Targeting of emergency services
C P
The Edhi Foundation declared a state of emergency on May 12, following the announcement of seven hospitals doing the same throughout the city. Anwer Kazmi, Abdul Sattar Edhi’s Secretary at the Mereweather Tower Edhi Centre, said that they had briefed all their station managers and circle in-charges. They said that no one was allowed to take leave on May 12 and that the ambulances would not move with the rally but that they would be on standby at Star Gate and Malir Station. Ambulances at other stations were to provide back-up and each ambulance was equipped with walkie-talkies and two new bed sheets.106
R
Indeed, on May 12 the Edhi Foundation continued to provide relief work throughout the city. Abdul Sattat Edhi said that their workers were being harassed while the windowpanes of a few of their vehicles were also smashed.107 Seven out of their 123 ambulances were damaged throughout the city.108 However, due to roadblocks and the ensuing mayhem, it was very difficult for ambulances to reach their desired destination.
H
Unfortunately, the May 12 violence did not spare emergency services employees. An Edhi ambulance driver, Faizur Rehman, died in the line of duty in Malir. According to Abdul Sattar Edhi, the driver was taking victims of the crossfire, which had erupted near Malir’s Kala Board area, to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, when he himself fell victim to The HRCP fact-finding mission out in the street on 12/5. the bullets. It is not confirmed whether the driver was targeted or whether he was the victim of indiscriminate fire. According to another report, Faiz-ur-Rehman reached Malir while firing between two armed groups was taking place and dead bodies and injured people were lying on the road. As he started to move the injured into the ambulance, reportedly some MQM people stopped him -- as the area was under their control -- and beat him. They then killed Faiz-ur-Rehman and Faisal Tariq. Unfortunately, Faiz-ur-Rehman remained lying on the road for one hour.109 Faisal Tariq was
106
Daily Times 12 May (c) Dawn, 13 May: (g) 108 Dawn 14 May (c) 109 Ummat 14 May (a) 107
29
claimed later to be a worker of Jamaat Islami.110 Following this incident, ambulances could not reach the affected areas with the result that many severely injured died on the roadside. Another Edhi driver, Obaid Rehman, filed an FIR claiming he was injured whilst the victim he was transporting was shot dead by assailants111 . There is also another reported incident of an Edhi driver being targeted in Baldia Town. While bullets damaged the ambulance, the driver managed to get away.112 3.8
Damage to property
C P
The violence caused considerable damage to property resulting in economic losses. Damage was mostly done to private stores, private vehicles, police stations, MQM offices113, the PPP secretariat, AAJ Television building, and the Women’s Room in the City Court114. Most of the property damage was done by, reportedly, people belonging to various political parties. Much of this damage was done after the major ambushes on rallies took place on May 12. There were a few instances of participants at rallies setting vehicles on fire. This was mainly done because the vehicles were placed in a way that many found themselves enclosed and unable to move forward. Presumably this was done out of frustration and an attempt to move forward. In other instances, armed activists were firing at private vehicles at rallies or those caught in crossfire. As a result, seven Edhi ambulances were also damaged.
H
R
Much of the damage was mainly done in various neighborhoods seemingly as retaliation to the news of the ambushes on the rallies. These kinds of attacks took an overtly political and ethnic tone. Qasba Colony bore the brunt of the damage when a mob set a hotel on fire as well as 3 motorcycles and two shops.115 Lyari, as well, was another area where property was damaged. PPP activists attacked a police post in the Aath Chowk area116 where the policemen fled and the post was set on fire. In Keamari an MQM office was ransacked and set on fire. Additionally, a medical store owned by an MQM supporter in the Sarbazi area was also set on fire.117 The violence caused considerable economic losses. Air and rail services were disrupted, with outgoing passengers failing to reach the airport or the railway station on time and incoming passengers stranded at the airport or in trains that stopped at Malir and Landhi stations. Several flights and outgoing trains had to be cancelled. Business activity also came to a virtual halt. Business activity was largely suspended. According to SITE Association of industry sources, about 60-85 percent of industrial units were shut and those too had 20-25 percent attendance. Government and private sector offices, banks, wholesale and retail markets remained largely closed. Export consignments too could not reach the port and logistics operations at the port remained sluggish118.
110
Jang 13 May (j)
111
Jang 14 May (d) 112 Jang 15 May (h) 113 Jang 13 May (d) 114 Ummat 16 May (b) 115 Ummat 14 May (c) 116 Dawn 13 May (i), Express 13 May (h). 117 Dawn 14 May (f), Ummat 14 May (c). 118 See Daily Times, “Violence halts business activity in metropolis”, May 13, 2007; The News, “ Industry, commerce comes to a halt”, May 13, 2007
30
4.
Patterns of Response
4.1
Police
As has been stated previously in this report, there was virtual withdrawal of law enforcement agencies on May 12. This is despite the fact that it had been announced earlier that a total of 16,000 law enforcement personnel were to be deployed in the city, including 2,000 additional police personnel along Shahra-e-Faisal. However, police were not present at most of the roadblocks throughout the city or arrived too late to relieve the sieges at the Courts. Additionally, police were not given arms to respond to the unfolding violent situation, and in some cases were either locked inside the station or stayed inside for fear of their lives. In a few instances police went on leave, and thus were understaffed.
H
R
C P
In some instances police were present and were taking action against opposition parties. This was reported in Habib Bank Chowk in SITE, Pehlwan Goth near the airport, and at Aisha Bawany on Shara-e-Faisal. Police were present at or near the three main courts where lawyers had gathered but failed to protect citizens as they declared their helplessness against the armed activists. There are detailed eyewitness reports from both the Sindh High Court and the City Courts where lawyers state that police were within range of both of these places, and yet activists were allowed to encircle the buildings and A member of the security force. Scared? verbally and physically assault lawyers. A police mobile unit followed a lawyers’ procession from the Malir District Court, but disappeared as they reached Malir Halt just when lawyers came under fire. At the City Courts, lawyers requested the police to call the Rangers because of the ensuing mayhem and later that afternoon DSP Malik Manzar informed them that he had orders from “above” that he could not help them and instead asked the lawyers to leave the City Courts. (Please refer to Section 2.1 City Courts for further details.) Another reported incident of police acting as witnesses rather than a security apparatus is at the Shah Faisal Police Station. This is located at the Natha Khan Bridge where police refused to come out of the station because they only had teargas shells and batons with them and feared they would not be able to protect themselves from armed assailants. There is another instance of police almost collaborating or supporting assailants, as a lawyer who was harassed at the City Court, ostensibly by MQM activists, attempted to lodge an FIR only to be turned over by the SHO to the MQM assailants.119 There were also cases of police assisting lawyers and citizens in need. However, this intervention occurred only when they were directed by the High Court to assist them. For example, on the intervention of Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani, the TPO phoned to say that the Rangers would not come, but that the lawyers could leave in police mobiles. At about 5:00pm, the lawyers were taken from the City Courts to Sindh High Court.
119
Ummat, 16 May (f)
31
The police were also relatively inactive in the aftermath of May 12 as violence continued unabated. Though some action was taken to curb the violence in the form of setting up buffer points, and even trying to control violent mobs and protestors, however this still led to several deaths and injuries in various neighborhoods. For example, in the Benares/Qasba area it was reported that the police maintained a low profile all day until around 6 pm when they made some arrests with the help of an armoured personnel carrier (APC).120
4.2
C P
The police were also not spared during the ensuing mayhem. Many police were injured when their mobile units came under fire near the courts and other skirmishes between the police and armed activists. An off-duty police head constable, 48-year-old Mansoor Ahmed was caught by a mob and beaten and then shot dead in the Manghopir area on 13 May.121 There was also damage to police posts, such as the 15 Madadgar” post in the Aath Chowk area.122 Rangers and military
In contrast to the police, Rangers and the military were entirely absent on May 12, despite the Rangers being placed in potential conflict areas as per the official security plan. When either of these security forces was present, they maintained distance and diligently avoided any engagement with violent elements. These forces were not responsive to judicial orders either, as was the case with the City Courts.
H
R
Some of the main ambushes took place within close range of military and paramilitary installations. The ambush at COD/Drigh Road Railway station on Shara-e-Faisal was in close proximity to army installations. In Malir, firing at the CJ supporters was reportedly started from close to the main gate of the Bhitai Rangers’ base at Kala Board. In both these places firing continued for several hours. It is incomprehensible that the military and paramilitary forces could remain aloof while there were war-like scenes at their very doorsteps. Such indifference not only betrayed callousness towards the lives of citizens it also displayed a sloppy and lackadaisical attitude to the security of important military installations. Major-General Javed Zia, the Director General of the Rangers in Karachi, met a delegation of Pashtun community leaders and some journalists on 16 May and told them some 13,000 troops had been deployed on May 12. He also stated that they were assigned security duties at the airport and were responsible to protect the Chief Justice, multinational companies, banks and other important installations. “As there were no unfortunate occurrences at these places, the Rangers cannot be held accountable for incidents in other parts of the city”123. He further said that the primary duty of the Rangers was to secure the Sindh segment of the Pakistan-India international border.124 A day later he was reported as saying that if the Rangers had become active in the city on May 12 there would have been heaps of bodies.125 These comments and remarks, if reported correctly, reveal some level of confusion within the command structure of the security policy vis-à-vis May 12. The numbers mentioned by the DG were certainly not in evidence in the streets. If such large numbers were indeed present and available, it is not clear what their rules of engagement were. Even if the Rangers’ primary duty was with respect to the Indian border, it was inexplicable that they did 120
Ummat 14 May (c) Ummat 14 May (c), 122 Dawn 13 May (i), Express 13 May (h). 123 See The News, “Rangers not guilty for May 12: DG Rangers”, May 17, 2007 124 Express 17 May (a). 125 Express 18 May (a). 121
32
not regard continuous heavy exchange of gun-fire just outside their base for several hours, and hence their inability to move out freely from the base, as compromising their primary mandate.
4.3
Hospitals:
C P
In his speech on the evening of May 12 in Islamabad General Musharraf announced that a contingent of Qasim Rangers was being dispatched from Hyderabad to Karachi in order to maintain the peace. It was also announced that the Rangers would have shoot-on-sight powers. Both measures appeared inexplicable. There was already large Rangers presence in Karachi, and there appeared to be little sense in sending for Rangers contingents stationed in Hyderabad. The shoot-on-sight orders were also deemed illegal - these orders make sense only as part of enforcing a curfew, and none had been declared. This confusion was possibly responsible for the death of two minors in Lyari on May 14, allegedly due to firing by the Rangers. The Rangers’ spokesman denied responsibility for these deaths and blamed them on a gang fight. 126
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi127
R
Dr. Rashid Jooma, Director Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre himself was trapped at airport on 12 May while coming from Quetta. He remained in touch with the relevant departments and staff on telephone. As emergency was declared for 12th May, no problem of staff was faced. In addition, the staff of night duty that could not go home due to roadblocks, also joined in. The nurses’ hostel is in the hospital premises so there was no shortage of staff.
H
According to the Deputy Director and in-charge, Casualty Department, of JPMC128, a total of 53 casualties were brought from various parts of the city (predominantly Shahrah-eFaisal, Model Colony and Ferozabad police station vicinity). A total of 23 were brought dead, while two others died in the wards; adding the total to 25 dead (list enclosed). Three injured were brought between 11th night 12th morning, one of them died at 6:00 am. Majority of patients were brought between 12:30pm onwards. Two were brought after 6 hours of being shot due to obstruction on roads. No patients were brought on 13th May. All casualties were brought in by Edhi ambulances. All the injured and dead were male and sustained injuries by firing. Most of them belonged to one ethnic group, though to different parties. Leaders of different opposition parties, including the Sindh Governor, visited the hospital. The agitation and slogan-mongering by the former and the security detail of the latter caused disturbance in the treatment process. All the dead bodies were taken away forcibly without postmortem. The hospital wanted sensitive areas like Casualty Ward to be cordoned off by police so that unconcerned people were kept out and the treatment could be carried out without interference. However, no police force was made available, in spite of repeated requests. Civil Hospital, Karachi A total of 30 victims were brought to Civil Hospital, including two dead bodies. Twenty-eight of them had injuries due to firing; 23 victims were brought on May 12, 5 victims were brought on May 13 and 2 on May 14. The first victim was brought at 01:15 pm on May 126
Dawn 15 May (e) HRCP Fact-Finding Mission, Report of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Civil Hospital Karachi, May 2007 128 JPMC and Civil Hospital provided typed sheets to HRCP indicating the number of injured, their ages and police stations they belonged to. 127
33
12, 2007 and the last victim was brought in the morning of May 14, 2007. Of the injured, 11 were seriously injured and admitted to the Hospital, while others were discharged after firstaid.
4.4
C P
All the casualties were male and brought to hospital by armed MQM activists in ambulances of Khidmat-e-Khilaq Foundation, owned and operated by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). The armed men threatened the Medico-Legal Officers (MLOs) and disallowed them from entering the cases in their records. Majority of the victims were Pushtu speking and were brought in largely from areas controlled by MQM: 12 from Jamsheed Quarters, 4 from Soldier Bazar, 4 from Lyari, 3 from Malir, 2 from Saddar, 2 from Baghdadi, and one each from Baloch Colony, Baldia Town and Pakistan Bazar. The Governor, City Nazim, provincial Home Affairs Advisor and other officials visited the injured and the Governor distributed cash compensation. Emergency services
R
In contrast with the security services, the emergency services proved to be very professionally prepared for May 12, and proactive by sending out ambulances that day wherever needed. The Edhi Foundation declared emergency alert for May 12, following the announcement of seven hospitals doing the same throughout the city. Anwer Kazmi, Abdul Sattar Edhi’s Secretary at the Mereweather Tower Edhi Centre, said that they had briefed all their station managers and circle in-charges. They said that no one was allowed to take leave on May 12 and that the ambulances would not move with the rallies but that there would be 10 on standby at the Star Gate and Malir Stations. Ambulances at other stations were to provide back-up and each ambulance was equipped with walkie-talkies and two new bed sheets.129
H
Ambulance drivers were particularly proactive as the violent events unfolded on May 12. Unfortunately, due to the roadblocks and aggressive armed activists, some ambulances were not able to reach the scenes of violence. The ambulance drivers also proved to be very courageous driving through zones of conflict, and facing harassment from activists. One Edhi driver, Faizur Rehman, was shot dead in the line of duty. This incident is of grave concern as it reflects the thought that emergency service personnel were treated as a party to conflict by some. Thus far, all evidence indicates that hospital personnel were working meticulously and professionally, especially under the circumstances. In preparation for May 12, a state of emergency was declared on May 11 in seven public-sector hospitals, located near the expected rally routes. The health department directed the executive district officer of health and the medical superintendents (MS) at Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), Services Hospital, Sindh Govt Lyari General Hospital, Sindh Govt Qatar Hospital, Sindh Govt Hospital Liaquatabad, Sindh Govt Hospital Saudabad, and Sindh Govt Hospital Korangi No.5 to stay on high alert.130 Additionally, staff were not allowed to take leave on May 12. Interestingly, the majority of fatalities and injuries were seen at Jinnah, Abbasi Shaheed, Civil and Liaqat National Hospitals. Reportedly, most of the injured were taken to Jinnah Hospital. However, there were not enough beds available in the Emergency Section of Jinnah, and therefore many of the injured had to remain on the floor; seventy wounded people 129 130
Daily Times 12 May (c) Daily Times 12 May (c)
34
were brought to the hospital’s emergency centre, but only 25 with critical bullet injuries were admitted.131 A disturbing element witnessed was that there was an effective partisan division of hospitals. The Chief Justice supporters were typically taken to Jinnah Hospital whilst MQM supporters were taken to Civil and Abbasi Shaheed Hospitals. Perhaps this situation was inevitable, as the city had already been divided into conflicting camps. Political workers were cognizant of this divide and some workers were purposely taken to different hospitals to avoid any potential rival conflict.
C P
Another disconcerting element is that many political workers were present outside the hospitals waiting for the victims to leave, attempting to take them prisoners, or protesting the situation. This was seen at Jinnah’s Emergency Section where political activists were raising slogans against the government.132 According to many eyewitnesses, activists openly started firing at the Sindh Government Hospital as 30 injured ANP workers were taken there. It is reported that these activists attempted to kill the injured workers but later on some PPP activists sneaked them out of the hospital and moved them elsewhere.133 In a similar incident, according to an anonymous doctor, nine armed MQM activists came into his hospital attempting to drag out wounded opposition workers. When he and his staff tried to stop them, they were threatened. The doctor then ran to the Rangers for help but was told that they were given orders from ‘above’ not to take action until 4 pm. In the event a wounded opposition activist was shot dead after having been dragged out of hospital.134
Conclusions
H
5.
R
In other instances, political workers were holding patients in hospitals as abductees in a holding area. This was seson, Umair Khan. They told the doctors not to discharge him and that they would return for him later.135 There were also other such instances elsewhere in the city.
This fact-finding report has attempted to document the events of May 12 in Karachi as fully as possible using published accounts, recorded testimonies and eyewitness accounts. A number of matters investigated here are subject to existing legal and judicial proceedings, and it would be prudent to allow those proceedings to take their course. It is possible, nevertheless, to summarize a number of conclusions based on the findings of this report. It is expected that these finding will be of some assistance to the legal and judicial functionaries, as well as members of civil society at large, to draw some lessons and to move forward for preventing the future occurrence of the type of violence that was seen on May 12 and its aftermath. However, two elements stand out. One, the withdrawal of the state apparatus for almost the entire day and, two, the presence of a militarily organized wing within at least one of the political parties operating in the city. 5.1
Unprecedented events
It can be stated without fear of contradiction that May 12 represented something quite unprecedented in the history of Pakistan. In quantitative terms the violence perpetrated on 131
Dawn 13 May (i) Express 13 May (j) 133 Ummat 14 May (a) 134 Eyewitness: Karachi, May 12, 2007 135 Ummat 14 May (a) 132
35
that day might find parallel only very occasionally. Well over 40 people lost their lives, and the number of the injured ran into hundreds. But it was in qualitative terms that the events of May 12 were truly without historical comparison. An entire city of nearly 15 million was held hostage by people who appeared to be private citizens. The violence and the threat of violence engulfed nearly all of the localities of this huge city – in the east, west, north, south and the centre.
C P
There was something qualitatively distinct also about the nature and scale of the violence that was unleashed, and the political context in which this happened (the fact that MQM is in government). The escalation of tensions in the build-up to May 12 was entirely avoidable. The idea of a showdown between supporters of the CJ – who despite the reference was a serving functionary of the state – and supporters of a political party was almost entirely artificially created. There was nothing inherently antagonistic in the two positions held by the supporters of the lawyers’ movement and the MQM that warranted any form of violence or bloodshed. It appears almost incomprehensible that large-scale violence of various types – roadblocks, ambushes, armed clashes, abductions etc. – was meticulously planned and executed across the city, while the state security apparatus was effectively withdrawn.
H
R
There can be no doubt that the events of May 12 have changed how Karachi is viewed. Despite the normalcy that has returned to the city, the very fact that political violence of this nature could be organized and executed and state security agencies withdrawn, ought to be taken extremely seriously. There is a need for accountability. No city can be allowed to descend deliberately into organized chaos. But there are also lessons to be learnt – both of foreboding as well as opportunity. If the civil society fails to take seriously the events of May 12 there is a danger that they will be repeated on a far bigger scale some time in the future. At the same time, how various actors behaved provides possible avenues of opportunity for the maintenance of sustainable peace in the city. 5.2
Absence or compromised presence of state agencies
May 12: 2007 will be remembered as the day the State withdrew. While the loss of precious lives is the most deplorable aspect of the day, a matter of grave concern from the perspective of institutional integrity of the state is the virtual withdrawal of the state’s security apparatus for almost 20 hours and the actual takeover of the city by armed cadres of one or more than one political party. The spectacle of a disarmed police force136 operating on the directions of armed cadres was highly disturbing, especially since key officers of the state responsible for security were reduced to expressing their helplessness. That such armed groups were allowed to hold almost complete sway and operate with impunity for most of the day, despite the presence of a duly installed government in the province and the presence of more than one federal security agency in the city, represented an alarming phenomenon with respect to the writ of the government and the state. The failure of the state’s security apparatus to discharge its responsibilities has been confirmed by Lt.-General (R) Moinuddin Haider, acting chairman of the National Public Service Commission (NPSC). Addressing a news conference in Quetta, Lt.-General (R) Haider expressed his dismay at the performance of police and other law enforcement agencies and admitted that certain security lapses were witnessed and that the police could not provide safety to the general public in Karachi137 . 136 137
See Daily Times, “Sindh police deprived of arsenal on Day 2”, May 14, 2007 See The News, “NPSC dismayed at police performance”, May 17, 2007
36
The primary responsibility of law and order and ensuring civil peace rests with the police. However, in the peculiar conditions of Karachi and Pakistan, the paramilitary forces and the military itself has been a key stakeholder. Karachi like much of Sindh has never really been free of paramilitary/military presence in civil policing for the last three decades. While the presence of paramilitary/military forces in civil policing must be opposed on principled and practical grounds, it is also needs to be pointed out that as long as these forces maintain a presence in civil policing they must be held accountable for their actions and inactions.
C P
On balance, it is clear that the security plan for May 12 and the statements emanating for various government sources before that date about the threats to security were simply a smokescreen for a political objective. For some apparently inexplicable reason that objective was to stop the CJ – a serving state functionary – from being received by his lawyer and political supporters. It is clear from the benefit of hindsight that all of the actions of the Sindh government – which was the main state organ responsible for security – were geared to achieve this aim.
5.3
R
Regardless of whether this political objective was justifiable, legal or correct, what was remarkable on May 12 was the virtually exclusive reliance on illegal, non-administrative and non-state agents for the achievement of the objective. There is a history in Pakistan of a government using administrative levers – sometimes legally, at other times semi-legally – in order to attain its political objectives. There are very rare cases in Pakistan or elsewhere of a government making such systematic and wide use of non-administrative and illegal means – essentially handing over security to armed cadres of a political party – in order to achieve short-term political objectives. Responsibility
H
There is no escaping a discussion of responsibility for May 12. The primary responsibility for the lapse in security – even if we do not take any other details into account – must rest with the state and its relevant organs. In this, these organs were the Sindh provincial government, and the federal security agencies such as the Rangers and military that arrogate and retain de facto and de jure policing duties in Karachi. To this extent the functionaries of the federal and provincial governments, and military and paramilitary forces stationed in Karachi bear responsibility. In terms of specific acts of violence the legal responsibility lies with the individual perpetrators, organizers and instigators, in accordance with the law. The fact is that Karachi was not in a state of war, and individual citizens, regardless of their political party affiliation must bear individual responsibility for crimes committed. It is the job of the prosecution system and the police to identify, investigate, prosecute and successfully convict those who committed crimes on that day. There are two further levels of responsibility. First, it is clear that individuals were acting within a political context. Their actions formed part of a bigger game that was being played in the city and the country at large. The notion of collective political responsibility, therefore, cannot be avoided in this case. In fact, much of the debate around the events of May 12 has focused almost exclusively on the notion of collective political responsibility. The idea of collective political responsibility has been linked in the public debate with the issue of the escalation of political tension in the build-up to May 12. There is mutual recrimination between the MQM and the supporters of the CJ about collective political responsibility. Some MQM leaders went so far as to blame the CJ himself for the violence in Karachi on May 12.
37
Such charges were later withdrawn, but they do nevertheless indicate the manner in which the idea of collective political responsibility has been misinterpreted and misused.
C P
In fact, in the context of the events of May 12, collective political responsibility is too general and non-specific a concept to be of much help. The MQM and the CJ supporters can have mutually opposing views regarding political responsibility. But it needs to be stated very clearly that the events of May 12 require much more than the assignment of collective political responsibility. We must immediately dispense with the notion that just because the CJ’s plane landed at midday, and that the firing on rallies also started at that time, the CJ or his supporters share any of the responsibility for the violence. Similarly, the fact that the MQM leadership had been openly raising the rhetoric against the CJ and his supporters is not sufficient to indicate their responsibility for what happened. On May 12 in Karachi, actions did speak louder than words, and it is these actions that require accountability of a more specific nature than the concept of collective political responsibility allows. In this regard the MQM to a great extent, and other political parties to a smaller extent have a case to answer. It is not just their propaganda against each other, or the atmosphere of fear and hatred, that is relevant. All the evidence shows that these parties, particularly the MQM, acted like organized military forces, which mobilized large numbers of people to carry out acts of brutal violence against their opponents as well as non-partisan citizens. For this the level of responsibility needs to be more specific and direct than the one implied in the notion of collective political responsibility.
H
R
The actions of armed MQM activists stand out in this regard. It is clear that there was a prior intent to stop opposition rallies with the use of force. In some cases it even appears that the premeditated use of force was itself the objective – regardless of whether a rally could be held. The level of prior meticulous planning that went into the commandeering of vehicles and the setting up of roadblocks from the day before, the manning of ambushes, the organized military manner of attack and retreat, the attempts at holdings prisoners and hostages, the abduction, torture and execution of suspects, and the reports of armed cadres receiving instructions from their handlers via cell phone – all suggest a frightening military organization cohabiting within a political party. Not even a small part of this activity would have been possible without a high level of coordination. The fact that such a military organization exists hidden behind the cover of a legitimate and popular political party must be a matter of great concern for all citizens. The other political parties are not without their own specific responsibility. It is clear that MQM activists were not the only private citizens bearing arms on that day and its aftermath. Many of the opposition party supporters had also clearly come prepared for an armed showdown. In some areas it was they who were the assailants and MQM activists who were the victims. In sum, the primary responsibility (both in terms of omission and commission) must lie with the organs of the state – federal, provincial, and military. The MQM, or at least its military organization, bears the direct and specific responsibility for the majority of the violence. Residual responsibility lies with the armed supporters of other political and religious parties. 5.4
Lessons for the future
38
5.4.1 Threats
C P
The events of May 12 revealed that there are missing links in the chain of accountability of law enforcement agencies. The fact that one segment of the state – the judiciary – was itself subject to illegal action (detention and harassment) and took an active interest in the evolving situation, highlighted the fact that the existing law enforcement agencies are not operationally accountable to de jure authority. For all their weaknesses, it was the police that finally acted on judicial orders in order to secure the evacuation of lawyers taking refuge or being held hostage in Malir and the city centre. Other law enforcement agencies failed to cooperate. The continued presence of unaccountable “law enforcement agencies” poses a grave threat to the security of citizens. Whether the solution is their withdrawal or introduction of mechanisms for making them accountable remains a political question.
R
The presence of an armed military organization within a legitimate political party was revealed on May 12. The MQM enjoys popular support in Karachi, and yet the actions of its activists indicated that the organization retains a military capacity that cannot be justified with reference to any legitimate political goal. The political side of the MQM too continues to nurture ideas (such as valuing political monopoly rather than competition) that promote conflict as opposed to accommodation with other parties. It is possible that the prevalence of ideas is contingent on the current political realities, and that they will be abandoned in favour of accommodation in the future. The reform of the MQM, will, nevertheless, remain a matter of concern in the peaceful development of the city. Other political parties operating in Karachi will also give rise to concern if they continue to develop and protect armed activists amidst their supporters. It was clearly seen that some parties readily allowed the situation to evolve into an ethnic conflict – possibly because they could rely on support on that basis against the MQM.
H
5.4.2 Opportunities
There were at least three sources of opportunity in the events of May 12 and their aftermath. These could be built upon in the future to prevent the occurrence of events such as May 12, and to build sustainable civic peace in Karachi. First, media and civil society (particularly the legal fraternity) displayed courage and tenacity in the face of violence. Part of their strength lay in their insistence on doing their jobs as far as they could, under the circumstances. The electronic and print media became witnesses of the violence, and despite strong propaganda efforts on the part of various actors, a record of history was made. It became difficult for government functionaries and political leaders to evade responsibility easily. The lawyers too displayed professionalism in their approach despite facing physical assault, detention and abuse. They maintained a correct posture vis-à-vis their political party supporters, and consistently sought legal redress and relief. Second, emergency services such as hospitals, health professionals, and ambulance services played a strong professional role through the crisis. They came under attack and pressures, but by and large they discharged their duties with a level of commitment to human life that was not seen elsewhere in the city. Like the media and the lawyers the emergency services remained true to their mandate and showed that civic life was still possible in Karachi. The fact that some political parties had their own emergency services complicated matters. These emergency services were suspected of being partisan, and made supporters of those parties suspicious of other service providers. It is important to value and guard the 39
professionalism of the city’s emergency services, and it needs to be recognized that in the present conditions of the country and the city, party-political emergency services hinder rather than help that cause.
H
R
C P
Third, despite all of their problems and weaknesses, it needs to be acknowledged that political parties took conscious and measured steps in the aftermath of May 12 to step back from ethnic polarization in the city. This poses a dilemma for the purposes of accountability – will compromise and reconciliation come at the expense of responsibility and accountability? This is a difficult question, but it is at least clear that the parties have the capacity for stepping back from the brink, and can be vehicles for reconciliation and maintaining civil peace.
40
Recommendations 1.
The events of May 12, 2007, in the Karachi once again confirm the culpability of the administration that allows the freedom of the city to gun-totting activists of parties in power, and demand firm measures to check recurrence of mayhem and chaos.
2.
No civilized government can discriminate between public organizations by allowing
C P
one of them to make a mockery of law and order as it may wish and telling others to abandon their right to freedom of movement and assembly because it cannot control the former. 3.
Media-persons readily accept the risks in on-the-spot overage of conflicts and disturbances, but they cannot be denied adequate security at their workplaces. Failure of authorities to protect media establishments against attacks from any
4.
R
quarter should be held reprehensible.
The admirable services rendered on May 12 by voluntary organizations and hospitals should not only be lauded and suitably rewarded but steps need to be
H
taken to strengthen them helping them by acquire the necessary equipment and skills.
5.
In view of the apparent and proven involvement of elements that are in or are close to government an inter-party parliamentary commission must be set up to probe the May 12 events, fix responsibility for murder, arson and lawlessness and pave the way for punishing the guilty.
41
Annex – Newspaper Reports / Clippings Dawn 6 May (a) MQM criticises lawyers for politicising reference Dawn Report KARACHI, May 5: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Saturday staged a show of strength at the Press Club here on Friday with a press conference by lawyers belonging to its Legal Aid Committee and a rally at which opposition parties were criticised for “politicising the issue of presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry”.
C P
The main demand of the Legal Aid Committee and the participants in the demonstration was that the Supreme Judicial Council be allowed to function on its own and lawyers should wait for its decision instead of holding protest demonstration with opposition parties.“This constitutional issue of the presidential reference has been converted into a political issue by the opposition parties and certain lawyers’ organisations which are trying to create a crisis-like situation in the country for their ulterior political motives,” said MQM leader Shoaib Bukhari at a press conference held in the backyard of the Karachi Press Club. A good number of lawyers from all over the province attended the press conference. Outside the KPC, a large number of MQM workers and supporters staged a demonstration criticising opposition parties and certain lawyers’ bodies for having kept quiet in the past over incidents wherein the judiciary came under attack and were now trying to influence the SJC by politicising the issue of the reference.
R
Carrying party flags, huge portraits of party chief Altaf Hussain and holding placards inscribed with demands like “We want independence of judiciary” or “Stop politicising the reference” etc., the demonstrators shouted slogans against the opposition parties. Barricades were placed to block roads leading to the Karachi Press Club. The MQM workers were seen controlling traffic, doing security job, carrying out the body search at points of entry to the roads. Police and paramilitary troops were also deployed.
H
“Every Pakistani who believes in the supremacy of the Constitution and the law, promotion of democracy and the rule of justice, believes in the independence and autonomy of the judiciary. However, instead of an individual we (MQM Legal Aid Committee) believe in independence and the strengthening and stability of the institution of judiciary,” Mr Bukhari, who is the caretaker of the Legal Aid Committee, said.
Admitting that peaceful protest is the right of every Pakistani, Mr Bukhari, who is also a member of the MQM Coordination Committee, asked why did lawyers’ organisations and opposition parties not run campaigns when Pakistan witnessed several martial laws, civil courts were suspended, courts were compelled to operate under military instructions and civil rights were usurped?. Recalling forced retirement in 2000 of the Chief Justice and 15 other judges of the Supreme and high courts when they refused to take new oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), he said why did these lawyers’ bodies and opposition parties not think of launching an agitation for the independence of judiciary? “Lawyers may continue their peaceful demonstration but should avoid closing down and boycotting courts and must allow the judicial process to continue.” Answering a question, he said the MQM did not want to politicise the May 12 scheduled visit of CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to Karachi and would welcome his visit to the city. He said as a policy matter, the party had already condemned the manner in which the CJP issue had been handled on March 9. Outside the KPC, Coordination Committee in charge Anwar Alam addressed the participants of the demonstration after the press conference. Menwhile, Karachi Press Club president Sabihuddin Ghausi has apologised to members of the club who suffered inconvenience, hardship and even humiliation as a press conference booked by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was turned in to a public meeting, and offered himself for any action to the club’s governing body or the general council.
42
He said in a statement issued here that people who had parked cars and motorcycles were forced to remove their vehicles by political workers. Members of the club had to listen to political speeches being delivered in the backyard for over four hours. The two roads leading to the club were blocked. He said the annual general council of the club had taken a decision in December 2006 banning the renting out of the club backyard to any outsider. He said that he was not aware of the permission granted by the KPC to the MQM to hold the event. MQM leader Shoaib Bukhari offered his apologies to KPC members during the press conference, Mr Ghausi’s statement said. *** Dawn 6 May (b) Three TV channels off air for hours
C P
Dawn Report KARACHI, May 5: Three television news channels went off the air on Saturday afternoon, depriving viewers in Karachi and southern Sindh of the live coverage of the caravan of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry proceeding to Lahore from Islamabad. The transmission of the channels — Geo, ARY and Aaj — was suspended in Karachi, Hyderabad and Nawabshah at about 5:30pm. In a few areas of Karachi, the channels could be watched after about two hours. People called newspaper offices to inquire about the disruption and most of them blamed the government.
R
Officials of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) denied any instructions had been issued to stop the transmission of the channels. They said that these channels were not seen only in southern parts of Sindh, and if Pemra had issued any instructions the transmission would have been blocked all over the country. According to APP, Pemra Chairman Iftikhar Rashid denied any involvement of the regulatory authority or any department of the government in the reported termination of transmission in some parts of Sindh.
H
Some cable operators claimed that a technical problem in their system had affected the transmission of the three channels in Karachi, Hyderabad and Nawabshah. “Efforts are being made to remove the problem,” All Pakistan Cable Operators’ Association vice-chairman Khalid Arain said. However, some people accused a political party in the ruling coalition of having forced cable operators to stop transmission of the channels. In a related development, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement denied having played any role in the blocking of the transmission. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Karachi Union of Journalists and Association of TV Journalists have criticised actions taken by the government against private TV channels and harassment of cable operators. *** The News 7 May (a) Govt decides to fix cameras to monitor CJP’s movement By our correspondent, Karachi The government has decided to fix cameras around the city courts for complete monitoring of the Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry during his arrival in the metropolis on May 12. The decision was taken in view of the prevailing situation with special reference to the judicial crisis, which had taken a new turn, a government source said. Furthermore, a monitoring device with a range of 5-kilometre distance, which could also tape a voice, would also be fixed at the main gates of the city courts. As part of the security measures extra police force with iron hats and bullet proof jackets would be deployed all around the vicinity and on the routes where the CJP would move, which included the Sindh High Court and surrounding areas.
43
To avoid any untoward incident, the government would invite civil society organisations, NGOs, political parties and the lawyer’s community to cooperate with the government on the CJP’s arrival. The ruling coalition party was given a task to make the entire programme peaceful and ensure smooth movement of the CJP. The party had asked all its activists to remain vigilant and keep an eye on the activities of the lawyers community and inform the government circles about the programmes and schedules. The sources disclosed that the government would try to establish contact with the office bearers of SHCBA, MBA and KBA for their role in peaceful protests and demonstrations in welcoming the CJP. The office bearers, however, denied direct talks with the government officials saying that all bar associations were busy finalising and arranging the programme for a spectacular welcome. They also said that Karachiites have completely endorsed the welcome programme of the CJP and added that entire Karachi awaits the CJP’s arrival in the city.
C P
***
The News 7 May (b)
‘He will be extended a historic welcome’ By our correspondent, Karachi
The provincial leaderships of Awami National Party (ANP) and PPP have announced that the people of Sindh would warmly welcome the Chief Justice of Pakistan on his arrival here on May 12. ANP made this announcement at its provincial body meeting chaired by its Sindh President Shahi Syed, while PPP Secretary General (Sindh) Nafees Siddiqi announced this at a press conference.
R
Shahi Syed said that the general workers meeting of the party would be held on May 10 to chalk out plan for arranging a welcome reception for the CJP. The party has already decided to set up a central reception camp at Natha Khan Goth where all the city rallies of the party would gather and march towards the airport. PPP leader Nafees Siddiqi told the media that not only the ARD but other liberal and democratic parties, civil society representatives, NGOs, lawyers and trade unions would also warmly welcome the Chief Justice.
H
He said that just as Lahore did, Karachi, too, would accord a historic welcome to the CJP as part of the campaign being launched for the independence of the judiciary, freedom of the media, restoration of genuine democracy and the rule of law in the country. Paying tributes to the people of Punjab and its legal fraternity, including 16 judges who welcomed the CJP in Lahore, Siddiqui assured that the people of the city, on the platform of the PPP, ARD and other democratic parties, would make the event a historic one, showing solidarity with the lawyers community in their struggle. He asked other opposition parties, including ANP and nationalist parties, to participate in the welcome procession for the CJP. The PPP Sindh Secretary General condemned the government for blocking the transmission of private TV channels and termed it state terrorism and an act of harassing media. He charged that rulers were responsible for creating chaos and promoting religious extremism in the country and also condemned the countless arrests of political workers. He said this situation amply proved that the claim of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, regarding development, was nothing but an attempt to befool the people. He said the unending load-shedding was the result of KESC’s privatisation, which he termed a big scam. PPP MNA Fahimda Mirza, Rabbani, Waqar Mehdi and Saeed Ghani were also present on the occasion. *** Jang 8 May (a) Press Reporter- MQM will organize a rally on Saturday for the freedom of judiciary, all the lawyers including people or related with other profession requested to participate in the peaceful rally. *** Jang 8 May (b) Press Reporter- Choudhry Iftikhar will address Malir Bar then he will visit Mazar e Qauid. He will take oath at Sindh Bar Council from newly elected advocates on 12 May. ***
44
Dawn 10 May (a) Sindh govt urges CJ to defer visit By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 9: The government of Sindh on Wednesday requested Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to postpone his planned event in Karachi to a new convenient date in the larger public interest, claiming that there were intelligence reports about the possibility of a terrorist attack on him. In a letter to the registrar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Sindh Home Secretary Brig Ghulam Mohammad Mohatarem said that the chief justice was scheduled to visit the city on May 12 to address the Sindh High Court Bar in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court.
C P
The letter said the event, which otherwise would have been an event exclusively for the judiciary and the bar, was drawing political interest. All political parties, including those in the opposition and the government, were planning to hold rallies in the city on that day. It said that tension in the city was on the rise and law-enforcement and security agencies were unanimous in their assessment that there could be armed clashes and bloodshed. “There are also intelligence reports that terrorist groups may take advantage of the environment to launch terrorist attacks.” The home secretary’s letter said that Saturday being a working day, there would be an extreme public inconvenience and disruption of traffic. Although the provincial government would take all possible measures to prevent any untoward incident, the postponement of the scheduled visit by the Chief Justice would be in the larger interest of the people, the letter concluded.
R
Syed Irfan Raza adds from Islamabad: Interior Ministry’s spokesman Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema told Dawn that it was the responsibility of the Sindh government to provide security to the participants of any public meeting in its jurisdiction, and therefore the Chief Justice had been advised not to attend the lawyers’ function. However, Justice Iftikhar’s counsel Aitzaz Ahsan said the Chief Justice would attend the event. ***
H
The News 10 May (a)
Jhagra asks MQM to change May 12 plan By our correspondent, Karachi PML-N Secretary General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra has declared that the present campaign is a national movement for the independence of judiciary and rule of law in the country and nobody can stop it neither any deal can sabotage this movement. He urged the MQM to change its May 12 rally plan in order to avoid any untoward situation. “In case of otherwise the people would take the party (MQM) as B team of Gen Pervez Musharraf, as this apprehended confrontation-like situation will provide opportunity to rulers to impose emergency in the country,” he added.
Addressing a press conference along with other party leaders at Karachi Press Club on Wednesday, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra vowed that the struggle would continue till the removal of General Musharraf-led government and setting up of a neutral caretaker setup and holding of free, fair and transparent elections in the country. He rejected the notion that the struggle of CJP was political in nature, saying that the CJP did not address any political party. “The political parties are participating in the reception for chief justice as a part of their national obligation,” he added. Jhagra said that the PML-N was at the forefront of this national movement and the way its workers received the CJP in Lahore was an eye-opener for the government. He hoped that the people of Karachi would accord a historic welcome to the CJP on May 12. He said: “Maintaining peace and order is the responsibility of the government and it will have to bear responsibility in case any untoward incident occurred during the CJP reception in Karachi owing to the MQM rally”. He appealed to the people to fully participate in the welcome reception of the Chief Justice of Pakistan and show their support to Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry against the present regime. Jhagra said that no political party entered into deal with the regime and neither any deal could hijack or sabotage the struggle for the independence of judiciary.
45
At present the component parties of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal were working for the supremacy of law and judiciary, he added. PML-N leaders Ahsan Iqbal, Salim Zia, Sardar Rahim; ARD leaders Rashid Rabbani, Basharat Mirza and others were also present on the occasion. *** The News 10 May (b) Karachi tense ahead of May 12 rallies By Tahir Hasan Khan KARACHI: Tension is fast rising in Karachi following the announcement by the ruling MQM and the opposition ARD and MMA that they would take out “historic” rallies on the arrival of the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in the city on May 12, 2007. Meanwhile, lawyers are seeking a bulletproof car for the Chief Justice.
C P
Political analysts say that the two rallies could result in a clash despite a strong declaration by the MQM that its rally would be peaceful. The MQM leadership says that the purpose of its rally is to show the party’s strength against the opposition. When contacted, the MQM leaders said that the party would announce its route and plan of the rally on Thursday. Sources said that a meeting of the party leaders and workers was going on at Nine Zero till late Wednesday night, the strategy for the rally under discussion. The provincial administration is working to maintain the law and order situation. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad held a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the law and order situation in view of the arrival of the Chief Justice of Pakistan in Karachi on 12 May and rallies of political parties with divergent points of view.
R
Sindh Home Secretary Brig (Retd) Ghulam Muhammad Mohtarem has written a letter to the Supreme Court, requesting the Chief Justice of Pakistan to postpone his Karachi visit as the situation is not suitable for the visit, which is not in the larger public interest. The Home Secretary has conveyed to the SC Registrar: “It is foreseen that the planned caravan of the Honourable Chief Justice of Supreme Court from Karachi airport to different venues in the town could be stopped by political elements and in ensuing melee, the person and thus the office of the honourable CJP might be slighted.”
H
The letter by the Home Secretary, who is in Islamabad, follows MQM’s plans to bring out a rally to counter the rallies to be brought out by the ARD, MMA and lawyers. The Adviser to the CM, Waseem Akhtar, who belongs to the MQM, is the in-charge of the Home department. The Chief Secretary, Sindh, Shakil Durrani, has also issued an order to all DCOs of the province and departmental secretaries not to leave their stations. The police have also issued warning of a terrorist threat. The opposition has advised the MQM to change its plan and hold the rally either before or after the departure of the chief justice. The ARD Secretary General, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, has expressed concerns over the decision of the MQM to hold its rally on Saturday and requested the party to change its date to avoid any disturbance. He alleged that General Pervez Musharraf is looking at excuses to impose emergency in the country and the MQM might provide him the opportunity. The MMA has announced that Liaquat Baloch would lead its rally, and would distribute one million handbills among the people so as to motivate them to participate in the rally. The MMA has also announced that schoolchildren would present bouquets to the Chief Justice at the Quaid’s Mazar as a show of solidarity. Meanwhile, the city lawyers are trying to arrange a bulletproof car for the chief justice. Sources said that a businessman has promised to provide the car after the Sindh government refused to lend any of the bulletproof cars being used by the Sindh Governor and the Chief Minister. The Bar has also planned to deploy 300 lawyers for the security of the CJP on his arrival. The situation has worried the people, including traders and the business community, parents and teachers especially as the annual exams have started in the city’s educational institutions. M Waqar Bhatti adds: Sindh Home Secretary Brig (retd) Ghulam Muhammad Mohtaram has sought the postponement of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s planned visit to Karachi on May 12 to a new convenient date, claiming there were reports of possibility of “armed clashes and bloodshed” in Karachi on his arrival. The CJ is expected to be accorded a warm welcome by the legal fraternity, opposition political parties and common people on his arrival in Karachi and is likely to be taken to Malir Judicial Complex and then the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam in the form of a mammoth rally. He was accorded a historic welcome by hundreds of thousands of people from Islamabad to Lahore during his over 24-hour road journey on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road on May 5 that caused ringing of alarm bells in the rank and file of the government.
46
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a strong coalition partner at the Centre and in the Sindh government, has also announced to hold a rally in Karachi on the same day to “counter” the political impact of the CJ’s arrival in Karachi and the oxygen it would provide to opposition forces in the province. In a letter sent to the Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Islamabad, on Wednesday, Brig Mohtaram said the chief justice of Pakistan was scheduled to visit Karachi on May 12 to address the Sindh High Court Bar in connection with the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He said the event, which otherwise would have been an event exclusively involving judicial and lawyers’ community, is drawing political interest. Political parties both from the opposition and the government are planning to hold competing rallies in the town on the given date, he wrote, adding that tension was on the rise and all law-enforcement and security agencies were unanimous in their assessment that there could be armed clashes and bloodshed.
C P
There are also intelligence reports that terrorist groups may take advantage of the environment thus created, to launch terrorist attacks, he added. He wrote that it was also foreseen that the planned caravan of the chief justice from the Karachi airport to different venues in the town could be stopped by political elements and in the ensuing melee, the person and thus the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan may be slighted. It may also be noted that Saturday is a working day and there will be massive public inconvenience and disruption of traffic, and college/school going children and air travellers would be stranded and the Quaid-iAzam International Airport’s working would be disrupted, he contended. Karachi is also the commercial hub of the country and it has been peaceful for sometime now and lately business perception of its environment is getting positive projection, he said. It is not in the interest of the people of Karachi for a situation to be created where the peace and tranquillity and security perception of the town again takes a nosedive, he said.
R
“The Sindh government shall take all possible measures to prevent any untoward incident. However, in view of the obtaining environment as stated above, I would take this opportunity to request you in the larger public interest and to prevent creation of a law and order situation, to postpone the planned event to a new convenient date. The government of Sindh’s concern may kindly be conveyed to the honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan,” the letter concludes. *** Ummat 10 May (a)
H
Staff Reporter- Mr. Iqbal Haider (Secretary General HRCP), said that HRCP’s activists including Asma Jahangir will participate and welcome camps will be organized by HRCP. At the same time in his press conference he condemned the sealing of offices of Munir A Malik by the KBCA and said that it was an act of vengeance committed by an ethnic party that is an ally of the government. *** The News 11 May (a) Opposition asks MQM to call off rally By Sohail Khan
ISLAMABAD: The opposition on Thursday alleged that the government was using different tactics for declaring emergency and postponing the general elections. Legislators, belonging to the opposition, expressed apprehensions in the National Assembly that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s rally in Karachi on May 12 could result in a clash with the people who would welcome Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on the same day, and stressed the MQM to cancel its rally. MMA Deputy Parliamentary leader Liaquat Baloch, soon after the Question Hour, asked the speaker on a point of order to hold a debate on the law and order situation in Karachi after the attack on the Supreme Court Bar Association President Munir A Malik as well as overnight aerial firing throughout Karachi. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, while taking the floor, strongly condemned the attack on Munir A Malik’s house and supported the point of order raised by Liaquat Baloch. He said that the House should debate the law and order situation. However, he added that both the treasury and the opposition should avoid criticizing each other. The speaker, with the consent of House, allowed the debate. Initiating the debate, MMA legislator Muhammad Hussain Mahanti alleged that Karachi had witnessed aerial firing the whole night, carried out to create obstacles in the way of chief justice’s arrival in the city on May 12. He said though the chief justice’s visit to Lahore had remained peaceful, panic was created by the government on the eve of chief justice’s arrival in the city. Before Mahanti concluded his speech, his mike was switched off, and the speaker gave the mike to MQM legislator Haider Abbas Rizvi who said MQM chief Altaf Hussain had issued a statement from London, condemning the firing incident on Malik’s house.
47
Sher Muhammad Baloch, another opposition MNA, while taking the floor, said that instead of siding with the government, the MQM should side with the judiciary and cancel its rally on May 12. Minister of State for Interior Zafar Iqbal Warrich said that after the attack on Munir A Malik, senior police officials went to his house and registered the case. However, he said that Malik has not nominated anybody in the FIR. He said that the police had found six Kalashnikov empties near the gate of Malik’s house. Manzoor Wassan of the PPP said that by using different tactics, the government wanted to declare emergency in the country so that the general elections could be postponed. Tehmina Daultana of the PML-N said that it was the government’s responsibility to maintain law and order. She alleged the government has allocated Rs 50 crore for the MQM rally in Karachi and presidential rally in Islamabad. Treasury MNA Farooq Amjad Mir said the opposition wants to use its democratic right but is not ready to give it to the others. The public wants that nobody should sit with the chief justice in his car. Similarly, he said, the people want justice but not the chief justice.
C P
Former prime minister Mir Zafrullah Khan Jamali asked the government and the opposition to save the country from an impending civil war. He said that the government’s move to recommend the presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and then bringing out rallies was beyond his comprehension. The PML leader asked why the government had chosen the same day for holding rallies when the chief justice was on a tour. “Is the government creating confusion among the public and is it trying to push the country towards a civil war?” Jamali asked. “For God sake, save the country and its people and don’t push them into a civil war,” appealed Jamali. The former prime minister said that when a matter is in a court, it was the jurisdiction of the court and nobody should have any suspicion over the apex court.
R
He said that Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has not invited anyone to a public rally; however, if he receives a wide range of public response, nobody should have objection to it. He appealed to the government and the opposition to maintain tolerance and save Pakistan as “after the fall of Dhaka, Quaid-iAzam’s Pakistan remains no more.”
H
Jamali said that Karachi was the stronghold of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), while the Punjab was the stronghold of Pakistan Muslim League. Similarly, the MMA has the street power in Balochistan and was in the government in the NWFP. However, he said, whatever was going on in the country was on the directives of the leaders of three mainstream political forces, the PPP, PML-N and the MQM. He appealed to the leaders of these political forces to save the country from further bloodshed and try their utmost to maintain law and order. *** The News 11 May (b) MQM unveils plans for May 12 rally By Fasahat Mohiuddin
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday announced its plans to take out a rally as a show of strength in Karachi on May 12. Dr Farooq Sattar, Deputy Convener and members of the Rabita committee, while addressing a crowded press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday, said that processions from all over the city, and from other areas of Sindh, will assemble at the Mazar-e-Quaid and move towards Tibet Centre, MA Jinnah Road, at 12 noon. There, MQM leader Altaf Hussain will make a telephonic address from the MQM’s International Secretariat in London, England. It is worth mentioning that the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is expected to visit Karachi on the same day to attend the Sindh High Court Bar Council’s golden jubilee celebration. He is expected to be welcomed by a large rally of political parties and lawyers. As a result, there has been a lot of tension and panic brewing in the city for the last few days. Sattar said the MQM had sought rally permission for the entire city. To a question who would be responsible for any clash or mishap on the streets that day, Sattar said the ball is now in the court of the respectable Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Even if any small mishap occurs, every party in the rally would be equally responsible for it. Sattar said that Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry should also take note of this crucial moment. He stressed that the MQM had no objection to the arrival of the Chief Justice. He said that his party respected his designation and that he could address any bar of the country. However, he said, the opposition and religious political parties are taking out a political rally on the 12th in an attempt to show that the masses of Sindh, including Karachi, are not with Muttahida. This proves that opposition parties’ rally is purely a political show, and the aim is not only to receive Justice Chaudhry but to
48
push ahead their vested political interests. He said the MQM openly accepts the challenge for May 12 and on that day, people will see whom the masses are really with. Sattar further said that the peaceful rally is neither against the Chief Justice nor against the judiciary but, in fact, for the freedom of the judiciary. Sattar alleged that the opposition parties wanted to destabilize the democratic process and adversely affect the lives of the common citizens by politicizing the presidential reference. This, he said, is highly condemnable because it is a totally constitutional matter. The same people are now demanding the removal of the government, which shows that this struggle is not for the independence of the judiciary, but to destabilize the present government. He declared that the MQM workers and the masses would foil all such conspiracies. Some lawyers’ organizations, too, have become pawns in the political game being played by the opposition parties, he added.
The News 11 May (c)
C P
***
Lawyers rule out change in schedule By Jamal Khurshid
KARACHI: Rebuffing Sindh government’s request for postponement of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry’s visit to Karachi on May 12, lawyers on Thursday ruled out the possibility of any change in their schedule for the CJP’s welcome.
“The government should resign if it cannot protect the life and liberty of its citizens,” Pakistan Bar Council member Justice (retd) Abul Inam said while addressing a press conference. “The Chief Justice will come to Karachi at any cost and he will address the bar associations on May 12,” Abul Inam categorically announced and warned that the government will be held responsible if any harm comes to the participants of the CJP’s procession.
R
He condemned the firing incident on the residence of Supreme Court Bar Association’s President Munir A Malik, sealing of his office and kidnapping attempt on former Sindh High Court Bar President Akhtar Hussain. He demanded arrest of persons involved in the incident and judicial inquiry of such incidents.
H
He appealed to the lawyers to make the program for the CJP’s welcome successful and attend the procession without any fear. PBC member Mohammad Yaseen Azad, Sindh Bar Council members Zia Ahmed Awan, Salahuddin Gandapur, Mustufa Lakhani, Mohammad Hanif Bhatti, Sadiq Hidayatullah, Khalil Dogar, Mohammad Aqil, Abdullah Chandio, Sathi M Ishaque and former President of Sindh High Court Bar Association Akhtar Hussain also spoke on the occasion. Meanwhile, talking to newsmen, Sindh High Court Bar Association President Abrar Hasan said the CJP’s program was scheduled for the last six months and it could not be postponed. “The program will go ahead as per the schedule,” he announced while demanding the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to change its rally schedule. He stated that Secretary Home Department had sent a fax to the SHCBA, expressing fear of bloodshed during procession and requested for the postponement of the rally. “The home secretary has been told that SHCBA is holding reception to Chief Justice at the SHC on the eve of concluding session of Golden Jubilee celebration of Supreme Court and only lawyers would attend the function,” he said. He said Secretary home department was informed that lawyers will receive the Chief Justice at Karachi airport and later they will proceed towards Karachi Bar Association and SHCBA for programs organized by the bar organizations. “The protection of the participants of the procession is the sole responsibility of the government,” he said. Meanwhile, former city nazim Naimatullah Khan has appealed to the people of Karachi to converge at the city’s airport for welcoming the Chief Justice of Pakistan on May 12. Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, Naimatullah said that he, along with former town nazims, union council nazims and councillors, would be present at the Karachi Airport in great numbers to welcome the chief justice of Pakistan on May 12. At another press conference, the local leaders of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) said that Karachiites would create history by their unprecedented show of welcome and solidarity for the Chief Justice of Pakistan on May 12. Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, Karachi, Dr Mirajul Huda Siddiqui, and other city leaders of the MMA also vehemently condemned the firing incident on the Karachi residence of President of Supreme Court Bar Association Munir A Malik.
49
*** The News 11 May (d) Gearing up for May 12 By Tahir Hasan Khan, Karachi The political temperature remained high in the provincial capital on Thursday — two days before the May 12 show down that will see the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry visit the city. With the Muttihida Qaumi Movement (MQM) already planning a rally on the same day, the Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam disclosed that other coalition parties will also be joining the MQM rally as the government had decided to fight with the opposition on the same political grounds. Despite the request of the Sindh government, the leaders of the lawyers’ bodies claim that there was no intention or plan to postpone of the visit of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
C P
A confrontation-like situation has created a very palpable sense of fear among the people. Pir Pagara, chief of the Functional Muslim League, a coalition member of the present set up, warned that martial law could be imposed in the country if any law and order situation was created on 12 May due to the rallies of the political parties marking the arrival of the Chief Justice. The situation became even tenser as both the transporters and business community were holding meetings to plan the closure of their businesses on Saturday. The Sindh administration, too, is busy chalking out a strategy in view of the political show down in the city on May 12. Arbab told the media that the opposition had converted the judicial issue into political oneto bring the people onto the streets. The Chief Minister also called on the Sindh Governor in the evening and sources said that the political situation as well as administrative measures had come under discussion in the meeting.
R
The MQM workers were busy setting up party camps in the city in preparation for the rally, while the leaders of the ARD and MMA claimed that their workers have also planned to set up welcome camps in city. The authorities of the Sindh government also held two separate meeting to review the situation and first briefed the Sindh Governor, and later the Home Secretary, about the existing situation and expected scenario.
H
Sources said that the police and civil administration were worried by the situation and some of the senior officers advised the governor to convince the MQM to change its plans to defuse the tense situation. However, Dr Farooq Sattar, deputy convener of the MQM, said that the opposition move was part of an anti-government campaign and it was the right of the MQM to defend the government, of which it is a part. The MQM was busy preparing to bring out a rally from Guru Mandir to Tibet Centre, MA Jinnah Road. The party has set up camps all over the city to mobilise the people. Sattar told the newsmen at Karachi Press Club that May 12 was a part of the election campaign of the opposition parties and that the MQM would also show its strength, which was its right. Meanwhile, the provincial ARD leader Syed Qaim Ali Shah claimed that all 26 opposition parties had completed their welcome plans for May 12 and declared that the participants of the opposition rally would be unarmed and workers only carry the party flags and portraits of their leaders. He told the newsmen after the meeting held by the component parties of the ARD that government would be responsible if any clashes were to emerge on the day. On the other hand, the lawyers’ community and MMA, Awami National Party, Tehreek-e-Insaf and others parties were also busy preparing to welcome of the chief justice in Karachi. But, another leader of the government’s coalition partners, Pir Pagara, called a hurried press conference on Thursday to issue a warning of impending martial law if there was any confrontation. Sources said that Pir Pagara had called a press conference after meeting with a member of President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s think tank. He advised the opposition parties to avoid creating an untoward situation on the chief justice issue. If a serious law and order situation was created on May 12, resulting in casualties, then there was a high propability that martial law would be imposed in the country, he said. Pagara supported the President Musharraf and said that the entire Pakistan Army is completely united under the command of their Chief. He also said that if martial law was imposed, it would be done by General Musharraf. On a somewhat unrelated note, Pagara said that Benazir Bhutto is not dealing with the government but is, in fact, cheating it. ***
50
The News 11 May (e) Extended closure? By our correspondent, Karachi The city would be witnessing a lot of activity — political or otherwise — in the next 48 hours. Pasban has given a strike call for Friday, while the Chief Justice of Pakistan is visiting the city on Saturday, with political parties flexing their muscles to gain mileage from the event.
C P
Karachi once again appears to be a wrestling ring these days, causing a lot of scare among the citizens, particularly among parents, who are undecided as to whether or not send their children to schools on Friday and Saturday. Karachiites are expecting some major crises in the city and, as a result, many are making heavy purchases of food items. Same is the situation at fruit markets, with fruit and vegetable vendors storing extra stocks, fearing that wholesale markets may be forced to close which might create shortage of fruits and vegetables. Besides this, an ugly situation is being witnessed at hospitals, with the para-medical staff and attendants asking the surgeons and doctors to delay the operations as they may not be able to reach the hospitals on the day of the rallies. In the meanwhile, an interesting situation has also developed at the CDs market, as a number of people were found purchasing film CDs expecting that they might have to stay home for the next three days since Friday is a strike by Pasban, Saturday the city may closed because of the rallies and Sunday is a holiday.
R
Meanwhile, a large number of citizens appealed to KESC not to resort to load-shedding during these days.
***
The News 11 May (f)
H
Traffic chaos to hit city tomorrow By Farooq Baloch, Karachi
Vehicular traffic in almost every part of the city, particularly at the two main thoroughfares M. A. Jinnah Road and Sharea Faisal is likely to face hours-long disruptions on Saturday since MQM, a ruling coalition party, has announced the route of its rally which is very similar to that of CJP’s welcome procession, while the traffic police have not notified traffic diversion plan till the filing of this report. When contacted, a source in the Traffic Police said that they could not issue any diversion plan unless higher authorities send them the approved routes and other necessary instructions. He, however, maintained that a meeting with regard to traffic diversion plan was expected later in the evening. The source also mentioned that it was very unlikely to issue any traffic plan the same day as the meeting can be late, therefore, they are likely to issue traffic diversion plan the next day. Well informed sources told The News that from early morning MQM participants will start taking out their rallies from almost every part of the city as well as from interior Sindh, which will merge at Quaid’s mausoleum, forming a big rally at noon and from there they will march up to Tibet Center in the afternoon via M. A. Jinnah Road to listen to the address of their leader. Earlier, the opposition parties, supporting the non-functional Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, had already announced the route of their rally. The chief justice, who is expected to arrive in the city at noon, would first visit Malir Bar Association and then a big procession of lawyers will proceed towards Numaish through Sharea Faisal to pay homage to the Father of the Nation. The procession would move towards the City Courts in the afternoon via M.A. Jinnah Road and Lewis Road. The procession would then reach the Sindh High Court via M.A. Jinnah Road and Frere Road. From the given route and expected time it is crystal clear that the two major rallies would pass from M. A. Jinnah Road simultaneously, which would certainly make the things difficult for the vehicular traffic, especially because the aforesaid road is one of the main arteries of commuting across the city. It is also worth mentioning here that public might not have any idea as to what route they should use for commuting since no traffic diversion plan was disclosed by traffic police till late Thursday evening. Besides, it should not be ignored that the participants of MQM rally from Bin Qasim, Landhi, Shah Faisal, Malir and parts of Gulshan Town would also be using Sharea Faisal (route of lawyers’ procession) to get to Quaid’s mausoleum which is likely to
51
lead to traffic chaos. Malir Bar Association is located on main National Highway where even a small protest can cause hours-long traffic jam since no alternate route is available there to divert traffic flow. It may be noted here that Saturday is a working day while the final exams of some institutions, including University of Karachi, are in progress therefore ensuring smooth flow of traffic would be a big challenge for the police who have yet not made any traffic diversion plan. It is therefore safe to assume that the commuters should avoid the aforementioned routes especially those from where the two rallies would be passing simultaneously, and follow the traffic diversions if notified by the police. It is also worth mentioning here that some major transport associations of the city have shown their discomfort over the snatching of their vehicles for the purpose of rallies for which they are not given compensation. Based on this it can be assumed that there would be a paucity of public transport on Saturday. *** The News 11 May (g)
By Shakil Shaikh
C P
Centre advises CJ not to travel to Karachi
ISLAMABAD: Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah on Thursday requested Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry not to travel to Karachi on Saturday (May 12) because of an imminent threat of terrorist attacks. It was a formal request made through a letter addressed to Registrar Supreme Court Mohammad Ali. "During the visit of the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan on May 12, all political parties are planning to hold rallies and public meetings in Karachi," Interior Secretary Kamal Shah said in a formal letter No 1/1/2006DG(NCMC) dated May 10, 2007.
R
He said, "Given the obtaining situation, the possibility of clashes between opposing political rallies cannot be ruled out. The home secretary Sindh has expressed similar views which have been communicated to you with a copy to me."
H
Shah's request was considered as made by the government to avoid any untoward situation, particularly in view of the threat of terrorist attacks. "There are credible intelligence reports, indicating imminent terrorist attacks in which highly placed government/public functionaries are the targets," said Shah's letter. Shah also requested the registrar to bring it to the attention of the acting chief justice of Pakistan and to the notice of the honourable chief justice. ***
The News 11 May (h)
PML-Q, PML-F to join MQM rally on 12th: Arbab By M Waqar Bhatti
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim claimed on Thursday the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) and another coalition partner of the government, the Pakistan Muslim LeagueFunctional (PML-F), would join the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s rally on May 12 in Karachi in support of President Pervez Musharraf. Talking to newsmen after addressing a seminar here, he said the opposition parties, and not the government, were politicising the judicial issue as they (opposition) compelled people to take to streets on this sensitive issue. “It would have been better if this issue was resolved in the court instead of roads,” he said,
The chief minister said that if the opposition wanted this issue’s settlement on roads, the government, too, reserves the right to show its political strength. “But we would be peaceful on May 12 and won’t let opposition to resort to violent activities,” he added. Arbab claimed that Sindh had never progressed in the way it was moving ahead under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf and invited the opposition to support him for the progress and development of the province. Meanwhile, the chief minister called on Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad to discuss with him the steps for maintaining law and order in the city on May 12. He pledged the government would take all possible measures for protecting lives and properties of the government and the people. The governor and the chief minister directed the authorities concerned to improve intelligence network in the province and take extraordinary measures to avoid any untoward situation in the city. They said Karachi has become as a peaceful city and a economic hub of Pakistan due to hectic efforts of the present authorities and nobody could be allowed to disturb peace and tranquillity here. ***
52
Dawn 11 May (a) Pasban’s call for strike today By Our Staff Reporter
C P
KARACHI, May 10: The local chapter of Pasban, a youth organisation, has given a call for strike in city on Friday against massive load-shedding and increasing street crimes. It has appealed people from all walks of life, transporters and traders in particular, to make the strike a success. Syed Ashraf Hussain, President of Pasban, Karachi, in a statement issued here on Thursday, made the appeal. He also claimed that unidentified armed men attacked a vehicle carrying Pasban workers, who were airing the call for the strike using loudspeaker. He said that the attackers kidnapped 10 of the workers before freeing four of the injured ones. The other six were still unaccounted for, he added. He alleged that the attack was made in the presence of police, who did not move against the assailants. Mr Hussain urged the DIG operation and TPO New Karachi to register an FIR of the incident and locate the missing workers. Giving details, he said the workers, led by Umaid Ali Qazi, were attacked at Baba Morr, in the limits of the New Karachi Police Station. He said the assailants carried Klashnikovs and after kidnapping the workers, fled towards Surjani
R
Town.
***
Dawn, 11 May (b)
Reception camps in Karachi removed By Our Staff Reporter
H
KARACHI: Police removed late on Thursday reception camps set up by the opposition parties in connection with the rally of the Chief Justice of Pakistan in parts of the city. Capital City Police Officer Azhar Farooqui told Dawn that the reception camps were removed under an administrative order by the home department.
Sources said heavy contingents of police launched a `cleanup operation’ late night removing the reception camps in several localities. Chief Minister’s Adviser on Home Affairs Wasim Akhtar said the reception camps were removed irrespective of party affiliations. “They were set up illegally by the political parties as no prior permission was sought,” he added. He said that Section 144 was not imposed in any part of the city. *** Jang 11 May (a) th
Staff Reporter- Two persons were arrested from Korangi-14 - they had planned terrorist acts for 12 May. They disclosed their party as (MQMH) and said that party high command had directed them for such acts of terrorism (Mansoor alias Lara Korangiwala and Imran Sinki) *** Kawish 11 May (a) There was strong criticism and a walkout was staged against Muttahida (MQM) in the National Assembly and in the Senate. The Opposition said that the MQM wanted to propel the country into civil war. It was said that the government allies were responsible for the firing on the house of Munir A Malik: (Liaquat Baloch). Additionally, fifty thousand people have been martyred since 1985 to present day. (M.Hussian Mahenti) *** Kawish 11 May (b)
53
CJ is organizing rallies with politicians, now we will show how a rally could be organized, said Muttahida (MQM). *** Ummat 11 May (a) Staff Report- Wasim Akhtar, advisor to home minister, said that there is a possibility of suicide th bombing in Karachi on 12 May. Further, he said that the security plan for the CJ’s arrival in Karachi is complete, and full protocol will be given to CJ as per his route to High Court. Wasim Akhtar further said that on th 12 May the charged people’s mobs will face each other and therefore there are chances of carnage. There is a network of suicide bombers that he and his team are trying to break. They requested the CJ to postpone his th 12 May’s address in the national interest. Wasim Akhtar also said that the 12th May security plan was handed over to the police, and that Rangers would be on backup and extra police squad will be deployed. Police will be deployed on the rallies’ routes and buildings. Advance technology cameras will be fixed on main spots to keep an eye on all rallies.
Express 11 May (a)
C P
***
Staff Reporter- Police dismantled the camps of Muttahida (MQM) and CJ’s reception camps under the Section 144. Arbab Rahim and Ishratul Ibad met and issued an order to the relevant officials and intelligence agencies for peacekeeping. ***
Express 11 May (b)
R
Staff Reporter- There are many chances of terrorism so CJ should not go Karachi (Letter from federal home minister to registrar supreme court): Conflict between political rallies cannot be ruled out, main government and leader may be a target for terrorism (reports of intelligence agencies): Federal government has suggested to CJ to not come to Karachi as there is a risk of conflict in the political rallies as the terrorists have reportedly planned to target processions. ***
Daily Times 12 May (a)
CDGK staff ‘asked’ to attend pro-govt rally
H
KARACHI: The majority of the City District Government Karachi’s (CDGK) employees, around 125,000 people, have been asked to attend the pro-government rallies to be held today (Saturday) in Karachi.
The employees, including officers, lower staff, and officials assigned to all 14 towns under the MQM’s Haq Parast group, were verbally instructed to attend the main rally at Tibet Center without excuse. “There is no written instruction but some of the MQM workers, who are also part of city government, visited almost all the offices in Civic Center and asked people to make sure they attend the rally,” said a CDGK employee. He said that the MQM-backed town administrations and their staff have also been asked to show their dedication to the party and attend the rally without any excuse. They will also not be marked absent in their daily attendance, he added.
“The town administrations have to declare a state of emergency but have also been instructed to either emerge from their area and join the rally or go to Tibet Center and start from there,” said a Jamshed Town official. He also mentioned that some of the MQM workers had asked shop owners around the vicinity of Civic Centre to keep their businesses closed on Saturday as there will be no one to cater to. Meanwhile, the acting city nazim, Nasreen Jalil, chaired a meeting to review the arrangements for Saturday’s rallies. She declared an emergency and told the staff to be on high alert, especially the fire brigade, the water and sewerage board, and the municipal services. staff report *** Daily Times 12 May (b) Opp rally will be illegal, unconstitutional: MQM Staff Report KARACHI: The deputy convener of MQM’s Rabita Committee, Dr Farooq Sattar, has said that the opposition rally in Karachi on May 12 would be illegal and unconstitutional and were actually meant to show their lack of confidence in the courts.
54
While briefing the media Friday about preparations for the MQM’s rally to culminate at Tibet Center, Sattar said that the party was a political one and would not like any confrontation with any one. “The rally will be peaceful, hopefully there will be no unpleasant situation created on the day.” The MQM’s rallies will gather at Numaish Chowrangi and then will proceed to Tibet Center. Sattar said that political parties, including the PPP-P and the Jamaat-e-Islami, have lost the people’s trust and now they want to take their revenge. They are thus bringing the judicial issue onto the streets, he said. Meanwhile, senior MQM deputy convener Tariq Jawed said in a statement Friday that the MQM rally would be completely peaceful. He appealed to party workers that despite all efforts to provoke them, they must remain calm and peaceful. Meanwhile, the MQM arranged corner meetings and mass contact campaigns across the city. The party’s elected representatives went to different localities to invite people to participate in the rally. The party’s flags and banners were put up at different roads.
C P
As for the MQM, he said it will demonstrate exemplary discipline in its ranks and will refrain from retaliating even in the face of the gravest of provocations. Everything therefore depends on the ARD and others as far as the maintenance of peace and tranquility is concerned in Karachi tomorrow, he said. Sattar claimed that the MQM had acquired the proper permission to hold its rally, while others have not. The Sindh government is conscious of its responsibilities and must be doing all it can to maintain peace, he said. The MQM, he said, had firmly held and will continue to struggle for the independence of the judiciary, the supremacy of law, and a free press, while those in the opposition were doing just the opposite. It was the opposition that had brought the chief justice’s issue onto the streets and the MQM has only accepted the challenge and will show the world its strength. Sattar dispelled rumors of a change of route for the MQM rally, and made it abundantly clear that while the traditional route will be from Quaidabad in Landhi to Tibet Center, processions and rallies will come out from every street, every village and every town in Karachi and Sindh. ***
R
Daily Times 12 May (c)
Emergency declared at 7 public hospitals By Farhan Ahmed
KARACHI: The home department declared Friday an emergency in seven public-sector hospitals in Karachi. Officials were directed to remain on high alert in case of a clash between the two rival groups holding rallies today (Saturday).
H
These public sector hospitals are located near the expected rally routes. The home department, through letter No. SO (LE-II) HD/9.1/2007, signed by the section officer of the health department, Tanveer Ahmed Qureshi, stated that it must be ensured that all hospitals in Karachi were put on alert and that ambulances and staff were all present. The health department directed the executive district officer of health and the medical superintendents (MS) at Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), Services Hospital, Sindh Govt Lyari General Hospital, Sindh Govt Qatar Hospital, Sindh Govt Hospital Liaquatabad, Sindh Govt Hospital Saudabad, and Sindh Govt Hospital Korangi No.5 to stay on high alert. CHK MS Kaleem Butt confirmed the report. Extra nurses and doctors have been posted to the casualty department. “In addition to this we have set up one more emergency operation theatre with a full staff,” said Butt. “All staff leaves have been cancelled and they have been instructed to report to their departments. The administrative offices will also remain open throughout the day.” Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre Director Prof. Rashid Jooma said that they had not received any government orders but had already instructed the staff to remain on high alert. “The emergency room will be at full strength,” said Jooma.
Anwer Kazmi, Abdul Sattar Edhi’s secretary at the Mereweather Tower Edhi Centre, said that they had also declared a state of emergency and have briefed all their station managers and circle in-charges. “No one will be on leave tomorrow and those found absent will be fired on the spot.” Furthermore, ambulances will not move with the rally but there will be 10 on standby at Star Gate and Malir stations each. Ambulances at other stations will provide back-up and that each ambulance has been equipped with walkie-talkies and two new bed sheets *** Daily Times 12 May (d) ‘MQM postpone rally or be responsible’ Staff Report
55
KARACHI: General secretary of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Zafar Iqbal Jhagra has warned the Sindh Government and the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) to review their decision about the rally and postpone it, or else they would be responsible for whatever happened on Saturday. “We demand the MQM that if they really want to see Karachi as a peaceful city, they must postpone their rally and show off their strength on some other day,” Jhagra said, while addressing a press conference on Friday at the Karachi Press Club. Sardar Raheem and Mushahidaullah Khan were also present at the conference. He said that the ruling party was using pressure tactics, as they wanted to keep people away from the welcome of the non-functional chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) in Karachi. “All efforts of the Sindh Government and its ally party to keep people away have failed because people from all over Sindh and Karachi have decided to welcome the CJP,” he said.
C P
He was critical of the Sindh Government and said that the police had conducted raids on PML-N workers and leadership in Karachi and 150 workers and office bearers had been arrested so far. He demanded that the Sindh Government resign as secretary Sindh home department had asked the CJP to postpone his visit to the city for security concerns, which was tantamount to them accepting that they were incapable of maintaining the city’s law and order situation. The government, he said, had lost the confidence of the province’s people.
He said that Sindh was the only province where the government was worried about law and order. “In the NWFP and Punjab, despite the large number of people who had gathered to welcome the CJP, there was no law and order problem because both lawyers and political parties’ leaders were peaceful.” He said that the MQM believed that Karachi was their city, but they also considered it to be their city and so did every citizen of Pakistan. “MQM has failed to provide basic rights and facilities to the citizens of Karachi. ***
R
Daily Times 12 May (e)
Part of CJP’s route mysteriously dug up
H
KARACHI: One track of Shahrah-e-Quaideen was mysteriously dug up overnight Friday. Heavy machinery parked on Kashmir Road (near Khudadad Chowrangi) was used to dig up the lane early Friday morning. Shopkeepers in the area said that the road was probably dup up late night, because it seemed complete enough until midnight Thursday. Officials concerned have, however, denied all knowledge about the issue. Daily Times spoke with the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) Chief Engineer Zone II-B, Muhammad Arif, about any projects that the KWSB might be running in the area. Arif said that even though the water board had initiated work on Kashmir Road to lay a 33-inch-diameter water pipeline, they had no information about who dug up the road. The Jamshed Town administration spokesman also denied any knowledge about the digging, or who had commissioned it. Shahrah-e-Quaideen is part of the CJP’s route towards the City Court via M.A. Jinnah Road. Jamil Khan ***
Daily Times 12 May (f) PML-N worker, guard shot dead KARACHI: A worker of the PML-N and a security guard were shot dead and two others were injured by unidentified gunmen in separate incidents ahead of the chief justice of Pakistan’s visit to Karachi and a progovernment rally called by the Muttahida Quami Movement on Saturday. PML-N worker Asghar Shah and his two colleagues were planning a welcome reception for the CJP near Abbasi Market in Model Colony when the gunmen opened fire on them, killing Shah instantly and injuring the other two. Earlier, five unidentified young men shot dead private security guard Malik Amir when he refused to shut down the Western Union mobile shop on Shahrah-e-Faisal on their order. Separately, unidentified men took away 19 university buses and their drivers at gunpoint early on Friday morning. Abbas Naqvi *** The News 12 May (a) Karachi under siege By Tahir Hasan Khan KARACHI: The government on Friday night started a crackdown against the opposition political parties and, simultaneously, blocked the main Sharae Faisal and all the surrounding roads by deploying a large number of police and Rangers contingents.
56
In a late night development some unidentified assailants shot dead a PML-N activist in Model Colony and seriously injured two others. The dead was identified as Azfar Shah while the injured included Shimroz and Liaquat. Sources said the Sindh government had ordered that the Sharae Faisal and all link roads be declared as a 'no-go area' for workers and supporters of the opposition political parties. The administration also ordered the police to arrest every person on Sharae Faisal found with flags and portraits of their party leaders. The extraordinary security measures disrupted flight schedules as many passengers could not reach or leave the airport. The opposition ARD, MMA, Tehreek-e-Insaf, ANP, Sunni Tehreek and nationalist parties claimed that thousands of their workers and leaders had been arrested till Friday night while raids were being conducted on residences of central and provincial leaders and lawyers' bodies.
C P
On the other hand, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had completed all the arrangements for its rally to be brought out on Saturday against the opposition movement. The MA Jinnah Road and all link roads were decorated with party flags, banners and lights and hundreds of loudspeakers were installed from Guru Mandar to Tibet Centre. MQM workers had come out on the streets on Friday evening and also taken out rallies in different parts of the city as part of mobilisation. The situation is still tense in the city and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad has announced that all schools, colleges and universities would be closed on Saturday. Traders and transporters have also decided to close their businesses for the day. All the shopping centres and shops would be closed on Saturday. The city life came to a halt on Friday night and people were forced to stay at their homes. The sources said the law-enforcement agencies had arranged 1,000 containers and hundreds of trucks to block the main Sharae Faisal and all link roads to the airport and Malir. On the other hand, the administration had also deployed large number of policemen at the main MA Jinnah Road for security purposes.
R
The leaders of the lawyer's bodies claimed that they were invited to a meeting at the Governor House on Friday evening and were told in the presence of senior officials of the law-enforcement agencies that only lawyers would be allowed to go to Sharae Faisal. However, officials claimed that there was a plan to block the lawyers' rally and stop the chief justice at the airport and ask him to go back on the next-available flight. Plainclothesmen were deployed in and outside the airport.
H
The Adviser to the CM on Home Affairs, Waseem Akhtar, told the media that the Sindh government would provide complete security to the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Two days ago, the Home Secretary had requested the chief justice to postpone his visit in the larger interest of the public and peace. Despite the request of the Sindh government, the lawyers have declared that the visit would not be postponed. The MMA also claimed that hundreds of its workers had been arrested. The alliance declared that despite the crackdown, the MMA would bring out the rally. The alliance claimed that MNAs, MPAs and UC Nazims of religious parties had been arrested. Lawyers' bodies also claimed that more then 50 lawyers had been arrested while majority of them had gone underground to save themselves. They declared that the lawyers would welcome the CJP, who would address the Malir Bar, the High Court Bar and the Karachi Bar. The CJP has also plan to visit the Quaid-eAzam Mazar. The ARD Secretary General, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, PPP Sindh leader Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Tehreeke-Insaf leader Ashraf Qureshi claimed that their thousands of workers had been arrested till Friday evening in all over the province and raids were being conducted on the houses of the leaders. However, they declared that the rally would not be cancelled and opposition would welcome the Chief Justice according to plan. They also declared that harassment tactics would not stop them. They said that the reception camps of the opposition parties had been removed on the instructions of the Home Department, which is under the control of the MQM. Most of the leaders of the opposition parties have also gone underground to avoid arrest and most of them had switched off their cell phones as they feared that police could arrest them. The ARD leaders declared that the ruling party and their allies would be responsible if any misfortune happened on May 12. They said the 'MQM must not make it a matter of ego and show irresponsibility'. Meanwhile, the police in Karachi on late Friday night blocked sections of Sharae Faisal and its link roads, forcing hotels, shops and petrol pumps to close down. The law-enforcement agencies used containers and trucks to block streets and roads that open to Sharae Faisal. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is arriving in the city on Saturday by PIA flight PK 301 from Islamabad. The flight would reach Karachi at 11.55 in the morning. About 130 passengers have booked their seats for this flight. Similarly, dozens of passengers have cancelled their seats as they fear that
57
the flight might be terminated on technical ground at the last moment. The decision to block the main Sharae Faisal was taken at a high-level meeting held at the Governor's House. The meeting was going on late night with Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, the chief secretary, the home secretary, the IGP, the CCPO and the adviser to the CM on home affairs in attendance. Sources said it was decided that nobody would be allowed to enter Sharae Faisal on Saturday and the law enforcement agencies had been asked to arrest those who may try to enter the 'no go zone'. The police and rangers had completely blocked the main Sharae Faisal and all link roads after midnight. Passengers going to the airport were not allowed to proceed to the airport.
C P
Sources claimed that some of the opposition leaders were summoned to the offices of intelligence agencies on Friday and asked to postpone their plan to welcome the chief justice. But after failure in its attempt, the Sindh government decided to arrest political workers and leaders. The authorities have directed the police stations to arrest political workers and detain them at police stations and release them on Sunday evening. ***
The News 12 May (b)
Farooq Sattar fears ‘mischief’ By Fasahat Mohiuddin
R
KARACHI: The Deputy Convener of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Rabita Committee, Dr Farooq Sattar, lashed out at the opposition parties on Friday for “capitalising on the visit of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry” to the city on Saturday (today) and said “mischief could not be ruled out” given the opposition’s move to hijack the situation. Farooq Sattar named the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the Jamiat Ulema-e Islam - the component parties of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) - and the Pakistan People’s Party who, he said, were politicizing the judiciary issue out of lust for power.
H
“The MQM will never allow their evil designs to succeed,” Sattar told a press conference at the Tibet Centre here. “The reference against the chief justice is a judicial issue and, as such, it should be resolved accordingly.” Sattar said the Muttahida firmly believes in the independence of the judiciary and has no objection to the demonstrations by the lawyers, but the opposition parties, capitalizing on chief justice’s arrival in the city, are now raising slogans for the removal of the government to derail democracy. “We honour the chief justice of Pakistan and want this issue resolved in accordance with the Constitution. We firmly believe in the independence of judiciary.” Justifying the rally today, he said the opposition parties’ sloganeering that the Muttahida had no say in Karachi has “compelled us to apprise the people of their (opposition’s) political jugglery”. The opposition wants to flex its muscles by hijacking this event, he said, adding that Muttahida had accepted this challenge and would “never allow nefarious designs to succeed”. The Muttahida leader urged the chief justice and SHC Bar Association President Abrar Hasan to take stock of the opposition’s move, as “mischief cannot be ruled out.” He said that Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry should also take notice of this crucial moment. When asked as to who would be responsible if any clash occurred during the rallies, Sattar said now the ball is in the court of the chief justice. “If anything happens, every party will be equally responsible,” he added. To another question as to whether the opposition had contacted the Muttahida to cancel the rally, he said there were no direct contacts. The objective of the rally is to reassure the people that the Muttahida never wants to destabilize the country and derail the democratic process, Sattar said while urging people to participate in the rally in large numbers on Saturday. Federal Minister Babar Ghauri and former film star Salma Agha, besides a number of party leaders and workers, were also present on the occasion. *** The News 12 May (c) SHC directs govt to provide security to CJP By Jamal Khurshid
58
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday ordered the federal and the provincial governments to provide complete security to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry wherever he desires to go during his visit to Karachi on Saturday (today). The direction came on a petition filed by the Pakistan International Human Rights Organization, which sought foolproof security to the chief justice during his visits to the Malir Bar Association, the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Karachi Bar Association and the Sindh High Court Bar Association. The petitioner submitted that the federal government had refused to provide security to the chief justice and passed on the responsibilities to the provincial government, whereas different agencies under the control of the federal government were operating in Karachi. The petitioner’s counsel, Syed Shafqat Ali Shah Masoomi, informed the court that the Sindh Home Department had already advised the chief justice not to come to Karachi on May 12 due to security concerns, which is illegal and against the “constitutional rights vested in the chief justice” to address the concluding session of 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court.
C P
He expressed deep concern over the security arrangements for the chief justice and also the general public which, he expected, would accord, along with the legal fraternity, a warm welcome to the chief justice on his arrival in Karachi. Appearing on court notice, standing counsel Mehmood Alam Rizvi said the protection of the chief justice was the responsibility of the government and requested the court to direct the Sindh government to arrange a helicopter for safe travel of the chief justice to the Sindh High Court from the Karachi Airport. He feared clashes or terrorist incidents could occur during the chief justice’s visit, as several political parties had arranged different programmes in support or opposition of the chief justice’s visit. Rizvi said lakhs of people are likely to attend the reception for the chief justice and in case of any untoward incident, the situation could neither be controlled by the Sindh government or by the Bar leaders.
R
Appearing also on court notice, Sindh High Court Bar Association President Abrar Hasan rejected the government’s suggestion that the chief justice be sent to the Sindh High Court by a helicopter. He termed it a conspiracy of the government to take the chief justice to another location and later arrange his arrival at the SHC as per its own desire, and said that such a suggestion was unacceptable. He also disagreed with the suggestion raised during the arguments that a bulletproof vehicle be provided to the chief justice for his visit. He said the chief justice was the guest of the SHCBA and he is visiting the bar on a scheduled programme for the golden jubilee celebration of the Supreme Court.
H
The court asked as to why the government parties could not be stopped from taking out rallies if the situation is so tense and why all the parties were allowed to take out rallies. The standing counsel, however, sought time to obtain instruction from high-ups in this regard. A statement was also filed by provincial law officer, Sarwar Khan, on behalf of Home Secretary Brig (retd) Ghulam Muhammad Mohtaram that the Sindh government took full responsibility for the protection and security of the chief justice during his visit and foolproof security measures had been planned in this regard. “The law-enforcement agencies will ensure secure transportation and movement of the chief justice, according to their own professional judgment and readings of the ground situation at the particular time,” he said. “It will be ensured that in no way the VVIP is exposed to any danger,” he added. He said as per practice, the route of the VVIP might be altered or programme curtailed and changes made according to the situation on the ground. He submitted that the situation in Karachi was very tense and there was a fear of violence and terrorism and it was conveyed to all the concerned, including the Supreme Court registrar. “The exact deployment plan and security measures are well-guarded secret in the interest of the VVIP and cannot be divulged at this time,” he said, adding that the Sindh Rangers had been inducted into the security plan. Disposing of the petition, the SHC division bench comprising Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Ali Sain Dino Metlo ordered the government to provide security to the chief justice wherever he wants to visit during his stay in Karachi. *** Dawn 12 May (a) CJ coming aboard PK-301 By Azfar-ul-Ashfaque May 11: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry is arriving in the metropolis aboard a commercial PIA flight (PK-301) on Saturday noon.
59
Airline sources said the scheduled time of arrival of the flight in Karachi was 11.55am provided it left Islamabad airport at 10am. At least 101 passengers will be aboard flight PK-301 who had confirmed their tickets for the journey. The CJ will travel in the Club Class of PIA’s A-310 aircraft.
Sources said special arrangements have been made at the airport ahead of the CJ’s arrival. A meeting of the Civil Aviation Authority and other related organisations was held on Friday to review the arrangements. The sources said that keeping in view security concerns the government had offered a helicopter to the CJ to take him to the Sindh High Court building from the airport but he had reportedly declined the offer. The sources said there was a strong possibility that the government, in a bid to avoid confrontation between the supporters of the CJ and MQM workers, might delay his flight.
Dawn 12 May (b)
C P
***
Govt unaware of CJ rally route
R
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, May 11: Strict measures have been taken to ensure safety and security of the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry during his visit to the city on Saturday. Adviser to the Chief Minister on Home Wasim Akhtar told Dawn that the administration had taken all possible steps in this regard though it had received no formal request from the organisers of the CJ’s visit.
H
“We have not been informed of the route of the CJ’s caravan, still we have taken stringent security measures along its possible route,” he said. The adviser said the organisers must have informed the administration about the route of the welcome procession. “Nonetheless, we are bound to provide security to the chief justice,” he said. Mr Akhtar said that as many as 8,000 police personnel and an equal number of rangers personnel would be deployed in parts of the city in view of the CJ’s visit and the MQM rally.
“This is not a normal situation as people would also come out to attend the MQM rally,” he said, pointing out that the authorities concerned did not rule out untoward incidents taking place on the occasion. The adviser said terrorists and subversive elements might exploit the situation and that was why heavy deployment of the law-enforcement personnel was made across the city. “We are doing our best,” he said while mentioning that plain-clothed personnel would also be deployed in sensitive parts of the city to keep a watch on subversive element. The adviser ruled out possibility of sending the chief justice back to Islamabad from Karachi airport in case there was a law and order situation. “There is no such option under consideration,” he categorically stated. He also ruled out the option of bringing the chief justice from the airport to the Sindh High Court by helicopter. He, however, said: “Helicopter could be arranged if the chief justice desires so.” *** Dawn 12 May (c) Public holiday In a late-night announcement, the government of Sindh declared Saturday a public holiday. *** Jang 12 May (a)
60
Report- Government should cancel their rally on 12th May and rallies should be rescheduled (Zafarullah Jamali said in the National Assembly). *** Jang 12 May (b) Talks with Jang News- Today no conflict will take place in Karachi (Ch:Shujaat). There will be no chance for emergency situation in the country. There will be no such conflict in Karachi that can be blamed on government. *** Jang 12 May (c)
C P
Press Reporter: MQM leader Mr Altaf Hussain said that activists should remain peaceful, and should not be violent. He addressed this statement to mothers, sisters, veterans and youngsters. He called upon people to participate in the historical and peaceful rally to show the opportunists that people are committed to the independence of the judiciary. ***
Jang 12 May (d)
Staff Reporter- Some unknown people snatched 11 buses of Karachi University, reported by professor M.Khalid, NED university’s 7 buses snatched reported by Javed Aziz Khan, and 1 bus IBA, they snatched buses and assaulted drivers and bus conductors. ***
Jang 12 May (e)
R
More than 500 activists were arrested and raids were conducted on leaders’ homes (MMA). Invitations were delivered to people door to door for the reception of CJ (Liaqat Baloch JIP). ***
Jang 12 May (f)
H
Staff Reporter- In the last 24 hours more than 600 party activists were arrested (Qaim Ali Shah) Raids were conducted in the homes of ARD and opposition party leaders. ***
Jang 12 May (g)
Staff Reporter- Muttahida (MQM) rally and the plans for the Justice’s welcome reception were finalized. MQM said that it would show the public’s power. Lawyers said that their movement is peaceful and is not connected to party politics. Citizens and political parties should remain away from the premises of High Court, and CJ will not deliver political speeches, said Abrar Hasan, and Ameen Lakhani. The situation in the city was tense due to plans to hold two rival rallies. Deputy convener of MQM Dr Farooq Sattar however, said that on the day of the rally every thing would th be clear about who had public support. He further said that on 12 May MQM’s peaceful rally was being held against the political jugglers. Opposition parties were playing games in the name of freedom of the judiciary and were targeting Karachi and Sindh. MQM completed all the legal formalities for rally. They further said that we respect the CJ but the opposition played a role in coverting a court matter into a public/road matter which is why MQM announced its rally. Being a political party we accepted that challenge and announced the rally against the political jugglers. Some rallies will come via National Highway and some from Super Highway and will reach Tibet Centre. This is why there are no chances of clashes between the rallies. The High Court Bar Association and 100 political parties are hosting a rally and the only guest is CJ. The ball is in the court of CJ. *** Jang 12 May (h) Staff Reporter – According to police sources motorcycle riding suspects fired on Asghar killing him and injuring his companions Shamrez and Ashfaq in Abbasi Market Model Colony. People gathered in large numbers and there was fear in the area. The deceased Asghar Shah was a former worker of PPI. *** Jang 12 May (i)
61
Staff reporter – MMA has released a statement claiming the arrest of over 500 workers. According to the MMA police have been entering homes of workers by scaling walls and taking workers into custody. *** Jang 12 May (j)
C P
Jang news, agencies – there are stringent security arrangements in view of opposition and MQM rallies around the visit of the CJ. Police has formulated a security plan according to which the city has been divided into 3 zones, with each zone being headed by a DIG. To keep a control over the security situation Rangers have been deployed at various locations including Shara-e-Faisal, and aerial surveillance is also under way. Provincial home advisor has said that 144 will not be promulgated in the city. The situation is tense in the city. There is heavy patrolling by police and Rangers. Police have sealed the routes to the airport using barricades. Air travellers have missed their flights due to this. People are facing difficulties and many flights have been delayed. In Sharae-Faisal police have set up road blocks and closed it off in various locations. There are long queues of vehicles and traffic police have not made alternative arrangements for the flow of traffic, and traffic police officials were refusing to give any further information. ***
Jang 12 May (k)
Staff reporter – Police have blocked roads using containers and barriers around the Sindh High Court and on Shara-e-Faisal. At Natha Khan Bridge steel barriers and containers have been placed to block movement. Heavy contingents of police were present and people going towards the airport faced great difficulties. There were clashes between citizens and police on Shara-e-Faisal, and many people were beaten up by the police. Police sources say that containers and barriers have been placed under the instructions of high officials.
R
***
Jang 12 May (l)
Staff reporter and correspondents – CCPO Karachi Azhar Ali Farooqi said that some 125 people have been arrested for public interest. CM has held meetings at Governor House with the Governor on the third consecutive day in the light of the situation rising from the CJ’s planned visit. Provincial home minister and officials of law enforcement agencies were present at these meetings.
H
Unknown people carried out firing in various parts of the city, leading to fear and panic in the city. Red Alert has been announced at the airport. In interior Sindh areas Larkana, Sukkur, and Tando Mohd Khan PPP workers and lawyers have been arrested and detained in various police stations. On Thursday night and on Friday police raids in various areas of the city led to the arrests of members of PPP, MMA, PML-N and opposition parties. According to eye witnesses on II Chundrigar Road, Lines Area, Garden, Liaqatabad, Gulshan Iqbal, Gulistan Johar, Korangi, Landhi, Malir, New Karachi, Surjani Town, Orangi Town and Shah Faisal Colony and other areas, unknown persons carried out firing from automatic weapons leading to fear and panic. According to eye witnesses unknown persons came riding on cars and motorcycles. They used pistols, Kalashinkovs and other sophisticated weapons to do firing, and used fire-crackers in many locations. Sources reported that ASF has suspended all provisional passes for entering the airport, and unrelated persons have been barred from entering airport premises beyond the parking point. According to the Security Plan officials’ leaves have been cancelled in order to increase the available manpower. Personnel arriving for the evening shift on Friday have been held back for further duty. According to reports received from various parts of the city, market associations and traders’ meetings have decided to keep market closed. Circulars were distributed in various markets on Friday for keeping the markets closed on Saturday. Tando Mohd Khan police raided the homes of PPP leaders and arrested 6 leaders. TMK Dist president’s home was raided by no arrest was made. According to bureau report Larkana police conducted a crackdown against lawyers and PPP workers arresting over 100 persons, who had planned to go to Karachi to welcome the CJ. Those arrested include PML-N Dist Larkana president, Sindh High Court Bar Association former general secretary Sarfraz Khan Jatoi. According to Sukkur bureau report police detained 35 lawyers planning to go to Karachi. Sukkur Bar Association Secretary Shafqat Rahim told Jang reporter that police stopped various lawyers coming by trains and passenger buses from Kandkot, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Daharki and Mirpir Mathelo and detained them in various police stations. ***
62
Jang 12 May (m) Staff reporter – According to sources, high officials in Sindh govt have considered the possibility that the CJ’s flight arrives in Karachi late – the decision for the timely or delayed departure of the CJ’s flight is with the high officials of the federal government, and this decision will be taken in the light of the situation. Federal authorities can only act on the information of the Sindh govt in the light of the situation. Sources said on the arrival of the CJ in Karachi high officials of Sindh govt will meet with the CJ and try to convince him that he should be taken by helicopter to SHC. If CJ does not agree Sindh Bar Association office-bearers will be approached to convince them that given the situation in the city they should agree to change their, or to take the CJ’s procession to various locations in cooperation with the government’s plan, so that any conflict might be avoided.
C P
Sources claim that high officials of Sindh govt are sure that to prevent a clash routes of both sides can be changes on short notice. Another option being considered is that the CJ’s rally be allowed to go to Quaid’s Mazar and later to the SHC after the end of the MQM rally. Sources also said potential points of conflict between pro-government and opposition supporters have been identified, and Rangers and paramilitary forces will be stationed at those points. Also reserve forces will be placed on alert. Sources said that Governor Sindh, CM, Home Dept and police high officials will monitor the situation moment by moment and will be able to take emergency measures in the light of the evolving situation. Sources said that high officials remained in contact with MQM leaders and officials of the Sindh Bar Association, and discussed various options with them. ***
Express 12 May (a)
Staff Reporter- Federal and Sindh government should provide security to CJ (orders by Sindh High court). The route will be decided by CJ but the government should take security measures. Order by Divisional Bench High Court Sindh. Helicopter can be provided to CJ (Govt: lawyers): Lawyers rejected that offer: we will go through our own vehicles, government planed to kidnap CJ (lawyers/president SHCB)
R
***
Express 12 May (b)
H
Staff reporter – “Pasban”-called strike on Friday against load-shedding, street crimes and inflation – in the Shop No 18, Falaknaz Plaza on Shara-e-Faisal over 6 armed men came to ensure the quick closure of shops. On refusal to close the shop the men killed 28-year old security guard Malik Ameer s/o Noor Mohd and escaped. According to Shah Faisal Colony Police the suspects were closing shops along the way and on refusing to shut the shop they killed the guard. The entire market shut down in protest at the incident. Agitated persons said that the police has been unable to provide protection to shopkeepers and traders have been made hostages by dozens of armed persons. Police have filed an FIR at the behest of shop-owner Tayyab Khan against unknown persons. FIR does not indicate the organization of the accused. ***
Ummat 12 May (a)
Report- Security agencies in Karachi declared 14 locations suspect for potential conflict. To deal with any potential situation, 20,000 policemen have been deployed and secret cameras have been fixed in main areas. A security plan had been formulated, according to which the city had been divided into three zones *** Ummat 12 May (b) Monitoring Desk – According to a private TV, Sindh govt is considering various options for today’s (Saturday) arrival of CJ in the city. According to the TV as soon as the CJ arrives at the airport he will be met by Secretary Home Sindh, and will request that due to a large crowd at the airport he should not venture out due to security considerations. Home Sec will request the CJ to return. If CJ does not accept this request he will be told that he can proceed but the lawyers who have arrived with him cannot leave the airport, and these will be returned on the next available flight. Later CJ will be brought to SHC by helicopter and if he does not agree with this, then government will take the CJ and his companions to Governor House, and they will then be permitted to go to the SHC from there. According to the private TV if there is no agreement on any of these options, the CJ will be allowed to go by road to SHC, but a rally will not be allowed. *** Kawish 12 May (a) Reporters: Irshad Gulabani, Zulfiqar Bhughio, Aazam Zahrani- CJ to arrive in Karachi. All the roads are blocked with chances of conflict between MQM and the opposition. One person has already died in firing.
63
Some people were killed during a call for shutting down the Falaknaz apartments. Armed persons killed a security guard using a pistol with silencer. CCPO claimed 170 suspected persons were arrested. Police raided the house of Gul Muhammad Jakhrani, leader of Sindh National Front in DHA. *** Kawish 12 May (b)
C P
Monitoring Desk Bangkok- Chief Minister Sindh Arbab Gullam Rahim in his interview to KTN said that Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry should come to Karachi as a chief justice, but if he comes with political means and intentions then he will be responded to politically. The judiciary should remain at a distance from the public. The government has finalized a security plan but people should nonetheless avoid any type of hostility on that day. He repeated that if Chief Justice came with political people and flags then he would be regarded as being political. If any element made Chief Justice’s issue political then the government would respond to him in the same way. He said that political parties and lawyers’ organizations in their procession had effigies of President Musharraf and talked about him. When these same people never consider the dignity of an institution, then what could we do for the dignity of another institution. On a question, he replied that he had affiliation with a political party but he will play a neutral role to control the situation. God will bless us: we had always preferred negotiation. ***
Kawish 12 May (c)
Report Quetta- Qazi Hussain Ahmed in his press conference said that many members of his party were arrested and 50 out of the 70 welcome camps were forcibly removed.
R
***
Dawn 13 May (a)
H
Air, train services disrupted By Mukhtar Alam
KARACHI, May 12: Thousands of passengers and would-be travellers faced a host of problems on Saturday, as about 20 domestic and international flights of PIA and about a dozen Pakistan Railways trains had to be rescheduled due to the abnormal situation in the city since Friday night. According to sources in the two organisations, the worst sufferers were those who landed at Karachi airport on Saturday morning and afternoon. These people were left stranded at the airport because they had no means to get to their homes.
Their family members who were supposed to greet them on their arrival also faced problems because they couldn’t get to the airport in time because of the many roadblocks erected on the thoroughfares by workers of a political party. People travelling to Karachi on the Bahauddin Zakria, Karachi and Faisalabad expresses met a similar fate as they remained confined for hours to their trains which had to be stopped at Malir, Juma and Landhi stations due to the violence erupting in localities along the track. Mir Mohammad Khaskheli of the Pakistan Railways told Dawn at about 6pm that the departure of about a dozen fast trains — including Super Express 43 Up, Allama Iqbal, Pakistan Express Tezgam, Mehran, Karakorrum and Bolan — were either delayed or had to be rescheduled due to the poor situation. He said the passengers who had been unable to travel as per their bookings could apply for a refund or plan their journeys afresh. After full resumption of operations, at least four of the outgoing trains in question — including Super, Hazarah, 43 Up and Allama Iqbal — left the City or Cantonment stations by 7.30pm, it was learnt. A spokesman for PIA said that about 20 domestic and international flights were rescheduled because of logistical problems confronting its crew. The PK-300 took off for Islamabad at 7am and returned as PK-301, carrying Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhry and some lawyers and journalists. ***
64
Dawn 13 May (b) 15 killed, scores injured as violence erupts in Karachi on CJ’s arrival
C P
KARACHI, May 12, 2007 (Agencies) – At least 15 persons were killed and scores injured as rival political workers fought intense gunbattles Saturday ahead of huge rallies by Pakistan's suspended top judge Iftikhar Chaudhry and the pro-government MQM in Karachi and President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad in a show of street power . Black smoke billowed over the volatile southern city where mobs also torched a police post, four buses and dozens of other vehicles despite the presence of 15,000 paramilitary troops and police. “It is an extremely serious situation. We have reports of gunfire breaking out at several places in the city,” senior Karachi police officer Javed Munir told AFP. “Our people were attacked from several sides. They are surrounded, they are beseiged and several are injured but there are no ambulances to take them to hospital,” People's Party spokesman Sherry Rahman said. An MQM spokesman said four of its workers had been killed across the city. Meanwhile, justice Chaudhry remained stranded at Karachi airport after flying in on Saturday morning because government supporters used trucks with deflated tyres to shut down all main roads, including those leading to the airport. His main lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, said the justice would not leave the airport unless authorities allowed the local bar association leaders who invited Chuadhry to come to the airport and lead him to the Sindh High Court. The MQM is holding a large counter-demonstration in Karachi to rival Chaudhry's. MQM supporters were taking out hundreds of rallies from all parts of Karachi for the main rally in the heart of the city at Tibet Centre on M.A. Jinnah Road (First Posted @ 14:16 PST Updated @ 14:46 PST) ***
Dawn 13 May (c) To hell and back By Samina Wahid Perozani
R
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. And that is exactly how it was on the eve of May 12, 2007 when a bunch of passengers flew in to Karachi International Airport from Islamabad, all eager to get to their destination in the city — family, work and the likes. What we weren’t prepared for, of course, was the limbo that awaited us at the Karachi airport. Several minutes after landing, the doors of the aircraft remained closed on some 100 or so odd passengers who patiently waited to get off.
H
The delay was confounding as was the reluctance on the part of the cabin crew to eke out information. It was then that cellphones began ringing and news started trickling in: Karachi was under siege, so to speak. All roads leading to the airport and even the main thoroughfares, for that matter, were closed. There was no one to receive us at the airport or take us home. After considerable deliberation on part of the cabin crew and outrage on part of the passengers, we were allowed to get off on to a deserted airport. Many breathed a sigh of relief that came all too soon. All entry and exit points, to and from the airport had been closed.
The Rangers were patrolling the area and were routinely manhandling women who were trying to collect their baggage. “Touch me and I’ll break off each of your fingers one by one,” I warned one of the Rangers who headed in my direction. He backed off — probably owing to the menacing voice and crazed look. Upon asking the Civil Aviation Authority’s Vigilance Cell what exactly we were supposed to do now, they calmly told us that we couldn’t get out of the airport and were most welcome to spend the night either in the waiting lounges or the airport hotel. Panic set in at the thought: the Chief Justice was due to fly in tomorrow morning at the Karachi airport and given the way the situation on that front had escalated, I really wasn’t looking forward to getting caught in the eye of the storm.
Inquiries were made — when was the earliest PIA flight leaving for Islamabad? “3.00am,” answered the booking agent which was not too bad considering that it was already 1.30 in the morning. Finding just about enough money in my bag to buy a ticket, I proceeded to the departure lounge in search of food and water — I had worked up an appetite thanks to all the running around in the past hour or so. Needless to say, sustenance was nowhere to be found. Apparently the airport had been cordoned off for a while now and supplies were dwindling fast. Whatever little they had left was only being given to people who really needed it — like those who were sick or had infants or were old. Desperate times, more often than not, call for desperate measures. So I did what I had to do to get bottled water: I bribed a salesperson and what would normally cost Rs20 ended up costing me Rs100. I was advised to go to a corner and drink it where no one would see me. Little did I know that should have been the least of my worries, because soon enough, the inevitable happened: the flight had been delayed because of ‘operational problems’. It was now scheduled to leave at 3.45am.
65
The limbo, it seemed, was never-ending. I was tired and hungry and was cursing myself for not listening to the infinite voices of reason who had advised me to stay put in Islamabad. After what seemed like an eternity, we were told to board the plane at 4.00am. Someone had finally put an end to the collective misery of over a hundred passengers. Nothing, however, seemed as haunting as the scene from the plane window after take off – my city was shrouded in darkness, almost as if predicting the terror that would rear its ugly head in the morning. *** Dawn 13 May (d) Altaf wants CJ to tender resignation By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 12: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain on Saturday asked Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to resign from his post for violating his oath of office.
C P
“Mr Chief Justice, you had breached the oath taken under the Constitution by taking another oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order. I demand that you make an apology to the whole nation for this act, tender resignation and then come forward for the cause of the independence of the judiciary,” he said while addressing a rally called by the party against what was described as political jugglery in the name of the independence of the judiciary. Mr Hussain was of the view that opposition political and religious parties were using the issue of CJ for dissolution of the government. “This should be stopped forthwith as solidarity of Pakistan lies in a true democratic government,” he added.A large number of people reached M.A. Jinnah Road to take part in the MQM rally.
R
Mr Hussain, who was sad and grieved over the loss of lives on Saturday, said that no untoward incident had taken place in any part of the city but with the landing of CJ’s flight at Karachi Airport the situation started deteriorating. “After noon when the CJ’s plane landed in Karachi, terrorists started targeting MQM rallies in different areas by firing indiscriminately.” He informed the participants that over a dozen workers of the MQM were targeted while hundreds of workers and supporters were injured. However, he declared that nothing could stop the struggle of the MQM for the rights of the oppressed people.
H
The MQM leader said that the Sindh Home Department requested the CJ to cancel his visit to Karachi on the basis of certain intelligence reports but he did not accede to the request. “I believe now you [the Chief Justice] are feeling relaxed after so many people lost their lives due to your programme.” “Mr Chief Justice, kindly recognise political jugglers around you. On the occasion of your arrival, miscreants and enemies of the country killed innocent people,” he said. He wondered why the participants of a procession in Punjab to welcome the CJ in Lahore were raising the slogans of “Go Musharraf Go” instead of “Go Military Go”.
He also asked the legal fraternity why they did not hold rallies and demonstrations when former chief justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui and other honorable judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts were asked to take another oath on the PCO which they refused. He said that MQM would support the CJ if he apologised to the nation for taking another oath under the PCO and tender resignation for doing an unconstitutional act. Mr Hussain said that opposition political and religious parties were jealous of rapid development work in Karachi. “Miscreants in the name of the independence of the judiciary tried to engineer Pakhtoon-Mohajir riots in the city but they will not succeed in their evil designs,” he said. He demanded that the judiciary be given independence and all institutions be restricted to their assigned tasks only. He asked the participants to disperse peacefully and not be provoked *** Dawn 13 May (e) HRCP reaction KARACHI, May 12: The Secretary-general of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Iqbal Haider, on Saturday said the government and its allies are “wholly and solely responsible for the terrorism unleashed in the city.”—Staff Reporter
66
*** Dawn 13 May (f) ‘CJ declines to accept helicopter’ KARACHI, May 12: Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday declined the request of the Sindh Government for using helicopter as a safe mode of journey to reach Sindh High Court (SHC) and Mazare-Quaid. The protocol team led by Home Secretary Sindh Brig (retd) Mohtaram, IG Sindh Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui approached Justice Iftikhar in the VIP lounge on his arrival from Islamabad and offered escort on behalf of the provincial government and SHC.
C P
Home Secretary informed Justice Iftikhar that because of different rallies in the city, it was not safe for him to travel by road. He also suggested him to travel in official motorcade if he was determined to go by road, which he also declined to accept.Sindh Government had deputed the Home Secretary to receive Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and carry him in safe protection to his desired destination.—APP ***
Dawn 13 May (g)
Edhi driver gunned down in Malir By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, May 12: As political violence gripped Karachi in the wake of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry’s arrival in the city on Saturday, an Edhi ambulance driver fell in the line of duty in crossfire in Malir. Rizwan Edhi of the Edhi Foundation identified the driver as Faizur Rehman, whose age could not be ascertained.
R
According to Mr Edhi, the driver was taking victims of the crossfire, which had erupted near Malir’s Kala Board area, to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, when he himself fell victim to a hail of bullets. It could not be confirmed whether the driver was targeted or whether he was the victim of indiscriminate fire.
H
According to Mr Edhi, who described the slain driver a martyr, the foundation was continuing its relief work throughout the city, as reports were continuously coming in of violence in different parts of Karachi. He said Edhi workers were being harassed while the windowpanes of a few of their vehicles were also smashed. ***
Dawn 13 May (h)
Violence in Karachi condemned By Mohammad Riaz & Muqaddam Khan PESHAWAR/SWABI, May 12: Leaders of various opposition parties and representatives of civil society organisations said on Saturday the violence in Karachi pointed to the critical phase the country was passing through due to the “reckless policies of the government”. President of Awami National Party Asfandyar Wali Khan accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement of repeating on Saturday the tactics employed by Gestapo — the secret Nazi force. Speaking at a press conference at the press club, he claimed that the MQM was behind the killing of political workers, firing on opposition rallies, thrashing of lawyers and attack on the offices of a television channel in Karachi. The press conference was held to welcome to the ANP fold Dr Humayun Khan, a former foreign secretary. Mr Asfandyar alleged that the MQM had unleashed the worst kind of terror against political workers heading towards the Karachi airport to welcome Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. He said the Sindh High Court Bar Association had chalked out its Golden Jubilee programme several days ago when the MQM was in hibernation. By refusing to allow the chief justice to come out of the airport, he maintained, the MQM had tried to send the message that nothing could happen in Karachi without its consent. The MQM had taken the entire city hostage, he claimed. Gen Pervez Musharraf, MQM chief Altaf Hussain and Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim had not just humiliated the chief justice but insulted the entire judiciary.
67
He pointed out that Chief of the Army Staff, a government servant, had decided to address a political rally organised by his toadies in front of the Parliament House. “We make it clear to Gen Musharraf that we too will hold a public meeting against dictatorship in front of the parliament building.” Quoting party sources in Karachi, he said the MQM “mercenaries” had killed one ANP worker and injured 10 others, including provincial leader Bashir Jan. Mr Asfandyar said his party would observe a strike on Monday on the call made by the Peshawar High Court Bar Association against “political vandalism” and killings in Karachi. Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf provincial vice-president Asad Qaisar said innocent people were being used by rulers to achieve their selfish goals. The government, he said, had given a free hand to the MQM to attack opposition activists and supporters of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. People’s Lawyer Forum president Javed Inqelabi said the current crisis could be resolved by restoring a democratic system where the people had free choices to elect their representatives.
C P
Leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said wrong policies of the government had pushed the country into numerous difficulties and prolonging the life of the current system would invite more trouble. They said the law and order situation had deteriorated across the country and the Karachi killings would add fuel to the fire. They urged the government to restore independence of the judiciary and to announce dates for a general election. ***
Dawn 13 May (i)
Riots disrupt Karachi calm: •34 killed, 140 injured •rivals trade allegations By Arman Sabir & Tahir Siddiqui
R
KARACHI, May 12: At least 34 people were killed and over 140 others injured as a major portion of Sharea Faisal turned into a battlefield on Saturday when rival political groups clashed with each other soon after the arrival of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who remained confined to the lounge of the airport throughout the day and returned to Islamabad without addressing a lawyers’ convention on the premises of the Sindh High Court.
H
The utter failure of the Sindh government and the law-enforcers to maintain law and order made the city hostage to political workers. However, Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister on Home Affairs Waseem Akhtar blamed the chief justice for a breakdown in law and order and deaths in incidents of violence. Journalists staged a sit-in at the airport in protest against manhandling of newsmen and camerapersons at various troubled spots by political workers and against an armed attack on local Aaj TV channel. Many camerapersons were injured and their expensive cameras smashed while they were beaten up. The main artery Sharea Faisal, which was to be used by procession of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, was made completely inaccessible to motorists as all of its intersections were blocked by large containers, trucks and buses with tyres already deflated. The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy and other opposition parties, besides city lawyers, planned to accord a warm welcome to the Chief Justice at the airport, but the Muttahida Qaumi Movement announced that it would organise a rally at the Tibet Centre on M.A. Jinnah Road against what it described as political jugglers who wanted to politicise the visit of the Chief Justice. Despite the heavy deployment of law-enforcement agencies across the city as claimed by the police, they suddenly disappeared from the troubled spots allowing the rival groups to trade fire with each other, resulting in deaths and injuries to dozens of people. The Sindh police and other law-enforcement agencies appeared completely helpless in controlling the situation despite the fact that the Sindh government had ensured heavy deployment of 16,000 law-enforcers. DIG Operations Mushtaq Shah said that 2,000 additional police personnel were deployed along Sharea Faisal. “Police acted as a buffer between the rival groups; otherwise the casualties would have been much higher,” he added. He said it was impossible for police to make any arrest in mobs. Police were also attacked by mourners at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre when they came after the arrival of seven bodies at the hospital. The relatives and political parties’ workers thronged the hospital after they came to know about the bodies. No law enforcement agencies were deployed there to maintain peace.
68
The day broke with a strike-like situation with public transport completely off the roads. As the Sindh government announced a local holiday for Saturday the previous night, most of the people did not know about it and many were seen stranded at various bus-stops. Sporadic incidents of violence started early in the morning as a man, belonging to a religious group, was gunned down in Landhi while people preparing to receive the Chief Justice were fired upon. Similarly, three policemen and seven other people were wounded in clashes between rival political party workers at Abdullah College and two other policemen were wounded in SITE. The clashes gained intensity soon after the arrival of the Chief Justice at noon and Sharea Faisal turned into a battlefield. In the first clash between two rival groups in front of the Drigh Railway Station, as many as 35 vehicles, including motorcycles, were set on fire.
C P
Another fierce clash between two groups took place at Kalaboard area in Malir on Sharea Faisal where several people suffered bullet wounds and many of them died on the spot. A driver of an Edhi ambulance also lost his life in the crossfire. Another clash between two gun-totting groups occurred near the Baloch Colony flyover on Sharea Faisal where many people suffered injuries and deaths. As the entire artery was made inaccessible, ambulances were also unable to use the thoroughfare, which is the only way from the troubled spots to the Jinnah Hospital. The dead and injured remained lying at the spots for hours as ambulances found it difficult to reach there. At all of the troubled spots, the law-enforcers disappeared leaving the innocent people at the mercy of gun-wielding youths firing straight on their opponents. Some innocent people were caught in crossfire and wounded. At least 19 dead were shifted to the JPMC, five to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and two were moved to the Civil Hospital. Besides, police said four bodies and 12 wounded people were shifted to the Liaquat National Hospital where two of the injured later died. Moreover, the police shifted bodies of two unknown victims to the Steel Town Hospital.
R
Dr Seemin Jamali, deputy director of the JPMC, told Dawn that 70 wounded people were brought to the hospital’s emergency centre. “Only 25 people with critical bullet wounds have been admitted to the hospital as the slightly injured people have been discharged.” Police said participants of the opposition rally attempted to set fire to at least four petrol pumps on Sharea Faisal following the incidents of firing by the rivals.
H
They said that two of the pumps, which were already closed, caught fire, but the staff promptly extinguished the blaze. The police said unruly participants also ransacked an office of Madadgar Police 15 in Landhi.
Witnesses said PPP workers from Lyari attacked a police kiosk at Aath Chowk. They said the PPP men were fired upon by a group of people who fled the scene and later the PPP men ransacked the kiosk. Meanwhile, rangers were deployed in parts of the city late on Saturday night. They took positions at important thoroughfares and intersections. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said in a statement that its 10 activists were among those who lost their lives on Saturday while PPP said its 15 party workers were killed in attacks on the rally. *** Dawn 13 May (j)
Armed men attack Aaj TV office By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 12: Armed men attacked the office of a private television channel and set on fire more than a dozen vehicles in its parking lot here on Saturday. The Aaj TV was telecasting live footage of youths brandishing guns in front of its offices on the Business Recorder Road and firing on their rivals in the Patel Para neighbourhood. As the telecast continued, the youths turned their guns on the Aaj TV building which also houses the offices of the daily Business Recorder. The firing shattered windowpanes of the building. “The Aaj TV building came under fire from MQM supporters who wanted the airing of live footage of the unrest in the city stopped,” the network’s chief executive Arshad Zubairi was quoted as saying by AP. Cameramen and journalists working on the roof of the building had to take cover. However, no one was hurt and the network remained on air uninterrupted.
69
“We are under attack,” senior journalist Talat Hussain said on air as he took shelter behind a wall. “We have seen no security force. No one has come to help us.” MQM spokesman Abdul Quddus denied his party’s involvement in the attack. He, however, said that some activists of his party might have taken shelter in the Aaj building after coming under fire from another building. Journalists held demonstrations in Karachi and other cities in protest against the attack. *** The News 13 May (a) 34 killed, over 140 injured in Karachi By our correspondent
C P
KARACHI: Thirty-four people were killed and more than 140 injured on Saturday when the commercial capital of Pakistan plunged into a spate of violence that observers said was eerily reminiscent of the gory days of the mid nineties. The terrible violence also saw an attack on a private television channel, two petrol pumps being reduced to ashes and more than 30 vehicles being burnt across the city - the billowing black smoke adding to the dread and gloom that had taken over Karachi since Friday. The mayhem coincided with the visit of Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who landed at the Karachi Airport at midday but was stopped by the authorities from coming out of its premises on account of the security situation. The chief justice left for Islamabad early evening without setting out of the airport.
R
The violence, which had started late Friday with the killing of two PML-N activists in Model Colony, Malir, by unknown gunmen, dramatically escalated as caravans of the opposition parties and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement came face to face on the Sharae Faisal on Saturday morning. The fierce gunbattles, never witnessed earlier on the main artery of the city, the Sharae Faisal, were spontaneous, intense and horrific to the core, leaving little chance for the party activists to save their lives.
H
Rival activists fought pitched battles that observers had feared could result in a large number of fatalities. The most shocking incident took place in Malir near Sharae Faisal, when an Edhi Ambulance driver was shot dead along with an injured, who was being ferried to hospital. Following the incident, ambulances could not reach the affected areas with the result that many severely injured died on the roadside. The main areas that saw fierce clashes between the rival groups were the Malir Halt, Baloch Colony Bridge and the FTC Bridge. Violent incidents were also reported from Shah Faisal Colony, PIA Colony, SITE, Sohrab Goth, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Aisha Bawani. The violence abruptly escalated after 1 p.m. Near the Wireless Gate, three activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement were killed by unidentified men. Members of the PPP, the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Sunni Tehrik were also among the dead. Of more than 140 injured was Zahoor Mehr, the Malir Bar Council President, who was coming to the airport to receive the CJ. At Drigh Road, Information Secretary of the Pakistan People’s Party Sherry Rehman was ambushed. She said that several party activists were injured in the firing, including her guard. Four activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement sustained bullet wounds at Banaras Chowk. Wasey Jalil, the Nazim of Gulshan Town, was fired upon in Pehalwan Goth area. He escaped unhurt. Naeem Qureshi, a spokesman for the Karachi Bar Association, said dozens of lawyers were hurt when they were attacked near the Sindh High Court. He blamed the MQM for the incident. Journalists, in particular, were affected as they took the challenge to cover and convey the gory picture to the people of the city and the world at large. Several reporters and cameramen barely survived volleys of bullets fired across the battlegrounds. Some of them were even challenged by gunmen who, mercifully, ignored them after learning their identity. However, the situation was not so pleasant for the staff of the Aaj Television, who faced an onslaught of bullets for more than five hours. Staff at the channel constantly appealed to the law-enforcement agencies and officials to bail them out but their requests were strangely ignored. The violence soon spread from the city’s main artery to the nearby main train tracks and, as a result, the train service between Karachi and the rest of the country was suspended for over six hours. The Divisional Superintendent, Railways, Mir Mohammed Khaskheli, said that all out-bound and in-bound train services were suspended from 1200 hours till 1800 hours following firing incidents at Drigh Road, Malir and Landhi. The National Highway was also closed to traffic. Not only that, the flight schedule was seriously disrupted with aircraft crew and passengers both unable to reach the airport. Similarly, passengers arriving from abroad and thru domestic flights could not reach their destinations and were stuck at the airport. A PIA spokesman confirmed the agony of the intending passengers and said that flights were being rescheduled.
70
Interior Minister, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, who recently escaped a suicide bomb attack, told a television channel that the federal government was in contact with the Sindh government over the law and order situation in Karachi. But he made it clear that it was the provincial government’s responsibility to provide security to the CJ. The minister pointed out that it was Justice Chaudhry who had refused to avail the Sindh government’s offer for a helicopter so that he could be taken to the SHC. Opposition parties blamed the violence on the government and said that police and Rangers were either missing during the clashes or did nothing to stop them, a charge that many observers said bore substance. Ms Naheed Khan, PPP MNA, in a press release issued from the Bilawal House, claimed that the PPP had lost more than a dozen activists while more than fifty were injured. She said when she was leading a procession near the Aisha Bawani School, the party activists came under attack from nearby flats and the FTC Bridge. She alleged when the injured were taken to the Jinnah Hospital, MQM activists opened fire.
C P
The government, however, blamed Chaudhry for the violence. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad said: “We had asked the chief justice not to come but he chose to and the violence started when he arrived. Now I have asked his lawyers to go back because they achieved what they wanted.” The stance was echoed by other MQM leaders, including Sindh Interior Minister Waseem Akhter. Amidst the commotion, a branch of Allied Bank, located in Sindhi Muslim Society, was broken into and robbed. The situation in the city somewhat calmed down in the evening when the Rangers took over. However, observers are not sure if the sporadic violence will continue tomorrow and the day after following announcements by rival political parties to observe black day and a strike against the violence. ***
Kawish 13 May (a)
R
Report- 34 died and more than 100 were injured. Roads leading to Shara-e-Faisal were blocked. Police officers remained hiding in police stations. Qaim Ali Shah’s and other rallies at Karsaz came under fire. Near the Baloch Bridge, firing from a building killed 3 people. 2 people from Muttahida (MQM) were killed at the Star Gate area. Firing was opened on PPP, ANP, PML (Q), and MMA joint rallies and as a result 5 people were killed. At Malir Halt, Edhi’s driver was killed in a shooting, and 9 motorbikes and 6 vehicles were set ablaze. At Drigh Road, 19 vehicles were set on fire. At Pehalwan Goth PPP, Nawaz League, Sindhiani Tehreek and Awami Tahreek’s rallies were targeted. 1 member of Awami Tehreek Nawaz Kunrani was killed. In Korangi Sunni Tehreek’s member, Suhail Qadri was killed in firing. At Paposh Nagar, 3 MQM workers were killed.
H
The armed terrorists assualted Kawish and KTN reporter Zulfiqar Bughio and cameraman RD Samejo and snatched a camera. At FTC Bridge, armed person snatched a camera from KTN cameraman and broke it and also tried to snatch a motorbike from Kawish’s photographer Waqar Hussain. ***
Kawish 13 May (b)
Mr Altaf Hussain said that the political jugglers want any other Army General to rule. He also said that he could have called for the workers to retaliate to the crimes committed but he requested patience and peace. Chief Justice should apologize to the people. Muttahida always have always believed in forbearance. The rally was announced against the political jugglers and in the favour of freedom of the judiciary. As soon as CJ arrived at airport, the firing started on the MQM’s unarmed activists.
Express 13 May (a) Staff reporter - There were five hours of continuous firing on the AAJ TV channel building at Business Recorder Road. 300 hundred people including journalists were held hostage, and vehicles in the parking lots were set on fire. Armed persons were firing on the Aaj TV building from different areas and from buildings opposite Aaj. Due to the firing, glass windows were broken and there were many bullet holes on the building. During the five hours continuous firing, Aaj TV personnel tried to contact the Governor, CM and other high officials many times but did not get any suitable reply from them. After five hours, two mobile police vehicles arrived and stayed at Aaj TV’s building, but armed persons were still roaming in the presence of the policemen and were firing undeterred. Police did not interfere. During this time, Aaj TV personnel contacted the police several times but didn’t get any response from the high officials. At time of the firing two police vehicles were th already there but were only watching the incident. The incident happened due to live telecast of 12 may rallies. PFUJ demanded that the President provide protection to Aaj TV, Geo TV, and other journalists from government terrorists. PFUJ announced that, if any journalist received any threat or was injured, then the 302 FIRs (murder or attempt to murder) would be lodged against the President and PM. Express 13 May (b) Staff reporter - “Save our brothers from being killed”. A number of women rang up the offices of the Express from different parts of town to report that they were besieged in their homes.
71
*** Express 13 May (c) Staff reporter - Police failed to take any action to stop the violence between various armed groups. If the police and rangers had acted in time many deaths and injuries to innocent people might have been prevented. In Malir bodies and injured people lay on the roads for hours, and the police did not even dare take them to hospital. Bodies and injured persons were finally taken to hospital after several hours when the gunmen had left. *** Express 13 May (d)
C P
DIG Operations Mushtaq Shah instructed all personnel to deposit their firearms. Personnel were issued with lathis for their protection, leading to the personnel refusing to perform their duties. Police were issued firearms only after a few hours. A police officer reported that the Investigation Police also took part in the violence. ***
Express 13 May (f)
News agencies - Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting condemned the loss of life in Karachi and claimed that the culprits will be unmasked after an investigation. He was speaking by phone to a private TV channel. He said we all have to get together to find out who was responsible for the events in Karachi and what are the objectives of those people. He claimed that an enquiry will be held into the attack on AAJ TV. Durrani said that the government took all possible steps to ensure the safety of human life. ***
Express 13 May (g)
R
Staff reporter - Edhi Foundation driver Faiz-ur-Rehman was taking two people injured in the Drigh Road area due to firing to Jinnah Hospital when terrorists open fire on the ambulance. His body and the two injured were then taken to Jinnah Hospital. ***
Express 13 May (h)
H
Staff Reporter – 37 people killed and over 115 injured in armed clashes between groups taking out rival rallies on the occasion of the visit of the CJ to Karachi. 40 vehicles torched at various locations, and two Petrol Pumps damaged. Unknown persons set alight MQM office in Kaemari. Several airport bound political workers arrested. Armed people set up ambushes against political rallies with gunfire and hand grenades. Edhi volunteers beaten and turned away from attempts at rescuing bodies and injured persons, resulting in deaths of many of the injured. Trailers, minibuses, coaches and motorcycles were used to blockade the route going to and from the airport, and not even motorcycle riders were allowed to go through the blockades. Airport employees were also returned at Drigh Road. During that time when PPP workers arrived at Drigh Road to reach the airport armed men opened fire, resulting in clashes between armed supporters of both sides, leading to over a dozen people being injured. Unknown people set alight trailer registration number JT-6051. Two Mehran cars, 12 motorcycles burnt. Police and Rangers were remained within the premises of Shara-e-Faisal station. Unknown persons locked the gates of the police station from outside. At this time DIG Operations Mushtaq Shah and TPO Sharae-Faisal were also besieged. Further police reinforcements were requested in order to break the lock and let out the police officers. The police then resorted to shelling and aerial firing to disperse the armed men. At Natha Khan Bridge armed men who were barricaded in pickets came under fire from residential areas below. These armed men saved themselves by laying low on the road. Natha Khan Bridge remained a battleground for two hours. Those heading towards the airport crossed Natha Khan bridge by crawling across. This carried on for 4 hours, and later police came under fire from Natha Khan locality. At the Malir Halt main signal a young man was killed and his body remained unclaimed for an hour, while in Rafa-e-Aam Society four men were killed and their bodies could not be moved for four hours. After the reduction in firing the police removed these bodies to hospital in their mobile. Armed clashes in Natha Khan claimed the lives of 30-year old Aslam Pervaiz, 28-year old Saido Khan from Malir Halt, two IJT workers from close to Malir Halt including 28-year old Shuja Rehman s/o Abdur Rehman and 28-year old Faisal Tariq, and 35-year old Malik Aijaz s/o Malik Ibrahim, Sunni Tehreek worker 40-year Sohail Qadri s/o Nafees Adam, Ghulam Navaid s/o Ghulam Habeeb, 35-year old Shah Saud s/o Ghulam Qadir, Metroville Orangi Town resident and ANP worker 35-year old Saeed Ahmed Shah s/o Mohd Shareef, Malir Alfalah society resident from
72
Badin and ANP worker 25-year Ghulam Sarwar s/o Mohd Yar, 60-year Ayub Deen s/o Lal Deen, and Shah Faisal Colony resident 28-year old Bahadur Khan. At the FTC Flyover 4 people killed in firing have not been identified. On Friday night firing in Model Colony close to Abbasi Market the injured youth Jahanzeb succumbed to his injuries. He was a worker of PMLN. In Chandni Chowk area of Paposh Nagar, 22-year Sakhi Rehman s/o Darvesh Khan and unknown 25-year old were killed by unknown terrorists and their bodies were dumped in a drain. The bodies were brought to Abbasi Shaheed for formalities. Sakhi Rehman was a resident of Nazimabad No 2. 32-year old Mehtab Shakar Khan Baloch died in firing under Colony Bridge, and in Jamshed Quarter Guru Mandir 30-year old Babar s/o Jameel was killed. Their bodies were taken to Jinnah. When the bodies were brought to the hospital there were heart-rending scenes and slogans were raised against the government. Two motorcycles were set alight by the unknown protestors.
C P
Over 100 were injured in firing including Mohd Rafeeq Khan, Bakhsh Sher, Munawar Zaman, Sham Riaz Khan, Ashfaq, Zubair, Ajab Butt, Shabbir Palari, Mohd Suleman Dasti, Khurram, Habib Alam, Khodar, Hussain Shah, Haji Akbar, Mohd Shah, Arsalan, Mohd Ali, Hazrat Khan, Lal Afsar, Lal Saeed, Mohd Ahmed, Noor Hussain, Bahsir Jan, Rehmat, Mohd Rasheed Khan, Jan Mohd, Weju, Abdul Hasan, Nasir Rehman, Amir Alam, Nadeem, Abdur Razzaq, Mohd Ameen, Mohd Salman, Fazal Wahab, Adil Naseem, Abdullah, Jan Mohd, Khalid, Sarfraz Khan, Abdul Wahab, Nazo, Anwar Abbas, and Waheed Rehman. 9 people were injured in the clashes at Drigh Road, including Mohd Shabbeer, Salman, Sher Ahmed, Abrar, Haji Akbar, Mohd Ali Haseeb Alam, Irshad Ahmed, and an unknown person who died. MQM workers Zakir and Imran were injured – they were taken to Abbasi Shaheed for treatment. The body of Shahbaz s/o Mustafa who died in firing at Drigh Road was brought to Liaqat National Hospital. PPP leader Sherry Rehman’s vehicle came under fire near COD at Drigh Road leading to her guard being wounded. Members of assembly and other leaders escaped bullet injuries. At Drigh Road agitated persons damaged 16-wheeler trailer number JT-6051 and set it alight, two coaches, 12 motorcycles and car AC-1660 were damaged and burnt. One petrol pump was also attacked.
R
Near Malir Halt ANP and PML-N rallies were attacked using hand grenades leading to injuries to over 18 people including PML-N leader Tariq Khan. In North Nazimabad near APWA College a policeman Ashraf s/o Haji Qasim was injured, and three people in rallies, Gul Feroze, Punnu and Asim were wounded. They were taken to Abbasi Shaheed. Police used teargas shells to disperse the protestors. In Nazimabad No 7 there was firing on a rally, injuring two persons Aslam and Shakir who were riding in buses.
H
In Patel Para dozens of parked rickshaws were set alight, and Rizwan s/o Shameem died on the spot. His body was brought to Liaqat National. At Malir Kala Board near Rangers HQ agitated persons set alight six vehicles. In Malir close to Wireless Gate due to firing on rallies the MQM PPOC members Fida Khan, Umar Khan and Malang Khan were filled. In Shah Faisal Colony Nazeer Qadri was injured due to firing, and in SITE area Benares 9 people were injured due to clashes between armed political groups. Their names are Azeez, Mehboob, Yunus, Ilyas, Shakir, Sohail, Qudratullah, Siraj, and Ansar. On Abulhasan Isfahani Road three were injured due to firing: Ghazanfar, Adnan, and Ali Shah. In Gulistan Johar Pehlwan Goth ANP worker Nawaz was killed by firing of unknown people. Gulshan Iqbal Nazim Wase Jaleel claimed that his car was fired upon and he escaped narrowly. In Orangi Town due to a clash between two parties 50-year old Niazi was seriously wounded. On National Highway, the Quaidabad Gulistan Society Murghikhana resident and president of the Malir Bar Zahoor Hussain’s house came under heavy fire from unknown persons, causing bullet holes in the walls and windows. Firing caused fear and panic among the local residents and the suspects escaped from the area. Those wounded by “cracker” (hand grenade?) at Kala Board Malir were 25-year old Sher Ali, in Alfalah 35-year Abdul Malik, 9 persons in Patel Para including 35-year old Javed, 30-year old Akram, 35-year old Rasheed Ayub, 55-year old Mazloom, 17-year old Mohd Usman, 45-year old Chan Mohd, 35-year old Zubiar Ahmed, 37-year old Mohd Mehboob, Malik Shehzad Ali, in Malir Iqbal Hussain, in New Karachi 30-year old Azhar Ashraf, in Brigade 24-year old Mansoor Ali, in Lyari Cheel Chowk 35-year old Zahid, in Numaish 35-year old Sagheer Ahmed, in Shahnawaz Bhutto Colony Syed Mansoor, in Orangi 50-year old Niaz Ahmed, at Lasbela 17-year Fazal Mohd, in Liaqatabad Teen Hatti 50-year old Fazal Kareem, on Shara-e-Faisal Rashid Minhas Road 10-year old Mohd Saleem, five persons from Baloch Colony, Naved, Afzal, Qayum, Waheed Rehman, and Hazrat, from Shara-e-Faisal Awami Markaz 40-year old Anwar Abbas, from Nazimabad Abdullah College 35-year old Sarfraz, at Stargate 35-year old Ghulam Mohd were injured due to firing and taken to Civil Hospital. In Jamshed Quarter area 30-year old Mohd Saleem s/o Mohd Haneef and in Shara-e-Faisal 30-year old Amir Ahmed were taken to Aga Khan due to bullet wounds.
73
In Baloch Colony armed persons waiting in ambush attacked political rallies again, including members of assembly returning on Shara-e-Faisal. Armed were riding motorcycles. Agitated persons then tore down MQM banners from a newly constructed building near Awami Markaz, and set them alight, and raised slogans against MQM. Rangers, police and other law enforcement agencies were not visible. At Pehlwan Goth, however, the inner route to the Airport was blocked by a heavy contingent of Rangers and Police. They stopped the leaders and workers of PPP, ANP and nationalist parties from going to the airport. Police resorted to teargas shelling and lathi-charge on airport bound protestors, and arrested many people. In Sohrab Goth, Al-Asif, University Road near Mausamiyat Dept, Abbas Town, Benaras, and Shah Faisal Colony, there was heavy exchange of fire between rival barricaded groups which carried on till late at night. Police and Rangers remained silent witnesses. Firing caused fear and panic. Protestors burnt tyres and set up blocks to stop traffic on Superhighway at Sohrab Goth.
C P
In Shah Faisal Colony Golden Town armed men blew up PMT by firing, leading to power failure in the area. In Lyari Art (8?) Chowk agitated persons attacked “15 Madadgar” post, the police present fled to save their lives, while the post was set alight. PPP leaders said that armed terrorists ambushed workers leading to over 20 deaths and dozens of people injured. Many PPP workers including women activists are still untraced and the PPP leaders said they suspected that they had been kidnapped. Pakhtun Action Committee (Loya Jirga) leader Shahi Syed said that 10 workers were killed and 90 injured. Late night in the Manghopir area Kunwari Colony the body of 25-year Sher Ali s/o Yahya was found – he was killed by firing of unknown persons. In the same area, at the Nusrat Bhutto Mor near the Marble Factory the tortured body of a 27-year old man was found. These bodies were taken to Abbasi Shaheed. ***
Express 13 May (i)
R
Staff reporter - DIG Operations Mushtaq Shah arrived at Karachi Airport at 7.30 pm on Saturday evening where he was surrounded by political workers and journalists. They demanded to know who was responsible for the violence. The anger of the people present there forced the DIG to get back into his vehicle and left the airport area. ***
H
Express 13 May (j)
Staff reporter - The dead and the injured were taken to Jinnah, Abbasi Shaheed, Civil and Liaqat National hospitals. Most of the injured were taken to Jinnah. There were not enough beds available in the Emergency Section of Jinnah, and many of the injured lay on the floor. Many political workers were present outside the Emergency Section and they were raising slogans against the government. Agitated people attacked the police mobiles present which then fled. In the meanwhile due to the public holiday and the insecure conditions in the city those facing other medical emergencies faced great difficulties. Medical stores were closed and ambulances were not available. *** Express 13 May (k) Staff reporter - Sindh High Court Bar Association president Abrar Ahsan condemned the use of firearms in the city, and the detention and beating of lawyers. He blamed the MQM and called for its deregistration as a political party. He said that the government should resign because it had failed to maintain peace and security. *** Express 13 May (l)
Bureau report and correspondents - Police carried out heavy baton-charge on lawyers coming from the interior of Sindh. Their convoys were stopped with vehicles being attacked with sticks. Lawyers were forced to disembark from the vehicles and were beaten with sticks. The vehicles were impounded into police stations. Large numbers of lawyers were arrested in Nawabshah, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Badin, Thatta, Khairpur and other places. There are reports from Larkana that lawyer’s convoys were fired upon. In Nawabshah the administration had placed barriers on many spots to prevent the convoys from moving ahead. Lawyers were detained in a police station in Tando Allahyar for several hours. In Thatta several PPP convoys were stopped while Muttahida (MQM?) leaders were detained. In Badin the police had started impounding vehicles the previous night. There are reports of protests by lawyers against police action in several towns and cities.
74
*** Express 13 May (m) Staff reporter - According to police reports Asghar Shah aged 35, Jahanzeb aged 30 and Shamrez, all workers of the PML(N) were shot by terrorists on Friday night in Model Colony. The former two died on the spot while Shamrez filed the FIR against unknown persons. *** Express 13 May (n)
C P
Staff reporter - In the limits of Shara-e-Faisal station near the Natha Khan Bridge armed men snatched the officially-issued SMG of Shara-e-Faisal Investigation Head Constable Abdullah. On protesting he was beaten up. The Head Constable immediately informed DSP Chaudhry Sohail Faiz, upon which the DSP phoned up an unknown terrorist, upon which the weapon was brought back. According to the DSP Investigation Shara-e-Faisal, DIG Operations Mushtaq Shah had instructed all officers and personnel to deposit their firearms and issued them with lathis. The personnel refused to leave the police station premises in protest and Shara-e-Faisal was turned into a battleground. ***
Jang 13 May (a)
News agencies and TV report - Sindh provincial interior advisor Waseem Akhtar said that the government sent written requests to the Chief Justice to cancel his trip to Karachi because of the bad conditions here. According to the Advisor the CJ ignored this request at the behest of his political lawyers and came here in order to cause a deterioration in conditions. The Advisor said that the CJ’s route was kept hidden from him. The Advisor said that the responsibility for the events in Karachi lay with the CJ and not with the government. ***
R
Jang 13 May (b)
Monitoring cell - President Musharraf presided over a high-level meeting in Islamabad where it was decided to deploy Rangers in Karachi. Rangers units came into action immediately after this decision. Their vehicles were stoned in many places by enraged protestors. ***
Jang 13 May (c)
H
Jang reporter - Unknown people set to fire the MQM’s provincial offices in Quetta, but timely action on the part of local people stopped the fire from spreading. ***
Jang 13 May (d)
Staff reporter - According to police sources unknown persons broke into an MQM office in the Hussain Bux Market in Kaemari where they set fire to the furniture. Police, Rangers and Fire Tenders arrived and extinguished the fire. In Kalakot unknown persons set fire to the “15” office. Agitators there raised slogans against the police and the situation was brought under control through the timely arrival of a large police party. There were reports of protests, tyre-burning and aerial firing in Nazimabad, SITE, Sohrab Goth, Benares Chowk, Lyari, Sher Shah, Quaidabad, Malir and Gadap. Protestors raised slogans against the police. *** Jang 13 May (e) Staff reporter - Accounts of various injured persons – Mohammad Alam: “I was going to receive the CJ and we were shouting slogans when firing started suddenly close to the Baloch Colony Flyover. I was shot in my arm and started bleeding, while several of my companions were also shot and injured. Firing carried on for a long time and we lay down in the vehicle calling for help. We were brought to the hospital after quite some time.” Another injured man: “ To escape the firing myself and several others took shelter under vehicles. Rangers and police personnel were present close by. A bullet went through my shoulder.” Abdul Wahab: “I was going home on a motorcycle when I was shot in the belly from an unknown direction. I was not part of a rally or procession.” Fayyaz: “I am a PPP worker and was in the rally to welcome the CJ. Firing started all of a sudden and I was shot in the leg. My companions brought me to hospital.” *** Jang 13 May (f) Staff reporter - Governor Ishratul Ibad requested the federal government to send the army to regain control of the law and order situation but this request was turned down. According to sources, the CM Arbab
75
Ghulam Rahim was in touch with important persons in federal government who told him that the available police and Rangers should be used to control the situation. There was a long meeting between Governor and CM to discuss the situation. Speaking to media persons Governor Ibad said that the situation in Karachi was all right until 12 noon, but as soon as the CJ’s flight landed violent activities started. He said that the CJ should have postponed his visit, we had intimated this to him in writing. He said that we are observing both the hosts and the guests. The lawyers accompanying the CJ were externed, and we will carry out other actions against those lawyers who are resident in Karachi. *** Jang 13 May (g)
C P
Staff reporter - Violence and firing claimed the lives of 35 people, while 110 were injured. In the stretch between Drigh Road railway station till Malir Halt agitated persons set fire to over 50 vehicles and one petrol pump. Police and Rangers remained silent witnesses. There was free use of firearms for hours and Shara-eFaisal was a battle-ground. At the FTC Flyover there was firing upon an ANP procession, as a result of which the vehicles from the procession tried to get into the lanes and streets nearby, while the police remained silent witnesses. ***
Jang 13 May (h)
According to JUP leaders Prof Ahmed Siddiqi, Chaudhry Mohammad Hussain, Tariq Mehboob, and ANI vice-president Malik Nazeer Ahmed, in various parts of the city such as Korangi, Surjnai Town, Gulberg, North Karachi, Mehmoodabad, Shah Faisal, terrorists attacked the offices, beat up workers, and tore down banners etc. for the welcome of the CJ. According to the Islamic Jamiat Tulba Karachi Nazim Abdul Rasheed, IJT worker and third-year student at the Swedish College, Shuja-ur-Rehman was murdered by the coalition member of the Sindh government. ***
R
Jang 13 May (i)
Press release - According to a press release issued by the MQM, 10 workers were killed while dozens were wounded when armed terrorists attacked MQM’s rally. MQM said that terrorists attacked the homes of our members and sympathizers in many areas and set fire to our offices. Eight workers were abducted. Some people misbehaved with City Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil, and there was an attempt to attack the home of Farooq Sattar.
H
The workers who were killed were: Umar Rehman s/o Gul Faraz, Irshad Khan Malik s/o Abdul Mulook Khan, Fida Khan s/o Qadir Khan, Aslam Pervaiz s/o Habeeb, Rizwan Shameem s/o Shameemullah, Babar Changezi s/o of Jameel Ahmed Khan, Jahanzeb, Aleem, Amir, Shahbaz Khan s/o Ghulam Mustafa. Umar Rehman, Irshad Khan Malang and Fida Khan were from Landhi UC with the Pashtun Punjabi Organizing Committee. Aslam (Muslim) Pervaiz was member of Medical Aid Committee, Sindh Government Hospital Lyari. 47-year old Shameem died as a result of firing in the Patel Para area. He was from the Shah Faisal Sector. 25-year Babar Changezi was a worker of MQM unit 146 FB Area Sector, while Jahanzeb was a worker of the Malir Sector. Shahbaz Khan was a Pashtun worker and had arranged food for the participants of the rally. The injured include Adeel, Javed Shah, Zeeshan Azhar, Akbar, Haneef, Rehan Ali, Malik Shehzad, and other workers and supporters, the details are being collected. MQM workers returning to their areas from the rally were attacked at various places. In UC 23 Landhi Town in the Haddi Mill area various terrorists entered homes of MQM supporters, beat up the residents and misbehaved with the women. In the same area MQM’s Punjabi Pakhtun Organizing Committee office and “15 Madadgar” offices were burnt. In Majeed Colony Landhi MQM Unit 80 office was set alight. In UC3 Kaemari and Khwaja Nagri ANP workers set fire to the Muttahida PPOC office. Various MQM rallies were fired upon in dozens of places including Sohrab Goth, Benaras Chowk, Nauras Chowrangi, Ghani Chowrangi, Orangi, SITE, Mangho Peer, Pakhtunabad, and Pahar Ganj. Convoys coming from Sohrab Goth and interior Sindh were stoned, there was aerial firing, and people were forced to disembark from vehicles and beaten. In Benaras Chowk near Abdullah College ANP and Jamaat-Islami workers fired on rallies, and stopped vehicles. An MQM rally going from Orangi to Tibet Centre was stopped at Benaras Chowk and fired upon, in which 4 people were wounded, and 8 MQM workers were abducted at gunpoint. On MA Jinnah Road some people dressed as lawyers attacked MQM workers and misbehaved with Nasreen Jaleel. Haq Parast MPA Mueen Khan and Town Nazim Gulshan Iqbal Wase Jaleel narrowly escaped injury in firing at Lasbela as they brought a rally to Tibet Centre. Wase Jaleel was fired upon by Jamaat Islami terrorists but escaped but his companion was shot in the neck.
76
MQM Rabita Committee Deputy Convenor Farooq Sattar’s home in PIB Colony was attacked but due to the vigilance of the neighbours the attackers ran off. MQM workers were moving in the form of a rally near Kala Board Malir where terrorists fired on them. Terrorists injured several people in incidents at COD Filter Plant, Azeempura, Drigh Road, and Natha Khan Goth. *** Jang 13 May (j) Press release - Jamaat Islami has claimed that as a result of heavy firing on a procession welcoming the CJ, three workers, Shuja Rehman, Pervez Iqbal Kiani and Faisal Tariq died, 15 workers were injured while another 7 are missing. Shuja Rehman died as a result of firing at Malir Halt. One injured worker Faisal Tariq was being taken to Jinnah Hospital in an Edhi ambulance. At Malir Halt MQM terrorists opened fire killing him and the Edhi driver. Seven JI workers going to the rally are reported missing and it is suspected that they were abducted during the incidents of firing and violence.
Jang 13 May (k)
C P
***
Staff reporter - PPP Sindh president Qaim Ali Shah said that 15 workers belonging to PPP and ANP died. He said that MQM workers set alight the car of PPP Malir president Raja Razzaq. The PPP secretariat at Shara-e-Quaideen was attacked by MQM workers, staff were beaten up and furniture was ransacked. Edhi drivers were attacked. When we managed to clear road blocks at Kala Pul, FTC, Nursery, and Baloch Colony, terrorists positioned on the Drigh Station Flyover started firing directly onto us. Then terrorists at COD flyover and Baloch Colony also did heavy firing, in which 15 workers of ANP and PPP were killed while 80 were injured. ***
Jang 13 May (l)
R
Staff reporter - Chief Justice Sindh High Court Sabeehuddin Ahmed took suo motto notice of violence against lawyers, detentions, and the siege of the City Courts. He summoned the Chief Secretary, the Home Sectretary, IG Sindh and Corps Commander Karachi. When the CJ Sindh HC arrived at the court on Saturday morning he took notice of MQM workers besieging the building. He took strong notice of the detention of lawyers, snatching of mobile phones and demanded explanation from the said officials. ***
Jang 13 May (m)
H
Press release - Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh president Shahi Syed, Secretary General Ameen Khattak, District Central president Niaz Mohammad, District East president Yunus Khan Buneri, District South president Abdul Bari Kakar, District Malir president Amaan Khattak, District West president Syed Ahmed Khan and other office-bearers condemned the violence against their workers. Ten workers including Muntazir Khan from Malir, Mujeeb Ali Khan from Swat Colony, Mehtab Khan of Metroville, Fazlur Rehman and Shanay Khan of UC Muzaffarabad Colony, and Ameen Khan were killed. Over 130 workers including Malir workers Ameer Khan, Salman Khan, Syed Shahi Akbar, Anwar Shad, District West workers Basheer Jan, provincial deputy secretary general Shaukat Khan, Rasheed Chugharzai, Abdul Wahab, Shah Zaman Khan, Zaki-ur-Rehman, Naveed Khan, District East workers Shafee Ahmed, Mulla Sirajuddin, Basheer Khan, Mohammad Alam, Wali Khan, Naib Khan, Farooq Khan, District Central workers Abdul Haneef Mandokhel, Niazo Khan Afridi, Bahadur Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Jan Mohammad, Abdul Wahab, District South City Railway Colony Ward worker Salar Khan Hakeem, were injured. Around 200 vehicles were set alight. *** Jang 13 May (n) Staff Reporter- Muhammad Saleem Qazi told us that his brother, Muhammad Ishaq Qazi, a member of Awami National Party, was killed on 12th May. He said that they are from a village in Swat, NWFP but currently reside in Buner colony, Karachi. Muhammad Ishaq worked in Qasim Textile Mills. He left for work at 8:00 am and never returned. His relative identified his body at Edhi’s morgue. They were informed that he was trapped in Ferozabad police station’s jurisdiction and killed at Share-Faisal near FTC building. He had a bullet shot in his forehead and his face was tied with his shirt. Saleem, his brother, told us that Ishaq’s marriage was fixed on 5th July. ***
Asian Human Rights Commission, 13 May (a) PAKISTAN: The Asian Human Rights Commission condemns violence unleashed by the military
77
regime leading to killing of 30 persons in PakistanThe Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the violence unleashed on peaceful protestors by the military dictator in Karachi, Pakistan which has resulted in heavy loss of life. The violence against the protest march on 12 May in Pakistan is raising further alarm about the already deteriorated legal and administrative system hitting bottom hard. Presently it is the loss of over more than 30 lives. The aim such action is for General Musharaf is to claim five more years in power without hindrance from judiciary. The stalemate between the self-declared president – Mr. Musharaf and the people struggling to bring meaning to justice has taken a decisive turn. This is one of the worst violent occurrences in the whole struggle for the basic human rights of the people which is been systematically denied for long. Fair trial and independence of judiciary are the foundation of any civilised nation and the birth right of every individual. Interestingly, in a speech yesterday Mr. Musharaf expressed that, "…let the judiciary be independent and stop putting pressure and wait for verdict," He also added that "…your slogan of judicial independence is also my slogan”.
C P
The General is talking the language of co-option. He is trying to earn legitimacy by declaring his objective as the same of the protestors. Ironically this is the words of a person who summoned a serving Chief Justice to military barracks and sacked him in the most arbitrary manner. A person who has shown utmost disrespect to the independence of judiciary is now claiming to be its apostle. A conversion drama, faster than that of Paul en route Damascus. As news reports are coming in, the manipulative role of the dictator is being exposed. The General who assumed power by a show of might disregarding peoples’ choice and throwing democracy out from the country is now facing the reality that there is a limit to peoples’ tolerance.
R
The General is trying to infiltrate into the people’s movement by using factions loyal to him. In such an attempt he is also allegedly using military officers and the criminals at the same time to open fire at protesting people. An administration which is commanded by such a person obviously did nothing. Proving his talent to subvert fundamental rights equally by clever and crude means, the General soon appeared in public in civilian dress. The General in his speech has conspicuously refrained from making any reference to the state and the administration, he allegedly commands and its role in the current crisis. Instead the dictator has tried to trivialise the peoples’ protest as a fight between the government’s supporters and a disgraced judge. There was not a word about what action would be taken against those who fired at the protesting crowd.
H
In a county like Pakistan, where the legal and justice system has already collapsed, violence could be further conveniently used by the General to declare harsher forms of oppression. This is the worst tactic that could be employed by any ruler. A dictator who has procured a safe haven by buying properties outside Pakistan has parallels in the region in Myanmar and Nepal. For the lesser mortals in Pakistan it is Pakistan and nowhere else. The people when pressed hard beyond a breaking point is justified in protesting against the oppressor. Thousands have taken to the streets to demonstrate their discontent against an Army General who has played all cards available, ranging from religion to security in an attempt to remain in power. The people of Pakistan protesting against such a dictator and his armed cronies need support and solidarity. It is the legal and the moral obligation of the civil society to respond to the cry for help from Pakistan. The struggle in Pakistan has reached the turning point capable enough to change the destiny of a nation. The clarion call by the mass struggling for democracy, independence of judiciary, rule of law and human rights is already made. Now it is the duty of the international community to respond to the call. The AHRC calls for immediate investigation into the firing incident and prosecution of the criminals. The AHRC calls for restoration of democracy in Pakistan for which General Musharaf must step down and the army must be returned to the barracks. The dismissed Chief Justice must be immediately reinstated to office. The United Nations agencies and the international communities need to condemn the killings, the unleashing of the violence against the peaceful protest and the displacement of the legal process. It is their obligation to insist on ensuring an inquiry into the killings and to bring an end to the ongoing violence. *** Dawn 14 May (a) MQM blamed for killings in Karachi Dawn Report HYDERABAD, May 13: Activists of political parties in the opposition observed a black day and held rallies across the province on Sunday in protest against the government’s failure to rein in armed miscreants in Karachi. The protesters wore black armbands, staged sit-ins and token hunger strikes.
78
On the other hand, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) observed a day of mourning and held Quran khwanis in several cities. Reports of partial strike were received from different parts of the province while police detained scores of Awami Tehrik activists on charges of forcing shopkeepers to close their shops. In Hyderabad, markets remained partially closed in different parts of the city and Latifabad while a complete strike was observed in Qasimabad in response to call for strike given by Awami Tehrik. City and Cantonment police arrested several AT activists and field two cases under sections 147, 148, 149, 506(II) and 341 PPC against them. The Hyderabad chapter of the Muttahida Majli-i-Amal set up a hunger strikers’ camp outside the local press club, which was later joined by leaders and activists of other opposition parties. MMA leaders criticised MQM for staging the rally on May 12 and blamed adviser to chief minister on home department for deceiving people who were being gunned down.
C P
NAWABSHAH: The Nawabshah chapter of the PPP observed a black day and staged a hunger strike outside the press club. Party leaders Ghulam Qadir Chandio and Imdad Dhamrah blamed the Sindh government for acts of terrorism in Karachi. They said that 16 PPP workers and activists of other opposition parties were killed in what they termed as battlefield staged by MQM in connivance with the government. Later, they offered Ghaibana Namaz-i-Janaza of the deceased people and announced the party would observe a shutter-down strike on Monday. The members of Jamiat Tuleba-i-Islam held a demonstration outside the press club against killings and attack on the offices of a private news channel.
R
MIRPURKHAS: Activists of PPP, JSQM, SNF and AT staged a joint rally, which started from the railway station chowk in protest against killing of innocent people in Karachi and attack on Aaj TV channel while the MQM observed the day as a day of mourning. The joint opposition rally marched on main roads of the city before reaching the press club. PPP’s Ali Akbar Panwhar accused MQM of involvement in the killings and demanded that the government should take action against them.
H
SNF's Asghar Narejo said that MQM deliberately raised hurdles by scheduling its rally to sabotage the visit of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. DADU: Complete strike was observed in Dadu, Mehar, Sehwan, Jamshoro, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi and Kotri towns in response to the AT’s call for strike in protest against killing of party activist Mohammad Nawaz Karnani and activists of other political parties. Over 300 women activists of Sindhiani Tehrik and AT led by district president Mumtaz Bhand staged a rally and a demonstration outside the press club. Mr Bhand blamed the gunmen of MQM killed AT activist Mohammad Nawaz Karnani and other activists. Meanwhile, two scores of PPP activists staged a rally in Dadu against Karachi incident. AT activists also staged rallies in Kotri and Mehar towns. THATTA: Complete strike was observed on the call of AT on Sunday while the PPP, AT, STP, MMA, JSQM staged a procession in protest against violence in Karachi. They also staged a sit-in on the National Highway. In Gharo, ARD activists staged a big procession while partial strike was observed in Daro, Gharo, Jati, Mirpur Bathoro and Jhoke Sharif. Speakers held MQM responsible for Saturday's incidents and said that the party was playing into the hands of Gen Pervez Musharraf. JACOBABAD: The ARD and the MMA staged a joint rally against Saturday's incidents in Karachi. Led by Dr. A. G. Ansari of JUI-F, PPP's Rafique Ahmed Veesar and Abdul Sattar, JI’s Deedar Lashari, MMA's Hafiz Mir Mohammad Bunglani and STP's Dilmurad Lashari scores of activists blocked main Super Highway connecting Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan. They also burnt an effigy of MQM chief Altaf Hussain and MQM flags. The leaders held MQM responsible for what they called massacre of innocent people in Karachi. AT activists staged a rally in Thull against killing of party workers. They demanded registration of case against governor of Sindh and MQM leaders.
79
KHAIRPUR: Activists of SPSF and AT staged separate processions in Khairpur and Thari Mirwah against killings of political workers in Karachi and attack on SPSF Sindh president Mohammad Suleman Dasti. SPSF district president Faqir Zakir Hussain Hisbani slammed the government and MQM ministers for giving a freehand to the miscreants and termed the killings as shameful and exposing the real face of MQM. They accused MQM's armed workers of involvement in the killing of Sindhi nationalist leaders and Mohammad Nawaz Karnani. NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: AT activists staged a rally and sit-in outside the press club in Naushahro Feroze and Moro. AT workers in Moro took out rallies and staged sit-ins outside the local press clubs. They alleged that Saturday's violence was part of a pre-planned conspiracy against democracy, independence of judiciary and people by the government and its allies. In Moro, shopping and trade centres remained closed up to 2pm.
C P
SPSF activists staged a demonstration opposite the press club in Tharushah. In Naushahro Feroze, several workers of Jamiat-i-Tuleba-i-Islam staged a rally and a demonstration outside the local press club condemning government for the killings. LARKANA: Several political parties including Sunni Tehrik (ST) protested against Karachi carnage in demonstrations on Sunday. PPP leaders held MQM and government responsible and said that 15 party workers were killed but Rangers and police stood by as spectators. ST leaders also blamed MQM for Karachi killings and demanded arrest of the killers of worker Suhail Qadri who was killed in Karachi.
R
Activists of AT and STP said that government itself had ignited riots and targeted opponents. They distributed pamphlets among traders asking them to keep their business shut on Monday as sign of protest against the Karachi incident. SHIKARPUR: Activists of ARD and other opposition parties observed black day on Sunday in protest against Karachi killings. The protesters wore black armbands and announced they would observe a strike on Monday.
H
MITHI: Activists of AT staged a rally against Karachi killings outside the local press club while partial strike was observed in response to AT’s call for shutter-down strike and a black day by STP. ***
Dawn 14 May (b)
Govt warned against plotting civil war By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, May 13: The Pakhtun Action Committee, calling itself Loya Jirga, has warned the Sindh government, particularly the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, against continuing with making attempts and hatching conspiracies to push the city towards a civil war. Addressing a press conference at his residence on Sunday, PAC chairman Shahi Syed observed that Urdu-speaking people at large were not involved in the incidents of indiscriminate shooting at Pakhtun groups on Saturday. Shahi Syed, who is also President of the Awami National Party, Sindh, appreciated his party workers for exercising patience and remaining peaceful during the whole episode. However, he made it clear that pursuing the policy of non-violence should not be taken as Pakhtuns’ weakness. He accused the government of pushing Pakhtuns against the wall, and said the ANP and PAC fully supported the opposition’s call for strike on Monday against the attacks on the people who intended to participate in the rally to welcome the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. The PAC also gave the government 72 hours to pay off the compensation for losses suffered by Pakhtuns on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Sindh, has also expressed its support to the strike call for Monday. The ARD and MMA have appealed people of the country, particularly businessman community, traders and transporters to make the strike a success.
80
In a statement issued on Sunday, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, Salim Zia, Siddique Rathore, Zubair Khan and Basharat Mirza also appealed for complete peace during the strike. *** Dawn 14 May (c) Brave drivers of Edhi ambulances By Hasan Mansoor KARACHI, May 13: Faizur Rehman was the second driver of the Edhi ambulance service who was killed in the line of duty, said an official of the Edhi Trust. “He was second driver who was killed in an attack during violent situations in the city. Our first ever driver had been martyred in similar circumstances four years ago,” Anwer Kazmi, Edhi Trust’s spokesman told Dawn.
C P
According to him, more than one dozen Edhi Ambulance service drivers suffer attacks every year. “They are soft targets of the attackers in such situations despite the fact that they risk their lives to help the dead and wounded,” said Mr Kazmi. During the last six years, he said, 80 drivers of Edhi ambulance service were attacked and injured. Edhi’s ambulances and staff have always been allowed to work in the most precarious situations but it started in 2001 when angry mobs started attacking them as specific target. “In most of the attacks, the attackers also beat up and injured our drivers. But, it was first time in 2003 when a mob killed one of our drivers when the city was observing a strike. We have to suffer the loss of another dedicated worker today,” he said, adding, the attackers damaged at least seven of the 125 Edhi ambulances on Saturday.
R
According to figures compiled by the private charity’s officials, as many as 112 ambulances had been attacked since 2001 while most attacks were recorded in May 2004 when most of the high-profile terrorism acts were recorded in the history of the metropolis. “On average around 20 Edhi Ambulances are attacked every year. In 2004, more than 30 of our vehicles were attacked, most of them in May” said Rizwan Edhi, the charity’s chief volunteer.
He said, “We were seldom attacked in the mid-1990s when the city had witnessed the worst law and order situation, but now it is becoming too risky.”
H
Mr Kazmi referred to Abdus Sattar Edhi, the head of the charity, as saying, “We’ll not stop our service till a single ambulance left with us to serve the people.” ***
Dawn 14 May (d)
Strike call for today
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, May 13: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy has called for a strike on Monday in protest against the violence in the city that left 34 people dead and over 100 others wounded on Saturday. Karachi remained tense on Sunday as political leaders and activists took part in the funeral of those killed in the violence at different places in the city. Shops, markets and other business concerns that usually remain open on Sundays were seen closed while public transport remained off the road. Commuters were seen waiting for public transport at various bus stops in large numbers. The National Transport Ittehad, Karachi, endorsing the strike call, issued a statement declaring that its members would not operate any bus, minibus, coach, rickshaw, taxi or inter-provincial transport means on Monday. Meanwhile, Anjuman-i-Ittehad Bus Malikan, Karachi, have said that they would not observe strike on Monday and bring public transport vehicles on roads if the government provided them with full security. It said that the transporter community would not allow political parties to use transporters for their political purposes. *** Dawn 14 May (e) Schools, colleges to remain closed
81
By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 13: The provincial government on Sunday announced that all schools and colleges in Karachi would remain closed on Monday in view of the law and order situation obtaining in the city. “We have received a directive from the chief minister in this regard notifying the closure of all the educational institutions on Monday,” Sindh Education Secretary Sabhago Khan Jatoi told Dawn. He said the decision had been taken due to the deteriorating law and order situation in the city and any decision for Tuesday onwards would be taken by the competent authorities. Meanwhile, the University of Karachi postponed all examinations (morning and evening) scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. In a notification issued on Sunday, Karachi University Registrar Prof Rais Alvi said that new dates for the postponed papers would be announced later. All public-dealing counters will remain closed and the tests and interviews for Selection Board in respect of teachers scheduled for May 15 and 16 were postponed.
C P
The Sindh Board of Technical Education postponed all the examination scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. The Board of Secondary Education postponed the practical examination of Physics scheduled for May 14 to June 6. The National Council for Homeopathy announced postponement of the papers of Physics/ Chemistry, 1st year, and Pathology, 3rd year, scheduled for Monday due to prevailing situation. ***
Dawn 14 May (f)
MQM shuts offices, sets up camps By Our Staff Reporter
R
KARACHI, May 13: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has closed down its offices across the country for an indefinite period and set up two camps for workers and sympathisers forced to leave their homes in the suburban areas following armed attacks. “The coordination committee has decided to close down all sector and unit offices in the country for an indefinite period to foil the conspiracy to engineer ethnic riots,” deputy convener of the MQM Dr Farooq Sattar told a press conference at the party’s headquarters, Nine-Zero, on Sunday evening.
H
“Today, terrorists of opposition parties carried out armed attacks in several areas and forced not only our workers and supporters but also our Punjabi, Pakhtun and minority workers to flee their respective localities,” he said, adding that the party had set up two camps in Azizabad for all the displaced families.
Dr Sattar gave a detailed account of what he called atrocities on his party workers and supporters and attacks on party offices in Karachi, Sindh’s interior and other parts of the country. “Hundreds of MQM workers living in suburbs of the city were forced to migrate but we did not react.” He said people in different areas of Orangi Town, Qasba Colony, Muzaffarabad Colony, Sherpao Colony, Sohrab Goth, Azeempura, Baldia Town, Lyari and other localities were attacked, tortured and injured by terrorists who wanted to engineer ethnic riots in the city on the pattern of what had happened in 1986.
He accused opposition parties, including the Awami National Party and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, of hatching a conspiracy to divide the peaceful population of Karachi on ethnic and linguistic lines to destroy the peace of the city and derail the democratic process. “The attacks on peaceful rallies of the MQM, particularly in those areas which are not supposed to be the party’s strongholds, and killing of innocent people was a part of the conspiracy aimed at restricting the MQM to its traditional constituencies.” He appealed to ANP chief Asfandyar Wali to tell his people that there was no clash of interests between the Pakhtuns and the Mohajirs and and suggested that he avoid giving statements that create chaos. He vowed not to allow terrorists and opposition parties to destroy the peace of the metropolis. He demanded an immediate arrest of people responsible for Saturday’s violence and subsequent attacks on MQM workers, supporters and offices. MQM leader Babar Ghauri alleged on the occasion that the ANP wanted to improve its declining popularity graph in the NWFP by “doing politics on bodies”. MNA Hyder Rizvi denounced PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan for criticising the MQM in an earlier press conference in Islamabad and said that his party had been involved in several incidents of terrorism, including the hijacking of a plane and firing of rockets on an oil refinery. Other members of the MQM coordination committee also spoke
82
***
Dawn 14 May (g) Karachi contends with ethnic violence By S. Raza Hassan KARACHI, May 13: Seven people were killed on Sunday in a second day of violence, raising the spectre of bloody ethnic feuding that plagued the city in the 1980s and 1990s.
C P
Saturday’s violence, whose outbreak followed the arrival of the chief justice in the city, claimed the lives of at least 34 people. The death toll rose to 41 on Sunday. Armed men barged into houses and threatened the residents late Saturday night in Ali Garh Colony, Orangi Town. However, local youths put up a strong resistance and pushed back the attackers, said a local resident, Muhammad Ehsan. “Following the last night incidents, some families have moved out from the area. At least two rows of the locality have been vacated by the residents,” Ehsan told Dawn. He said that people here had gory memories of the late 1980s when their houses had been attacked and set ablaze in a systematic manner. At the Water Pump traffic intersection, a mob set fire to the shops located in the heart of Federal B Area on Sunday.
R
At least four shops located adjacent to Water Pump were set on fire by protesters after the passing of the funeral procession of a Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist. Sporadic gunfire was heard in the area shortly afterwards. However, unlike Saturday, a Rangers’ convoy presently arrived there and forced the miscreants to flee. No one was reported hit in the shootout. The Fire Brigade reached the spot and tried to put out the blaze, but the shops had been gutted. A neighbouring gas station was also damaged by protesters.
H
Earlier on Sunday morning, violence broke out in different localities of the city in Quaidabad. People took to the streets and set fire to tyres, disrupting whatever little traffic there was on the road. In Majeed Colony, Landhi Town, a young man, Saifur Rehman, died from gunshot wounds.
He was reportedly setting up roadblocks in the area when he suffered a gunshot from police fire. His body was found at a ground. At Banaras Chowk, a group of people detained passersby and reportedly manhandled them because of their appearance or the clothes they wore. In the Manghopir area, bodies of two young men were found near the Javaden Cement factory. The bodies of the victims, wearing shalwar-kameez, were trussed up. Police said the victims had been tortured and later shot in the head. However, both the men, in their early twenties, could not be identified, police said. Muhammad Ali died reportedly in crossfire between two groups in Qasba Colony, Orangi Town. Police said that initial information suggested that Ali did not belong to any political party of group but was caught in the crossfire. In another clash between two groups that occurred in the same locality, Mohammad Noorani lost his life. Six others, including three policemen, were injured as a result of the firing. Police said the body of a young man was found near Naval Colony in Ibrahim Hydri. The victim, identified as Sarwar, was shot in the head. Police said Sarwar was the resident of Korangi No. 6. He was earlier kidnapped by unknown persons who later shot him in the head and dumped his body. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement claimed that Sarwar was their activist. They said that their another activists, Muhammad Ashraf, was killed at Banaras Chowk on Sunday evening by a group of armed men. Disturbances were reported from different parts of Site Town, Muzaffarabad Colony and Safoora Chowk
83
*** Dawn 14 May (h) More powers for Rangers By Arman Sabir KARACHI, May 13: The Rangers, who were called in about 18 years ago by the provincial government, got the upper hand over police on Sunday when they were additional powers. The federal interior ministry and the Sindh government asked the Rangers in Karachi to increase their manpower and authorised them to shoot on sight anyone involved in violence. Thirty-four people were killed and more than 130 wounded in the city's worst political street violence in two decades, sparked when the chief justice flew in to address a lawyers’ convention at the Sindh High Court.
C P
“The Rangers have got extra powers of shoot at sight and arrest in case of riots and violence,” MajorGeneral Javed Zia of the Rangers told the AFP news agency.
Federal Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said the government had ordered extra troops into troubled areas to restore order. “We have sent more contingents of paramilitary troops for deployment in affected areas of Karachi. The paramilitary rangers had been authorised to shoot trouble-makers at sight,” Sherpao told AFP. Analysts looked upon the move to empower the Rangers as an acknowledgment by the government of its failure to chalk out a contingency plan aimed at containing violence and averting a clash between activists of rival political parties on Saturday. At least 8,000 police personnel, as well as an equal number of Rangers, were on duty on Saturday. Criminal law experts wondered under what law the government placed at the disposal of the Rangers additional powers. They pointed out that under the Police Order 2002 the police could open fire on a violent mob only at the orders of a judicial magistrate.
R
“The life of a person is a most precious thing. It cannot be taken away without the due process of law. Orders to shoot at sight appear good during a martial-law regime but under civilian governments such orders are not only harsh but in conflict with fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution,” senior advocate Khawaja Naveed told Dawn.
H
He said as the constitution was in force, such orders could invite a suo motu notice by the chief justice of the Sindh High Court ***
Dawn 14 May (i)
PPP blames Musharraf, MQM for violence By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, May 13: The Pakistan People’s Party leader and Leader of Opposition in Sindh Assembly, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, has said that threats of serious consequences were given to the judiciary and sensitive institutions by echoing slogans of “Pakistan not acceptable without Gen Pervez Musharraf” in the federal capital and its practical demonstration in Karachi. Mr Khuhro, who was speaking to a group of Sindh MPAs and party workers at his residence on Sunday, said Gen Musharraf had jolted the foundation of the country by playing horrible game of using religious and ethnic extremists against judiciary and other institutions. He said every patriot was grieved over the tactics applied to stop the chief justice from entering into the city of Quaid-i-Azam. He said on May 12 night when the youths and elders, who were victim of terrorism and were tossing from pain in different hospitals of Karachi Gen Pervez Musharraf and his supporters were celebrating victory at the beat of drums in Islamabad. Mr Khuhro warned that whatever the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was sowing by taking the turn of “Musharraf Qaumi Movement” it would reap tomorrow.
He said the language used for the chief justice and the entire judiciary by the government ‘courtiers’ in Islamabad and Karachi was itself a challenge to the Supreme Court of Pakistan and its framed code of conduct. He said people were anxious to see that the Supreme Court should take suo motu notice against General Musharraf and MQM ministers. Referring to the news appeared in the section of press, he said, why the police were unarmed on the instructions of provincial government a day before the arrival of chief justice while it was repeatedly warning the chief justice from visiting Karachi.
84
Earlier addressing a news conference at Bilawal House, PPP Sindh PPP Qaim Ali Shah, who is also ARD provincial convener, Deputy Leader of Oppositiion in Senate Raza Rabbani, Opposition leader in Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmad Khuhru, Central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman, condemned the what they called naked state terrorism, saying that whatever had happened was a sheer act of terrorism which was carried out by the state agencies and the MQM. Pointing out that more than 25 people were killed in the violence, the senior PPP leaders squarely blamed the federal government and the provincial government and its coalition partner MQM for the bloodshed in the city of Karachi. They said the MQM workers with assault rifles and guns opened fire in different parts of the city to stop opposition parties. They pointed out that containers and other road barriers were placed on Sharea Faisal and Muttahida activists from their hideouts targeted the opposition workers.
C P
“We are still collecting reports about dead and injured as many of them still trapped or missing”, they said but they added data collected so far about the victims showed that more 25 people, including workers of PPP, PML-N and Awami National Party, had been killed. The terrorists even not spared a private television offices and journalists, they said and added that buses and dozens of other vehicles were torched. “It is an extremely serious situation,” Syed Qaim Shah said adding that he had not witnessed such naked fascism and terrorism during his political life. “They had sealed off the entire city. It looks they want violence. There’s no authority to control MQM activists,” Nisar Khuhro said adding that he had never seen this sort of state terrorism. Mr Khuhru demanded removal of provincial government saying that deployment of rangers was not solution to the problem. He made it clear that the PPP would not succumb to the pressures of terrorists and would continue its struggle for restoration of an independent judiciary and democracy. ***
Dawn 14 May (j)
R
Call for judicial probe into Karachi violence By Our Reporter
ISLAMABAD, May 13: The Pakistan Muslim League-N has demanded a judicial inquiry into Saturday’s violence in Karachi that claimed the lives of a large number of innocent people.
H
Talking to journalists here on Sunday, PML-N information secretary Ahsan Iqbal held the Musharraf regime responsible for the massacre of people. “After losing nerves due to the massive support shown by lawyers, political workers and civil society for the rule of law and independence of judiciary, the government hatched a conspiracy to crush the peaceful movement with force and terror.” He regretted that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had announced a rally on the same day when the chief justice was coming to the city and had rejected all appeals to change the date of its rally. He said that keeping in view the situation, extra security should have been ensured, but even Rangers, who usually were seen on the streets of Karachi, were not there. Mr Iqbal regretted that the day started with the killing of two PML-N workers and later, when opposition parties’ rallies reached the Sharea Faisal, armed workers of the ruling party opened fire on them, killing dozens of political workers. MQM rallies were provided passage to Tibet Centre, but all routes leading to the Sindh High Court and the airport were sealed with heavy containers which even obstructed the movement of security personnel and ambulances. The obstructions were not cleared despite the orders of the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, he said. He said the armed gangs belonging to the same party continued to fire on the Aaj TV building for six hours and there was no security cover. And finally, he said, a new history was created by denying entry to the chief justice, senior lawyers and media people into Karachi as if it were a war zone. “This is a conspiracy hatched by the Musharraf regime through its political surrogates to create law and order situation in order to diffuse the judicial crisis.” The PML-N leader said the nation had a right to know where were Rangers and other security agencies on May 12, why extra security arrangements were not made, who allowed the sealing of Karachi streets and roads leading to the high court and the airport, why the SHC chief justice’s orders were flouted, why Aaj TV was not provided any security for more than six hours, on whose orders armed gangs were let loose at opposition rallies heading towards the airport and why violence was unleashed only in Karachi while rallies in support of the chief justice in other cities were peaceful.
85
“While the streets of Karachi were littered with blood, Gen Musharraf was celebrating a rally mela costing the poor nation over Rs1 billion with less than 10,000 participants. Each participant cost the national exchequer Rs100,000 and it was the most expensive political theatre ever staged in the world,” he said. ***
Dawn 14 May (k)
By Our Reporter
C P
Benazir urges judiciary to take action: Karachi killings ISLAMABAD, May 13: Chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party Benazir Bhutto has urged the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court to take action over the killings in Karachi and the absence of lawenforcement agencies from places where incidents of violence had taken place. A statement issued by the PPP’s secretariat quoted her as saying that the regime’s involvement in state terrorism was obvious, adding that it had failed to protect the citizens. She said that it was time that the higher judiciary showed the same courage as the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice to save the country from plunging into a civil war and destruction.
R
Ms Bhutto feared that the regime was creating local warlords to divide the country between different armed groups and militias. She said it appeared that tribal areas had been doled out to the pro-Taliban forces, Malakand and nearby area of Bajaur was handed to the Tehrik-i-Nifaz Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM), parts of Punjab to the Chaudhrys and Islamabad to the Imam of Lal Masjid. She said that the country and people were crying for stability and security, which the PPP had provided during its tenure.
H
Ms Bhutto said that it was a national disgrace that young men lay dead or dying in the streets of Karachi, which were stained with blood, while ambulances were attacked. She also condemned the attack on the offices of private TV channel Aaj in Karachi and demanded the arrest of the alleged Muttahida Qaumi Movement activists involved in the attack. The PPP leader said that attacks on political parties, the press and judiciary were aimed at destroying the democratic hopes and aspirations of the people. She said that the anti-people forces would not succeed and their actions had disgraced and exposed them. She said that during the Karachi by-elections, the police did nothing as MQM actvists brazenly rigged election results and beat up opposition supporters. The failure of the federal government, the judiciary and the Election Commission to intervene and take action against the shootings, the beatings and the rigging had emboldened the MQM. Benazir Bhutto also spoke with family members of several people killed in Karachi violence on Saturday and also inquired about the health of the injured people. The press release said that she told them the nation saluted their courage and sacrifice in the face of the worst kind of tyranny. *** Dawn 14 May (l) HRCP calls for disarming MQM LAHORE, May 13: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is deeply aggrieved at the loss of life and bloodshed caused by the violence perpetuated in Karachi on Saturday. In a statement here on Sunday, it said all reports indicated that it was the result of a calculated adventure hatched by the Presidency and the MQM with co-operation of the Sindh government. “The aim is to silence, depress, and decimate the civil society of Pakistan. It was a militant act to deny people their freedom of expression and association. The blocking of roads, arming MQM militants who took positions at strategic roadblocks, and ignoring the directions of the Sindh High Court were all carried out by the government.” The HRCP said at each occasion of the Chief Justice’s visit to bar association, the government had issued warnings of security risks. “At the same time, government rallies are being regularly held at the cost of
86
taxpayers and the local residents. The vulgar show of celebrations held at Islamabad soon after the massacre in Karachi appeared to be designed to ridicule the loss of innocent lives. Only a callous, irresponsible and an unrepresentative government could have celebrated in Islamabad while Karachi burnt. “The events in Karachi indicate that the government, in collusion with the MQM wants to return Karachi to a state of ethnic hostilities and use the politics of prejudice to achieve its ends. These heinous acts have exposed the extent to which the MQM is willing to go in its support for an unpopular military leader. It is now imperative that the MQM be disarmed so that the citizens of Karachi can live in peace and security. HRCP calls upon other political forces and civil society to defuse ethnic polarization in order to prevent further such incidents. At the same time, HRCP encourages the bar associations to continue with their peaceful struggle for the supremacy of the rule of law. The lawyers’ movement has given a ray of hope to the disempowered people of Pakistan as was obvious by the solidarity shown to them. It is an opportunity to unite rather than divide.”
Dawn 14 May (m)
C P
*** ‘Shoot to kill’ power for Rangers in Karachi By Arman Sabir and S. Raza Hassan
KARACHI, May 13: There was no respite from violence for the provincial metropolis on Sunday. Another seven people were killed and scores others injured, raising the death toll in two days of mayhem to 41. With paramilitary Rangers and other law-enforcement personnel failing to control the situation, the provincial government ordered Rangers to deploy more personnel and empowered the paramilitary force to ‘shoot to kill’ anyone involved in violence. The entire city was tense and virtually paralysed. Public transport remained off the road and there was a curfew-like situation throughout the day.
R
Shops and houses in different areas were set ablaze and reports of shooting were received from several districts. Fears of a recurrence of riots suffered by the city in the mid-80s and mid-90s forced residents to remain indoors. Funeral prayers of people killed on Saturday were offered in various areas. Bodies of more than 10 victims were dispatched to their hometowns.
H
The government’s move to accord wide-ranging powers to Rangers, authorising them to shoot to kill was questioned by legal experts who said the powers could only be used in the presence and with the consent of a judicial magistrate under the Criminal Procedure Code and the Police Order 2002. Legally, they said, Rangers could not shoot anyone at their discretion. The violence on Saturday was largely confined to Malir and areas around Sharea Faisal, but on Sunday clashes spread to new localities. At least seven people lost their lives and dozens others were injured in different areas.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which has been directly accused by the Pakistan People’s Party, Awami National Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Sunni Tehrik and Jamaat-i-Islami of targeting and killing their workers and supporters of their parties, claimed that ‘a conspiracy’ was being hatched against people from other provinces living in Karachi and to incite ethnic riots. All the parties supported the strike call for Monday and said that shops and markets would remain closed *** The Daily Times 14 May (a) 6 PPP and PML-N workers, 13 ANP workers laid to rest By Irfan Ali KARACHI: The bodies of six Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) workers, and 13 Awami National Party (ANP) workers were laid to rest Sunday. The bigwigs of the PPP and the PML-N were absent at the funerals, however, on account of the prevalent tension in the city. “The bodies of three of the PPP workers were dispatched to their home towns in interior Sindh and Azad Kashmir, while the fourth was buried in Koran and fourth one was buried in Korangi,” PPP provincial deputy information secretary, Waqar Mehdi, told Daily Times.
87
On Saturday, PPP leaders had claimed that 15 of their workers had been killed in armed attacks. By early Sunday night, however, they had identified only four deceased as PPP workers. The Bilawal House media cell alleged that MQM workers had taken control of mortuaries at hospitals in Karachi. “The PPP is being careful in issuing a list of the May 12 martyrs, because all of them belong to areas under the control of MQM terrorists,” a statement issued by the media cell said. The PPP further alleged that families and relatives of the deceased PPP workers were being threatened with death. “They (the MQM) can declare any dead body as an MQM worker,” the media cell claimed. Mohammad Sarwar, a PPP worker from ward no.79, city area 123, district East, was kidnapped Saturday night. His body was found Sunday morning. Sarwar was laid to rest in the Korangi no. 6 graveyard in the evening.
C P
Mehdi said that Rehmat Burirho’s body was dispatched to Moro, district Naushehro Feroze. The body of Ghulam Sarwar (son of Allah Yar) was taken to Tando Bago, district Badin. Pervaiz Akhtar Kiyani’s body was sent to Bagh (Azad Jammu and Kashmir). On the other hand, Zain Ansari and Mushahidullah Khan of the PML-N managed to reach Model Colony to attend the funeral prayers of Asghar Shah who was killed Saturday. Shah hailed from Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab, and his body was taken to his hometown for burial. Another deceased PML-N worker, Jahanzeb, was buried in a graveyard in Malir City. No known PML-N leader attended the funeral due to the charged atmosphere of the area. Meanwhile, ANP provincial general secretary, Amin Khattak, told Daily Times that 13 of their workers were killed in the armed attacks on Saturday and all of them had been laid to rest. “One was a resident of Baldia Town, another was from Ittehad Town, and third one belonged to SITE area,” Khattak said. The remaining 10 workers were residents of Muzffarabad/Landhi, Sherpao Colony and Steel Town. All of them have been laid to rest in graveyards in their areas.
R
“We want peace in this city, not disorder. This is why we did not invite supporters from all over the city to attend the funeral in large numbers. The natural reaction of the emotional workers could have disturbed peace,” Khattak said. Funerals prayers held for ST, JI and IJT workers: Funeral prayers where held for the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Sunni Tehrik (ST) and Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT) activists killed Saturday in Landhi and New MA Jinnah Road.
H
The prayers were led by the secretary general of JI, Pakistan, Syed Munawar Hassan, and ST’s central leader, Mohammed Shahid Ghouri. The prayers were carried out for the IJT’s 22-year-old Shuja-ur-Rehman and 22-year-old Faisal Shamsi, the JI’s Pervaiz Akhter Kyani and Rahmatullah Barrayrro, and the ST’s 40-yearold Sohail Qadri. Rehman was a resident of Al-Falah society, where he was studying at the Swedish Institute. His body was buried at the Korangi graveyard. According to Nazim IJT Karachi Syed Abdur Rasheed, Rehman was killed at Malir Halt. Kyani, who was from Azad Kashmir, was working in a steel mill in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. His body was dispatched to his hometown, Bagh, for burial. Burrayrro, who had been working in a private firm, left his home Saturday for some official work after which he was killed. His body has been sent to his hometown, Naushero Firoz. Qadri, who was buried in Rahre Goth, Karachi, was a father of eleven and a resident of Landi. He owned a bakery, where he had been working when unidentified people came in and ordered him to close shop. He, however, refused to comply after which he was shot dead. *** Daily Times 14 May (b) JPMC receptionist tells people to check morgue for loved ones By Farhan Ahmed KARACHI: The receptionist at JPMC, one of the city’s three largest tertiary-care hospitals, was forced to undertake the unpleasant task of telling people to check the Edhi morgue if they were looking for their loved ones. Sufyan was one of the people who came to JPMC. “Our cousin Javed Hussain, a rickshaw driver, resident of Orangi No. 10, has been missing since Saturday and we don’t know whether he is alive or dead,” said Sufyan Hussain. “He left for work and usually he calls if he’s late but he doesn’t have his cell phone.”
88
The receptionist said several people came. “I have directed them to the Edhi morgue, where the bodies are currently lying,” he told Daily Times. The number of patients reported at the JPMC was low Saturday but there was an increase on Sunday because other clinics were closed in the city. “Normally, around 350 patients are brought in to the JPMC emergency ward while this number decreases to around 200 to 250 on Sundays,” said the receptionist at the JPMC emergency ward. “On Saturday we received about 270 patients who were mostly inflicted with serious injuries during the violence.” Furthermore, laboratory tests and CT scans performed at the JPMC were affected because of transportation issues.
C P
Normally around 50 to 60 CT scans are carried out on patients from the OPD, but on Saturday only about 10 to 12 were carried out due to the absence of transport, said the CT registrar at the JPMC. He added that the people that could not come for their CT scans on Saturday will be adjusted into the upcoming days. “There are two laboratories over here, one is the main lab and the other one is the emergency lab,” said the emergency lab attendant at the JPMC. “On Sundays, the number of lab tests is high in the emergency lab because the main lab is closed. Around 400 tests are usually carried out but today we’ve done around 150.” ***
Daily Times 14 May (c) General strike in Sindh
KARACHI: A complete shutter-down general strike, called by the Awami Tehreek, was observed in major cities and small towns all over Sindh on Sunday.
R
The strike was called on account of the alleged murder of Awami Tahreek central leader Nawaz Kanrani by MQM activists near Karachi Airport yesterday. The general strike, sit-ins and protest rallies were organized in different major cities and thousands of Awami Tehreek activists, including its women and students wings, Sindhiani Tahreek and Sindhi Shagird Tahreek (SST), and the common citizens of Sindh gathered on the roads.
H
Rallies, marches and sit-ins took place in Thul, Daro, Shahpur Chakar, Qasimabad, Gharo, Mehar, Kotri, Thatta, Talpur Wadda, Badin, Dokri, Mirpurkhas, Malir, Karachi, Chhor, Sanghar, Dadu, Nasim Nagar Chowk Hyderabad, Wahi Pandhi, Baldia Collony Hyderabad, Sakrand, Koreja, Bozdar, Makli, Khairpur, Johi, Warah, Chambar, Ranipur, Tando Wali Mohammad Hyderabad, Ghulam Ullah, Shahdadpur, Hatri, Lakhat, Bhan Saeedabad, Faiz Ganj, Halani, Jacobabad, Matiari, Sobho Dero, Gulshan-e-Hadeed Karachi, Nawabshah, Shahbander, Sultani Wah, Thoree, Moro, Noshehroferoz, Khesana Moree, Kandhkot, Matli, Tando Jam, Khairpurnathan Shah, Khanpur, Banon, Bathoro, Ghotki, Sindh University Colony, Shikarpur, Qambar, Sukkur, Garho, Tarai, Ibrahim Haidri Karachi, Dahon Mail Mori, Gupchani, Kakar, Dhabechi, Chodughee, Khadro, Soomar Chanar, Suhrab Goth, Dadharko Farm, Khorwah, UmerKot, Larkana, Mithi, Jungshahi, Nao Kot, Bhirya, Jam Sahib, Tharoo Shah, Wahi Pandhi, Seree, Jamshoro Phatak, Pano Aqail, Liyari Karachi, Tando Bago, Sakro, Bozdar, Makli, Hussainabad Hyderabad, Ranipur, Ghulam Ullah, Shahdadpur, MirpurMathelo, Khuda Kee Basti, Hala, Rato Dero, Tando Mohammad Khan, Wahdat Collony Hyderabad, Gambat, Mirpur Sakro, Dighri, Golarchi, Tando Allahyar, Nasarpur, Nangarparkar, Jhudo among other cities and towns. Thousands Awami Tahreek and Sindhiani Tahreek activists, with their red and black flags, marched through different towns. More than 340 activists have been arrested in different parts of Sindh. According to official reports, the city police had arrested 32 SST and Awami Tehreek activists near Gul Centre, Hyderabad. ppi *** Daily Times 14 May (d)
APMA slams Karachi violence ISLAMABAD: All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) Chairman Shahbaz Bhatti on Sunday condemned the killings of innocent people in Karachi and demanded General Pervez Musharraf and his team step down immediately and form a national government of common consensus. “The violence committed against opposition parties’ workers, journalists and lawyers is a barbaric act of terrorism,” said Bhatti, adding that the government deliberately stoked the violence against political parties, which left around 34 dead and many injured. He said police were silent spectators to the bloodshed.
89
He said innocent people’s sacrifices were the beginning of the revolution against the ‘tyrannical forces’.
He said Musharraf’s government had failed to ensure citizen’s security and that the federal and Sindh government were responsible for the loss of lives in Karachi. The APMA chairman said repeated attacks on journalists and TV channels were criminal acts and part of the government’s conspiracy to curb freedom of expression. He said violence could not force people to compromise on the struggle for judiciary’s independence, restoration of democracy, supremacy of the Constitution and freedom of press. Bhatti condoled with the bereaved families and prayed for the deceased. He appealed to the Pakistan’s acting chief justice to form a judicial commission headed by Sindh High Court chief justice to hold an enquiry and punish those responsible for Karachi violence. Online *** Daily Times 14 May (e)
C P
Where were you on Saturday?
Sindh police deprived of arsenal on Day 2
KARACHI: Police personnel in Sindh were still weaponless Sunday, one day after Saturday’s bloodbath. The Sindh home department had directed the police departments to take back the weapons of all personnel deployed to control law and order on May 12, sources disclosed to Daily Times. Most of the police were given batons instead. Around 15,000 policemen were deployed to control the situation on Saturday. However, most of the policemen preferred to stay away from the violent areas on May 12 because they had no weapons. This allowed different political parties to take control of different areas. On Sunday, most f the policemen deployed throughout the city were not at their posts either. staff report Daily Times 14 May (f)
PPP wants Musharraf, MQM tried
H
R
LAHORE: The Pakistan People’s Party on Sunday demanded that a case should be registered against President Pervez Musharraf and MQM leadership for inciting violence in Karachi. Addressing a press conference, Punjab PPP leaders Khalid Ahmad Khan, Munir Ahmad Khan and Ghulam Abbas said that assemblies should be dissolved and a caretaker government should be set up to hold general elections. They also feared violence in Punjab because of the MQM activities in this province. They also demanded the acting chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) take suo moto notice of misbehaviour with the CJP at Karachi Airport. They said that it was evident from the statements of the Sindh governor, the chief minister and the MQM leaders that the violence was pre-planned. They also alleged that the government was trying to sabotage federation by creating ethnic conflicts in Sindh. They said that the PML rally in Islamabad was the rally of the government employees. They said that the PPP, after coming to power, would hold Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi accountable for using provincial resources on the meeting. They also condemned the attack on Aaj TV channel. They said that the PPP would also support any protest movement against President Pervez Musharraf. They said that the PPP would hold a protest meeting outside General Post Office on Monday (today) along with other parties. The party held a protest meeting outside Data Darbar on Sunday and offered Ghiabana (in absentia) funeral prayers for those killed in Karachi. staff report ***
Ummat 14 May (a) Asif Saood, Iqbal Awan and Nadim Jabar- ANP member Shoukat told reporters that on 12th May people gathered at Habib Bank Chorangi and then reached Aisha Bhawani High School where they faced tear gas shells and Lathi charge from police. Nevertheless, the ANP rally reached the Baloch Colony Bridge where armed terrorists suddenly opened gunfire on the rally from the top of the bridge. During the firing, many of the participants were injured and Syed Ahmed Shah, member central council of ANP, received six bullets. People moved him towards the hospital but he died enroute. His funeral Namaz was held at Metroville-3 and he buried at Orangi town # 5 graveyard. There was firing from an armed group on top of Baloch colony flyover, and 33 year-old Mehatab Ali, member of Pakhtoonkhwah Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), was killed. He worked in a hosiery factory and was resident of Qaimkhani colony Baldia town-5. Sardar Khan told us that his brother, Mehtab Khan, was a member of the ANP and participted in the rally. The rally reached Baloch Colony Bridge and bullets were showered onto the rally from the top of the bridge. People tried to save themselves from the firing by jumping from buses and some were even hiding inside buses. Mehtab Khan was shot inside the bus and lay there. Then he was brought to the hospital but died. He was a resident of Muzfarabad colony and buried in Baldia town’s Gulshan Gazi graveyard. 18 year old, unmarried, Saif Rehman was resident of old Muzfarabad Colony C-area street No. 14. He was an employee in an export promotion factory. He told his family members that he had to go to factory on
90
Sunday because Monday there was to be an announced strike. On Sunday morning, at 10 am he was injured by a bullet at Hospital Chorangi in Qaidabad area. His family members were informed that he had been injured in firing and was lying on Hospital Chorangi. They then picked him from that area and requested Rangers officers in a mobile parked nearby, to carry him to Social Security hospital. The Rangers refused and told them to “go to Jinnah Hospital”. Injured Saif Rehaman died enroute to hospital. He was buried in Rerhi Goth graveyard. ANP claimed that Saif was their active member. th
Faiz Reheman of 50 years age was working as a driver for Edhi center since 25 August 2006. He had joined Edhi center on the guarantee of a shopkeeper Sher Zaman in Machhar colony. On information regarding riots in Malir Halt, the Edhi foundation sent him in a Suzuki high roof EA-1596. Faiz Rehaman reached there while firing between two armed groups was going on and dead bodies and injured persons were lying on the road. Some injured persons called him for help and he started to move the injured into the ambulance. At that time the area was under control of Muttahida and they stopped the ambulance and started to beat Fiaz Reheman. They then killed Fiaz Reheman and killed other injured persons in the ambulance by showering the ambulance with bullets. The dead body of the Pathan Edhi driver was lying there for one hour.
C P
An injured eyewitness, Umar Zareen, worker of ANP, resident of Muzfarabad colony, told reporters that about 30 injured ANP workers were kept in the Sindh Government Hospital Khokhrapar-2 and during night hours some armed persons tried to kill the injured persons in the hospital by openly shooting. Later, Baloch youngsters of PPP rescued injured persons by using their vehicles. They admitted some people who were severely injured in Qaidabad hospital and others went back to their homes. Vehicle number EA-1801 was stopped in front of high court and was damaged. A young Baloch boy Akhtar Ali son of Ghulam Baloch an active member of ANP received bullet injuries on his legs. Akthar was admitted in Jinnah Hospital. His brother Anwar Baloch told us that his brother was discharged from Jinnah Hospital because they feared that someone from Muttahida would kill him. Then he was admitted in a hospital in Gadap. There were chances that his legs would be amputated. His family members were in a state of panic and left the area of their residence. th
R
On 12 May at Security Printing Press near Malir Halt 3 persons in a white car were targeted. Among the three, Ghulam Hussain was alive while police shifted them towards hospital. Akmal, resident of New Muzfarabad Landhi, told us that deceased Umer Sidiq son of Gohar Khan was employed as driver in Bhitai Hospital. The relatives of killed persons accused Muttahida for killing their relatives.
H
ANP Vice-President Aman Khattak’s injured son Umair Khan told us that he was in the ANP rally on his motorbike. When he reached Malir Kala Board, MQM supporters, hoisting flags and possessing the latest automatic weapons, fired onto the rally from all sides. One bullet missed his head but he fell down and tried to run. The MQM’s person caught him and searched his body. They took 5000 rupees cash, two mobiles, ignited the motorbike and hit his head with gunbutts. They ordered him to recite the Kalama. They took him towards Mumtaz Hospital in Malir and told hospital staff “ he is related with ANP leader, we will take him later”. They threatened Umair Khan “don’t try to run away”. Some of the MQM people were saying to take him out and kill him. One of them said, “let us see if any of our members will be kidnapped then we can do an exchange”.
Umar Gul was resident of Muzfarabad colony and buried in Baldia town’s Gulshan Gazi graveyard. He was migrant from Dir and resident of Muzafarabad colony. He was also member of ANP and participant of rally. He was surrounded by MQM’s armed terrorists at Kala Board Malir and killed by gunshots. Akmal resident of Muzafarabad colony told reporters that MQM supporters were equipped with all types of guns and shelter from law enforcing agencies. He said that they targeted migrants from NWFP and killed them. Akbar Khan migrant from Mardan NWFP brother of deceased Amin Khan son of Munir Khan told us that his brother was a rickshaw driver resident of Zafar town house number L-38 and was participant in the rally arranged by ANP. He told us that his brother informed him with his mobile that MQM’s armed persons started shooting at Malir Kala board and shot him in his leg and hand grenades were thrown on rally participants which caused injuries to his friend Umair Khatak. Later Zamanat Khan, maternal uncle to Amin, called Amin on his mobile. However, an unknown young man picked up the phone and threatened him using abusive Urdu words. He said that Amin Khan had been detained by them and was asked to go at Murtaza Chorangi for his release. They contacted them a second time and were asked to go in Shamsi hospital and then the mobile phone was th disconnected. On 12 May’s evening his dead body was found with 3 bullets to the chest and grenade explosion injuries on his foot. An injured Khalid son of Juman Khan said that he was member of ANP and working on an electronic th shop in Steel town. He went to attend rally of ANP on 12 May. He said that the rallies were started from Qaidabad. The MMA’s rally was in front and PPP’s, PML (N) and ANP were following MMA’s rally. He said that MQM’s armed troops had encircled all rallies dramatically. The rangers were standing there but did nothing. He said that MQM’s persons were using heavy weapons such as LMG, SMG and hand grenades. People said that MQM’s armed persons killed an Edhi Ambulance driver because he was picking ANP injured persons. Saeed Khan Afridi resident of New Muzafarabad colony, he was member of Zakat committee and Umar Khan member of ANP of Landhi sector were also killed and buried in Muzfarabad graveyard. Irshad Khan
91
Malang’s funeral Namaz was held in Future Colony. Eyewitness Rafiq told us that he was with his friend Riaz who was seriously injured. Hyder Khan and other two persons Roa Khan and Wazir Khan were also injured. Another injured Shaiz Khan s/o Fateh Khan was in rally alongwith two other friends. Muttahida’s armed terrorists had thrown a hand grenade on the rally participants in which Shaiz Khan sustained injuries. He fled on his motorbike and reached Murgikhana where armed persons shot him and he fainted. *** Ummat Karachi 14 May (b) th
Staff Reporter: 17 dead bodies were buried including one who was killed on 13 May. 5 bodies were sent to their villages of origin after praying funeral Namaz. Asgar Shah was resident of Model Colony area in Lasi Para Katchi Abadi, he was member of PML (N). His funeral prayer was held in Model Colony Abbassi Market’s ground. His body was sent to his village in Gujrat after prayer.
C P
The funeral prayers for JUI member Ghulam Farid son of Wahid Bakhsh were held at Bhains Colony he was resident of the Labour Colony in the Landhi area. Ghulam Farid was working as a teacher in Madarsa and his body was sent to his village in Multan. th
Parwez Kiani was killed on 12 May at Malir Halt and his funeral prayers were offered in Gulshan-eHadeed. He was working as an assistant manager Administration in Steel Mills and was a participant in the PPP’s rally. His body was sent to Muzaffarabad.
In Saoodabad area, MQM’s member Jahanzeb son of Iftikhar Khan was killed in shooting by unknown armed persons. His funeral prayers were held in Jama mosque. He was a resident of H# D-24/217. MQM leaders Babar Ghauri, Qamar Mansoor, Hameed Muzfar, Town Nazim Ansar Ahmed, Sector Incharge Naeem and others were present at the funeral. Jahanzeb was buried in Saoodabad graveyard. MQM’s worker Babar Changezi’s funeral prayer was offered in Federal B area Block-16. Members of MQM and other locals were at the funeral but MQM’s leaders were not there. th
R
An unknown person killed Razwan Shamim, son of Shamimullah, a MQM member, on 12 May. His funeral Namaz was held in Shah Fiasal colony –1. Umar Khan son of Gul Faraz and Saida Khan son of Qadir Khan were members of Muttahida. Their funeral Namaz was held in New Muzaffarabad Colony. Irshad Khan Malang son of Abdul Malook Khan’s funeral prayer was held in Future Colony. Deceased was a member of MQM and was resident of New Muzfarabad colony. Muttahida’s Nine-Zero office phoned the heirs of deceased Irshad Malang, Umar Rehman and Saeed Khan and told them all three were members of Muttahida and their funeral should be brought to Azizabad, as prayer could be held there. But the heirs of deceased offered funeral prayers in the own areas of their residence. No one from MQM’s leadership was present in the funeral prayers of the three of their claimed members.
H
ANP’s member Muhammad Ishaq Qazi was buried near Buner Colony. ***
Ummat 14 May (c)
Staff Reporter- The body of 35 year old Sarwar s/o Abdul Rahim was found in Ibrahim Hyderi, Ali Brohi Goth near the boundary wall of the Navy compound. He was shot five times in the head and the chest. Ummat was informed by the Ibrahim Hyderi police station that unknown persons killed Sarwar after kidnapping him from Korangi No-6. The police told us that 5 empty bullets, a mobile phone, and 700 rupees were found near the dead body. He had four children and he did embroidery work at Sarhi. Accused persons kidnapped him and then killed him after brutally torturing him. The police said that the deceased was not related to any political party. On other hand, PPP claimed that Sarwar was their member. PPP’s Waqar told Ummat that Sarwar was member of PPP and he was killed after kidnapping. Deceased’s brother Aslam had lodged FIR No87/07. In Qaidabad police station’s jurisdiction in Majeed colony area near Eidgah ground, a dead body of Saif Rehman s/o Ali Rehman was found. The duty officer Khalid at Qaidabad police station told Ummat that the deceased was killed after being kidnapped. The deceased was resident of Majsid area street No-14 and was working in ZM Style Company as machine operator. In Pirabad police station jurisdiction near Islaima Colony, 24 year old Noorani Khan s/o Jumma Khan was shot dead by unknown persons. The duty officer at police station Umar told Ummat that Noorani was killed in an armed clash between two groups. In the same area, another dead body of Muhammad Ali s/o Ali Muhammad was found. He was also killed in firing. He was resident of Manghopir Road New Mianwali Colony street No.12. A 25-yea-old police constable Khuram s/o Abdul Samad was injured by some unknown persons. Zaman Khan s/o Abdul Rehman was injured in Orangi town Manghopir Road at Shahzad Mor. In Manghopir Gazi Goth two dead bodies were found, their hands and feet were tied. Manghopir police station’s incharge inspector Tariq Malik told Ummat that among the deceased persons was 38 year-old and he was wearing a white cotton fabric Shalwar and Kameez and the other deceased was wearing a cream colour Shalwar Kameez. He further told Ummat that their hands and legs were tied and they had been blindfolded.
92
Both men were kidnapped and then killed; they had multiple torture scars on body. Police found 6 empty bullets from a 9-MM pistol. The deceased were later identified as Dilawar s/o Khudai Nazar and Islamdin s/o Abdul Raoof, resident of Qasba colony. In Manghopir area, unknown armed persons killed a police head constable by hitting him with blunt lathis and shooting him. Ummat was told that the deceased was returning home to Qasba colony from his job in IG operation office. He altered his route because of riots in Orangi town and took a detour via Nusrat Bhutto Colony. Some unknown culprits stopped police constable Mansoor Ahmed near Nusrat Bhutto while he was on government-motorbike HM-1745. They showered lathis on him and when he tried to run away he was shot dead and his motorbike was set on fire. Head constable Riaz and brother in law of deceased Mansoor Ahmed told Ummat that Mansoor was father of 4 sons and 2 daughters. They identified him in Edhi’s morgue and his dead body was still lying in morgue because of tense situation in Qasba Colony. In Orangi Town Aligarh Colony, unknown person killed 35 year-old Ashraf.
C P
In Federal B-area Block-16 the funeral procession of deceased Babar Changezi resident of Samoos Plaza and member of MQM was on the way to Yaseenabad and while it reached Water Pump areas some protestors set on fire the shops attached to Darululoom Islamia and Rehmania mosque. That fire burnt down the Siaf hardware store, Nasim hardware store, Hayat hardware store, Haji Paint and hardware store, Quetta Hotel and Fashion Flower shops. 6 vegetable Rerhis were also damaged. Some persons entered the MPA marriage hall and set on fire its furniture etc. Same persons tried to set ablaze and damaged the PSO petrol pump. Ummat was informed that some persons tried to ignite the petrol pump of a JI member but could not succeed because Rangers were there. Amjad Gul student of Darulaloom Arbia told Ummat that some persons of a government’s ally party had damaged and burnt the shops and marriage hall. He further told us that while the funeral procession crossed the Water Pump area the police vehicles of Yousuf Plaza and Gulberg police stations were with the procession, but they vanished after the some people started damaging property.
R
In Samanabad police station’s jurisdiction at Federal B industrial area, a police constable Muhammad Zaman was injured in firing and moved to Abbasi Shaeed Hospital for treatment. Meanwhile some agitators started throwing stones and blocked the road near Suharab Goth at Super Highway. Police station house officer of Federal B industrial area and Gadap town arrived at the scene to control the situation. Ummat was informed that some protestors started throwing stones to damage the properties at Water Pump area at about 4:30 but TPO Gulberg Sarjeel Kol, DSP Rizwan Wasti, Inspector Asad Aleem, SubInspector Rizwan Patel and sub-inspector Niamat reached there and controlled the situation. Ummat observed that 4 fire brigade vehicles were there, fire fighters controlled the fire after 2 hours of continuous struggle.
H
Ummat’s team reached Nazimabad-2 Nadiria Hotel and observed that agitators had opened fire and throwing stones from their areas while police were standing there idle. The stone pelting injured 10 pedestrians. At Abdullah College Nazimabad the road to Benares Chowk was barricaded and there was gun firing. In Pahar Ganj Pirabad in front of Police Station Pirabad, the road was barricaded and police were stopping people from goint towards the Benares Chowk area, many people were waiting in front of the police station to go to their respective homes. Rashid resident of Orangi Town-1 told Ummat that he was waiting outside of police station since 2 pm because in Banaras, Pahar Ganj and Pirabad areas clashes between two groups, firing and stoning were going on. He told us that police were idle, powerless and doing nothing but at 6:00 pm police got a bakhtarband (APC) then they entered the area and arrested 6-7 persons. A policeman told Ummat that roads to Benares Chowk and Aligarh Colony were completely closed because of ongoing clashes and direct firing between Muttahida and ANP members. One policeman told Ummat that TPO, DSP and SHOs’ Pirabad were sitting idle in offices and police stations, and they had given lathis only and that is why he was not able to take action against armed persons. An elderly woman with her small girl of 7 years while hearing the above story said harshly “Our security forces are afraid of terrorist so people have to bear all”. She said that she was waiting in front of police station along with her girl since 12 noon and she had to go Qasba Colony Mor to her house. A police ASI told Ummat that ANP activists were firing from Benares and Pirabad and MQM activists were firing from Aligarh and Qasba Colony. Four passers by had been injured. The injured had to make their own way to Abbassi Shaheed Hospital because ambulances were restricted in those areas. Inside Qasba colony people set on fire 3 motorbikes, 2 shops and firing was taking place. Jameel Khan who was standing on Benares Chok told us that he came out of his house to purchase medicine for his son but within no time severe gun firing started in his area. He could not go back home for 7 hours. On Benares Chok some protestors set on fire to 2 Rehris. In Nusrat Bhutto colony, unknown armed persons started firing after 3 pm and burnt tyres on road. The stone pelting damaged 17 vehicles. The protestors tried to set on fire a vehicle but police deterred them. A resident Ghazanfar told Ummat that gun firing in the area was going on in breaks and police were not taking action. In Patel Para, protestors burnt tyres on roads and shutters were closed and there was stoning of vehicles. After 2 pm firing started in Patel Para. Ummat was informed that the Guru Mandar area was also
93
under clashes. In Patel Para firing by unknown armed terrorists caused injuries to Abdul Rehman, Nadir Khan, Tufial, Syed Akbar Shah, Muhammad Faisal, Rehamat Qayoom, Raof, Goga and others. In Baldia Town-9, protestors raised slogan against the government and the market was closed because of firing, stone throwing, and tyre burning. The markets were closed because of firing into air in Site area and Habib Chorangi. In the Sharae-Fasial area at Pehlwan Goth on Sunday evening, hundreds of ANP supporters came onto the road and raised slogans against MQM and government. Some unknown persons started firing from Rabia City apartments and protestors threw stones on vehicles, which injured Major Shahid of Pakistan Army, his car KU-224 window and side screen were damaged. Police and Rangers reached there to control the situation. In the Landhi area, Qaidabad, Sherpao colony, Muzfarabad colony and other near areas witnessed clashes and riots. In Qaidabad unknown persons set on fire 2 motorbikes.
C P
In Lyari Chakiwara’s Sarbazi Mohalla unknown armed persons damaged and set ablaze an MQM medical store in the old Lyari sector and assualted 3 persons sitting outside the medical store. ***
Jang 14 May (a)
R
Staff reporter and writers – Rangers given shoot-on-sight orders. Seven people died and 16 were injured on Sunday and one Petrol Pump, 17 vehicles (including police mobile) and 12 shops were set alight. Federal Home Secretary Syed Kamal Shah said that Rangers had been given shoot-on-sight orders. Governor Ishratul Ibad said that the Rangers had been given complete charge of law and order in the city, including powers to arrest, and to use firearms. On Sunday police did teargas shelling and firing. On Super Highway a 26-year old died as a result of firing, but could not be identified. The injured were: Rehamia, Fazlur Rehman, Mudassar, Akhtar Hussain, Mirza Wadood Ali, and Salamat. People alleged that the deaths and injuries were caused by police, while police claimed that firing was carried out by unknown persons. ***
Jang 14 May (b)
H
Staff reporter – PPI workers Asghar Ali Shah and Jahanzeb Shah were buried in Azeempura, and Malik Ameer Awan’s body was sent to Khushab. Other PPI workers were buried in Rehri Goth Baldia Town. They were killed by unknown terrorists. ***
Jang 14 May (c)
Staff reporter – PPP workers killed on 12 May Rehmatullah’s body was sent to Moro, Mohd Sarwar’s body was sent to Badin, and PP Ward No 79 City Area PS123 Korangi worker who was kidnapped on Sunday night and murdered was buried on late Sunday night in Mohammadi Jama Masjid Korangi and he was buried in Korangi No 6 Graveyard. Details of other workers who died will be released when their relatives arrive in Karachi. PPP worker Waseem Ahmed s/o Abdul Kareem from Dist Malir, Shahid s/o Mohd Shafee Khaskheli from Malir, Nabi Bux s/o Umeed Ali Khaskheli of District Malir are as yet untraced. *** Jang 14 May (d) Staff reporter – Airport and Alfalah Police registered 5 FIRs for murder and attempted murder. Edhi driver Obaid Rehman registered an FIR No 66/07 in which driver Obaid has said that he was taking JI injured worker Faisal when unknown persons opened fire on him, injuring him and killing Faisal. Police registered FIR against unknown persons. Alfalah Police 3 murder FIRs against unknown persons – one is for the murder of Rehmatullah Abdur Rehman, and one for injuring Zubair. *** Jang 14 May (e) Press release – 9 MQM workers died on Saturday in gun firing: Rizwan Shameem s/o Shameemullah from Shah Faisal Colony, Babar Changezi s/o Jameel Khan of FB Area, Umar Rehman s/o Gul Faraz from Landhi, Irshad Khan Malang s/o Abdul Malook from Landhi, Fida Khan s/o Qadir Khan from Landhi, Jahanzeb s/o Iftikhar Khan from Malir, Shehbaz Khan s/o Ghulam Mustafa from Quaidabad Landhi, Aslam Pervaiz from Lyari, Mohd Sarwar from Badin. Over 50 workers are seriously wounded and 13 are untraced.
94
*** Express 14 May (a) th
Staff Reporter: The armed clashes started on 12 May and became more severe on Sunday. In suburbs of Benares Chowk both sides attacked homes and families were forced to vacate their houses and warned against returning. Benares Chowk, and the Qasba Colony area in Aligarh Colony experienced serious armed clashes between two rival groups that left bullet holes in houses and created panic among the local population. People were stranded in their homes. There were no signs of Rangers and Police in the area.
C P
Near Arif Hospital, armed persons shot dead a 60 year old, Muhammad Ali, son of Wali Muhammad. Some agitated persons set fire to a bamboo shop and a house. During armed clashes 24 year old, Noorani, son of Juma Khan, was killed. Deceased was resident of Qasba Colony area MPR colony, house No. 115 and street No. 12. At Qasba Moar 5 persons Saleem, Moien, Saeed, Waseem and Muhammad Ashraf, MQM workers, were injured in gun firing. They were brought to Abbassi Shaheed Hospital where Muhammad Ashraf could not survive his injuries and died. People of Qasba area said that there were no Rangers and police and people were at the mercy of armed terrorists. On the entrance roads to Qasba Colony, Benares Chowk and Metroville pedestrians were physically assaulted and stripped naked. Because of unrest and violence in Ornagi Town the road towards Board Office Chorangi and Habib Bank chorangi was closed. Road from Manghopir site to Orangi was barricaded by the Rangers. During riots in Orangi town and Aligarh Colony half a dozen vehicles were ignited. Armed clash between two groups in Nazimabad-2 and Orangabad led to the burning of tyres road blocks. In Qaidabad area Muzfarabad colony, people from Hospital Chorangi came out on the roads burning tyres and blocking roads. To disperse the crowd, police released teargas shells, and in return people threw stones. Protestor threw back teargas onto the police. More police was called to disperse protesting persons. During clashes Saif Rehman son of Ali Rehman was killed in shooting. It was also reported that persons wearing jeans were targeted for physical assault.
R
In Ibrahim Hyderi, Brohi Goth near Navy Ki Dewar a dead body of 55 year old Sardar son of Abdul Rahim was found. Sardar was kidnapped and killed by unknown persons. He took five bullets hits on different parts of his body. SHO Ibrahim told reporters that Sardar was resident of Korangi-6 House # B-519. He was kidnapped from outside his house.
H
In the Manghopir area near the Javedan Cement Factory in Gazi Goth two dead bodies were found in a waste dumping spot. The killers had blondfolded the victims and tied their hands and feet before taking their lives. The police kept the dead bodies and after formalities from Abbassi Shaheed Hospital the bodies were sent to Edhi’s morgue.
The fire brigade reached the bamboo shops to control the fire within a short time but people started attacking the fire fighters including Station Officer Tauheed Rehman and Hawaldar Athar. Near the Metroville cinema, there was an armed clash between two groups; a policeman, Khuram, and a pedestrian, Zoman Khan, were injured. In Baldia Town Ittehad Town unknown people entered the office of the union council. They damaged the council office and set a motorbike on fire.
In Lyari at Aath Chowk agitated people threw stones, blocked the roads, and opened fire. People retaliated by setting ablaze 15 bamboo shops and four houses. One mosque was also damaged. Armed persons attacked a filling station and set it on fire. During that tense situation, Rangers’ helicopter was patrolling the air. In Sohrab Goth area clashes between protestors and police took place. The police were doing lathi charge and shelling to disperse protestors. In the Sharae-Faisal area at Pehalwan Goth Gulistan-e-Johar armed person opened fire and tried to set on fire the vehicles but police dispersed them. A Major Shahid was injured. In the Kaemari Town Hussain Market, Jackson UC-1 areas Okhai Colony, Badar Ground, Kumella Chowk in Bhutta village 3 unit offices of MQM were set ablaze. In old Kaemari at Aath chok MQM’s sector in charge Wahab Sarbazi’s medical store was looted and set on fire. In Kemari UC-3 area the house of a member of MQM’s minority wing was targeted and people showered stones on his house. In Ittehad town another MQM minority wing’s member Nazir and Vinod in Ranchore line was beaten and seriously injured. Gulshan Hadeed UC-7 MQM’s unit office was set on fire and unit incharge Mamnoon, Khalid Rind and Yaseen Korai’s homes were attacked and damaged. Armed persons harassed their family members. In Bin Qasim town UC-1 areas Ali Brohi Goth, Ibrahim Hyderi Goth and Lal Abad of UC-3 in Allah Bux Himayati Goth MQM’s 3 offices were set on fire. In a press release, MQM verified that 6 MQM offices were set on fire.
The terrorists fired rockets into residential areas in Orangi town, Gulshan Zia, Bismillah Hotel and Jaggi Hotel. A rocket fell in the house of a Suzuki driver near Jaggi Hotel but did not cause a blast. Terrorists fired more rockets which fell in the Gulshan Zia graveyard. Bazaar police verified the incident and bomb disposal unit collected pieces of the fired rockets.
95
In Jamshed Quarters area Patel Para, a 10 year-old boy, Kamran, son of Salawat, was injured. In Mochko area at Baldia town-6 near Qazi hospital, one person Adil of 22 years injured in cross-firing. In Patel Para and Lasbela Chowk the armed men blocked main roads and roamed openly with weapons. As a result of firing Abdul Rehman, Muhammad Aqil, Saeed Akbar, Muhamad Faisal, Rehamat and Goga were injured. Police did not succeed in removing roadblocks. In Mianwali and Nusrat Bhutto Colony crossfire between two armed groups continued for many hours. In Kharadar, Niyaabad and Khadda Market many dozens armed persons carried out aerial firing to get the markets closed. At the Malir Halt some persons stopped the vehicle of female doctor Nazia Yaqoob who was going to Jinnah Hospital on duty. They caused extensive damage to her vehicle.
C P
Heirs of killed persons could not register FIRs because it was difficult for police of the area to settle the place of incident and jurisdiction of police station. The relatives of victims were facing difficulties in getting death certificates from hospitals. ANP announced names of 13 persons who were killed and 10 others who had disappeared. Provincial secretary of ANP Syed Aqil Shah said that hundreds of ANP workers were injured and killed. Thos who died included the vice-president of ANP Qasim Town, UC-3 Sherpao town’s Javed, Shah Maqsood, and Hyder Khan, UC-1 of Hyder Town’s Buland Iqbal, Iqbal Hussan, and Fazal Rehman, UC-1 Muslimabad Town’s Muntazar Khan, and Umar Sidiq, Metroville’s Syed Ahmed Shah and Ustad Town’s Mehtab Ali, Liaqat and Siaf Rehman. ***
Dawn 15 May (a) Mumtaz slams killings By Our Staff Reporter
R
KARACHI, May 14: Chairman of the Sindh National Front Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto on Monday condemned the May 12 bloodshed in Karachi and held the government and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement responsible for it. Sardar Bhutto visited ANP, Sindh, chief Shahi Syed’s residence to condole with him the killing of several ANP workers, and deplored that terrorists had been given freehand to kill innocent people. He said that the May 12 incidents had badly tarnished the image of Pakistan in the comity of nations.
H
Equally blaming the federal government, he urged the rulers to step down immediately to pave the way for general elections in the country under a caretaker set-up. He slammed the Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim asking why he was untraceable while the terrorists were on a killing spree on the streets of Karachi that day. ***
Dawn 15 May (b)
MQM stand dismissed KARACHI, May 14: Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has dismissed all explanations given by the MQM leadership regarding its role in the May 12 violence in Karachi as ‘unacceptable’. In a statement issued here on Monday, Mr Khuhro maintained that whatever the MQM had done on that day added the darkest chapter in the history of the national politics. He noted that certain portions of Sharea Faisal falling in the route of the chief justice’s caravan had been selected for setting up ‘hideouts’ to carry out terrorist attacks. Mr Khuhro asked the rulers to tell the masses that who was in command of the law-enforcement agencies on May 12 and whether they had been ordered not to take action against the attackers. — Staff Reporter *** Dawn 15 May (c) MQM blamed for violence on May 12 By Our Staff Reporter
96
KARACHI, May 14: Various opposition leaders at a press conference here on Monday said that the peaceful and complete strike observed in the country, including Karachi, showed that masses had rejected the Muttahida Qaumi Movement as they condemned terrorism. Declaring the MQM ‘a terrorist organization’, they resolved to act now for the protection of people and pledged to constitute peace committees to guard neighbourhoods. They called on every citizen to join hands with the opposition in its initiative against terrorism. Those present at the press conference included Syed Munawwar Hassan, Siddiq Rathor, Aslam Ghauri, Amin Khattak, Yusuf Mustikhan, Khan Mohammad Baloch and Rasheed Kashmiri. They said that the May 12 incidents of violence had exposed the MQM’s claim of being a political organisation, and alleged that the MMA’s stance that it was a fascist one stood valid.
C P
They accused the MQM of having created hatred among different ethnic communities, recalling that it had pitted Urdu-speaking people against Sindhis, Punjabis and Pakhtuns in the past, besides continuing to kill Mohajirs. They said that the whole nation and the world had watched the May 12 episode live on the electronic media which showed the MQM role in the bloodshed clearly. “MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar is now tendering apologies but we want the terrorists given exemplary punishment,” they maintained.
Referring to Dr Sattar’s claim that 10 or 11 MQM workers had been killed in the May 12 violence, they said he should tell people that funerals of how many of them he had attended.
R
The opposition leaders said that the government’s offer of providing a helicopter for the chief justice was in fact a conspiracy to eliminate him. They pointed out that the chief justice had first been kept in illegal confinement for five hours by Gen Musharraf a couple of months back and for more than nine hours by the Karachi and Sindh authorities on May 12 at Karachi airport. ***
Dawn 15 May (d)
Death toll climbs as city shut down by strike By Our Staff Reporter
H
KARACHI, May 14: A complete strike was observed on Monday as four more people were killed, taking the death toll of ongoing violence to 46. Two people reportedly belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party were killed in Lyari when a party of Rangers, who have been empowered to shoot on sight anyone involved in riots, opened fire on protesters to disperse them. Shops were closed, public transport remained off the roads and the city wore a deserted look throughout the day. Life crawled back to normal in the evening, though scattered incidents of violent activities were reported in certain violence-prone localities in the downtown and western district. Heavy contingents of Rangers and police were deployed in sensitive areas, and the law-enforcers intensified patrolling city roads and streets. The shutdown was so effective that even the paan-cigarette cabins and small confectionery stalls, a permanent feature of almost every locality, were closed. By and large people chose to remain indoors amid fear and tension. While the public transport was nowhere to be seen, private cars and motorbikes also remained off the streets mainly due to a shortage of fuel. A few petrol pumps and gas stations resumed their business late in the evening, but most of them kept them covered with marquees for the third consecutive day. Life in the provincial capital literally came to a halt as the day was observed by the supporters of both the government and the opposition. The government had announced a public holiday to mourn the deaths of Saturday violence. All commercial centres, shopping malls and wholesale markets remained closed in every part of the city. Restaurants, tea stalls, fruit and vegetables stalls were also closed. There was an acute shortage of milk, vegetables and fruits in the city. Though vegetables and fruits reached the New Sabzi Mandi from the interior of Sindh, they could not be supplied to outlets in the city.
97
The bullet-riddled body of a 32-year-old man was found in a gunny bag in the limits of Bin Qasim police, and a man was shot dead in his house in Peerabad. Awami National Party claimed that one of the victims was its worker. However, police said the deaths were the result of personal enmity. Exchanges of sporadic fire between rival groups was reported from Orangi Town, Qasba Colony, Baldia Town, Sohrab Goth and Lyari. Some miscreants also torched old tyres on the streets. The Rangers said they arrested five trouble makers in separate actions near Sohrab Goth and seized two TT pistols from two of them. *** Dawn 15 May (e) Two shot dead in Lyari
C P
KARACHI: A young man and a 10-year-old boy were shot dead in Lyari on Monday. Residents of Baghdadi in Lyari accused the Rangers of shooting at and killing the two persons on the spot. However, police denied the residents’ claim saying that the deaths were the result of a gang war. According to area people, gunshots had been heard since morning as the entire area wore a deserted look in response to the strike call given by the ARD. Police allegedly forced people to open their shops which provoked the area people and they staged a protest demonstration against the police and raised slogans against the government and law-enforcement agencies. Police reinforcement and Rangers arrived at the spot. They used teargas shelling and batons to disperse the protesters.
R
The residents claimed that the Rangers opened fire on the protesting people near Mama Hotel, killing two of them. The dead were identified as Faizan, 10, and Sunny, in his early twenties. — Staff Reporter ***
Dawn 15 May (f)
35 violence victims still in hospitals By Mukhtar Alam
H
KARACHI, May 14: Thirty-five victims of the violence that erupted on May 12 are still admitted at three major government hospitals in the city, said senior doctors on Monday. As a result of the violence about 113 injured men were rushed to three hospitals — the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Civil Hospital Karachi and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital — the same day. All the admitted persons, including four those who underwent major surgery, are said to be out of danger recovering from bullet injuries, according to the doctors. Thirty bodies and scores of wounded people were brought to these hospitals after the violence. Most of the injured persons were discharged by May 13, it was further learnt. The deputy director and in-charge of the emergency and accidents department at JPMC, Dr Seemi Jamali, told Dawn on Monday that in all 70 people sustaining bullet wounds were brought to the hospital on May 12. Of them, she said, 17 were still admitted in different wards, including surgical, orthopaedic, and neurosurgery wards. A few of the admitted persons would have to undergo surgeries as well, she added, saying that one of the injured persons died during treatment at the hospital. Majority of these patients, coming from Shah Faisal, Malir, Natha Khan bridge areas, were discharged on Sunday morning after being provided with medical treatment. She said two bodies and one person with bullet wound were brought to the JPMC on May 13. CHK Medical Superintendent Dr Kaleem Butt said 11 out of 27 injured persons brought to the hospital on May 12 were still admitted for treatment. The hospital received two bodies on May 12 while the condition of all injured brought to the hospital was stable, he added. He said two patients had to undergo surgery in the abdomen for critical injuries while a young man who got bullet pierced in his throat was also under examination for a surgery. The patients of age ranging from 16 to 47, mostly with bullet injuries, had been admitted in the surgical, orthopaedic and neurology wards, he added.
98
The admitted persons were residents of Geedar Colony, Orangi Town, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Landhi, Baldia, Patel Para, Lasbella and Shahnawaz Bhutto Colony, it was learnt. Dr Mirza Mohammad Ali, RMO (General) of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, told Dawn that they received about 21 wounded patients on May 12, out of which seven were still admitted in different wards for treatment. Four of the patients underwent face and abdomen surgeries as well, he said adding that the patients were recovering fast. He said the hospital received seven bodies as a result of May 12 firing incidents in the city. Three patients were still in the Intensive Care Unit for their recovery after surgical operation, he added. *** Dawn 15 May (g) ARD: Call for 3-day mourning
C P
Terming the Saturday bloodshed ‘a carnage’, Mr Shah announced a three-day mourning starting Tuesday for the victims. He said lawyers were being consulted about lodging of FIRs of the attacks. Regarding delegation of powers to the Rangers to shoot at sight, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who is also Sindh chief of the PPP, said that the governor did not have the constitutional authority to delegate such powers to Rangers. He maintained that it was the chief minister who possessed the authority. “But the chief minister of Sindh has been rendered powerless and is in hiding nowadays,” he remarked. He also vehemently condemned the attempts being made to give the unrest in Karachi an ethnic colour. “Karachi is part of Sindh and nobody can snatch away Sindh from Sindhis,” he said, castigating those who were trying to divide the people of Sindh on ethnic grounds. He resolved to foil such elements’ nefarious designs.
R
He reiterated the ARD’s support to the lawyers’ ongoing struggle for the supremacy of judiciary, maintaining that without recognising the supremacy of law and attaining the independence of judiciary, people’s right could not be protected. “The lawyers’ struggle cannot be separated from the struggle for the democracy,” he declared. The ARD leader also deplored the killing of additional registrar of the Supreme Court on Monday, and termed it ‘a target killing’. He held the government responsible for his murder.
H
***
Dawn 15 May (h)
Hamad Raza laid to rest in Lahore LAHORE, May 14: SC additional registrar Syed Hamad Raza, who was killed by unidentified people at his Islamabad residence on Monday, was laid to rest at Karim Block graveyard, Allama Iqbal Town, on Monday evening. Earlier, his funeral prayers were held at Sikandar Block, Iqbal Town, which were attended by officials from the Supreme Court Registry in Lahore, office-bearers of bar associations, lawyers and a large number of people from different walks of life.—APP
Dawn 15 May (i) Three held for blocking G.T. Road GUJAR KHAN, May 14: Three persons including two women were arrested and later released for blocking the GT Road along with other family members here on Monday. According to the police, four women including minor children came to the SDPO office to lodge a complaint against the Jatli police for registration of a case against one of their relatives. DSP Raja Taifur Akhtar after listening to their complaint forwarded their application to the SHO Jatli police to produce the file of the case. However, after leaving the office these ladies accompanied by a man of their village came to the GT Road and stood in the way of the vehicular traffic carrying the minor kids. They started chanting slogans against the SHO Jatli. They alleged that the Jatli police had implicated their family member, Noman Salim, in a false case of firing on the pressure of an influential person. After seeing the women on the road, the DSP along with some policemen rushed to the scene and brought them back to his office. The DSP told them that he had directed the SHO concerned to look into the matter and there was no justification for the women to try to block the road.
99
The DSP directed SHO Gujar Khan Syed Ghulam Abbas Shah to register a case against the protesters including Liaquat Hussain, Ms Fazal Jan and Ms Mahmood Akhtar, residents of Ishaal Sharif, Jatli. However, the women with minor kids were not included in the FIR, the DSP office sources said. These persons were booked under section 341/54 PPC and later they were granted bail by a civil court. Sources confirmed that Noman Salim was the only breadwinner of his family consisting of about 20 members including his minor children, two younger brothers and an old mother. The sources said Noman’s opponents had trespassed into his house and attacked his family members in his absence. However, the police have failed to arrest the attackers despite registration of a case by the poor family with the Jatli police. *** Dawn 15 May (j)
By Mohammad Asghar
C P
Supreme Court officer murdered ISLAMABAD, May 14: Supreme Court’s additional registrar Syed Hammad Amjad Raza was shot dead by four men who broke into his house before dawn on Monday. Talking to Dawn a police officer claimed that the murder had been committed by robbers, but Mr Amjad Raza’s widow Shabana, a witness to the killing, said it was a target killing. She alleged that the government and agencies were involved in the murder. She said that she saw several policemen lurking around in the lawn of her house when she ran out crying for help, but they did nothing to catch the culprits. She vowed to do everything possible to bring those responsible to justice. Her brother, Abid Hussain Shah, also insisted that it was not a case of robbery, because nothing had been found missing from the house, except two cellphones. “It’s a target killing and a message to judges,” he said.
R
Soon after the murder, judges of the Supreme Court, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, visited Mr Raza’s house and, taking suo motu action, ordered the Inspector General of Police and the Senior Superintendent of Police of Islamabad to appear before the court on Tuesday. “We will supervise the police investigation and will take care of the family,” Justice Javed Iqbal told reporters.
H
“Law and order is deteriorating in the country and it is a moment to think for everybody,” he said. IGP Iftikhar Ahmad told Dawn that a seven-member police team had been constituted to investigate the murder “on different lines”.
Two officers of the British High Commission, Consular Albert David and Helen Rawlins, also visited Mr Raza’s house and talked to the widow who is a British national.
When asked about their meeting with Ms Shabana, the diplomats said that being a British national “she had requested us to provide her security” but gave no details.
According to the family, four people broke into Mr Raza’s official residence through the kitchen window at around 4.15am. They overpowered his parents who lived on the ground floor, tied them up and asked them about Mr Raza. Syed Amjad Ali Mashedi Rizvi, father of Mr Raza, said the intruders held the teenage housemaid Ashee at gunpoint and forced her to take them upstairs to Mr Raza’s bedroom.
“As my husband responded to the knocks and opened the door, we saw four clean-shaven men in trousers and shalwar kameez. They were aged between 28 and 35. One of them was holding a pistol and another carried a knife. On seeing Hammad, the gunman shot him in the head and fled,” Ms Shabana said.
She said she ran downstairs crying for help and was surprised to see some policemen in the lawn. They did not do anything. However, police officer Shaukat Pervaiz, a neighbour, responded to her screams. SP Pervaiz, who is detailed with the prime minister’s security squad, shouted at a police patrol, standing about 100 feet away from his house, to catch the culprits but by the time the patrol moved the attackers had disappeared. Security agencies had questioned Mr Raza for four days after the removal of Chief Justice Iftikhar. Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas visited the residence of Mr Raza, who served as a DMG officer in Balochistan before being brought to the Supreme Court by Justice Iftikhar. The acting chief justice directed the registrar of the Supreme Court to make arrangements with regard to burial and other matters and prepare a compensation package for the widow and children of the deceased.
100
Asif Shahzad adds from Lahore: Mr Raza was buried in Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Town.
Talking to Dawn Intizar Mehdi, a cousin of the deceased, alleged that it was a target killing. “The moment Hammad opened the door, the intruders shot him in the head without having any argument,” he said, adding that the robbers would not act the way the killers had. There was a lot of jewellery and cash in the house but the gunmen had not touched anything, he said. The deceased is survived by the wife and three children. *** Dawn 15 May (k) Ibad, Asfandyar seek to end ethnic strife By Our Staff Reporter
C P
KARACHI, May 14: The Sindh government on Monday moved to avert what is being widely expected to be an imminent outbreak of ethnic rights in the city by establishing contact with the top leader of the Awami National Party and asking him for a political solution to the deepening crisis. The provincial authorities banned demonstrations in Karachi and declared a public holiday across Sindh after the weekend violence in the city, which began when the chief justice flew in to address a lawyers’ convention at the High Court on Saturday. The ensuing riots left over 40 people killed and about 150 wounded in the country’s worst political street violence in two decades. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad phoned ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan on Monday and told him in a 15-minute conversation that the provincial government would not allow ethnic strife to mar the city’s peace, according to a press statement released by the Governor House. The Pakhtun Action Committee gave the Sindh government a 72-hour ultimatum on Sunday when seven people were killed, raising the spectre of bloody ethnic feuding that plagued the city in the 1980s and 1990s.
R
Mr Khan told Dawn from Islamabad that it was wrong to describe Saturday’s violence and Sunday’s backlash as ethnic riots. “I insist that it is a political issue and it can be resolved politically by getting all stakeholders to the negotiating table,” he asserted.
H
He said he told the governor that it was not a conflict between the ANP and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. He conceded that he and the governor failed to find a concrete solution to the ongoing crisis over the telephonic conversation. According to the Governor House press statement, Dr Ibad also contacted various Pakhtun leaders and notables in Karachi and asked for their cooperation. ***
Dawn 15 May (l) Countrywide shutdown: •Outrage over Karachi killings •Enthusiastic response to opposition’s strike call Dawn Report ISLAMABAD, May 14: A sense of anger and grief was more than evident on the streets across the country on Monday, as most businesses and shops from Khyber to Karachi remained closed. In many cities and towns, public transport remained off the road, bringing normal life to a halt on what was supposed to be the first working day of the week. The strike was observed on a call given by the combined opposition in protest against mayhem in Karachi on Saturday when hundreds of armed men took control of the streets and Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry and his lawyers were prevented from leaving the airport to attend a bar association function in downtown Karachi.
101
The nationwide shutdown was on a scale not seen for many years. So widespread and effective was the response to the opposition’s call that even traders in Islamabad, who ignored such pleas in the past, kept their businesses shut throughout the day. The shutdown in adjoining Rawalpindi was more comprehensive, with even smaller bazaars remaining closed. Reeling under the after-effects of Saturday’s bloodbath, Karachi also observed a complete strike and witnessed more bloodshed when another four people were killed, taking the death toll in the ongoing violence to 46. Two of those killed, reportedly belonging to Pakistan People’s Party, were gunned down when a contingent of Rangers, who have been empowered to shoot on sight anyone involved in rioting, opened fire to disperse protesters in the Lyari area. Residents said a large number of people had taken to the street in protest when a police contingent forced shopkeepers to pull up their shutters. They said a Rangers’ party reached the area and opened fire on the protesters.
C P
However, a Rangers spokesman categorically denied involvement of their personnel and attributed the killings to the Lyari gang war. All commercial and shopping centres, markets, showrooms and shops were closed and public transport remained off the roads. The entire city wore a deserted look throughout the day. Life crawled back to normalcy in the evening, though scattered incidents of violence were reported from certain violence-prone localities in the downtown and western district. A few petrol pumps and gas stations resumed their business late in the evening, but most of them preferred to keep them covered with marquees for the third consecutive day. Hyderabad and most other cities and towns in the interior of Sindh also remained completely shut. Tharparkar, the hometown of Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, and a couple of other places ignored the strike call.
R
The offices of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in several towns faced protesters’ ire and were ransacked.
H
There was almost a complete business shutdown in Lahore and also in most other cities and towns of Punjab. Lawyers boycotted court proceedings and took out processions. They were supported by political parties, NGOs and the public.In Lahore, the wholesale markets wore a deserted look and traffic was thin. A large number of lawyers, political and human rights activists rallied on The Mall in sweltering heat to protest against Karachi killings. They demanded registration of murder cases against President Gen Pervez Musharraf and MQM chief Altaf Hussain. The public also joined the rally. “I am here to mourn the deaths,” said Nisar Sheikh. “It has happened to the people in Karachi (today), it can happen to us tomorrow. Everybody knows who is behind the killings, and everybody knows nothing would be done to take the culprits to task.”
The strike call received a positive response also in the NWFP and Balochistan. In Peshawar and Quetta, protest rallies were taken out. Even the small town of Chaman, situated along the Pakistan-Afghan border, saw a shutdown. Another feature of Monday’s strike was that it was largely peaceful, with Karachi and a couple of other places being the exceptions. *** Dawn 15 May (m) City govt will continue to serve people: nazim By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 14: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has vowed to continue what he called ‘the journey of progress’ and maintained that no incident of violence can undermine the resolve of his government to serve the people of the metropolis without any discrimination. Speaking at a press conference here at his office, the nazim made a passionate appeal to people of the metropolis and all stakeholders, including political parties, to play their role in restoring peace and order not only for the development of Karachi but for the whole of Pakistan. Mr Kamal was on way to New York to attend the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit being held in New York by the Clinton Foundation, but returned to the metropolis on Monday cancelling his visit in view of the deteriorating law and order situation.
102
“As a representative of Karachi, I appeal to all stakeholders to free this city of negative politics. People from every city and town of Pakistan come here to earn their livelihood, so, please allow us to carry on with development.” He said the city government was serving people of the metropolis without any discrimination but the enemies of Karachi and Pakistan did not like it and they hatched a conspiracy to stop the process of development. “The incidents that occurred on May 12 and afterwards were a part of this conspiracy and the city, its people and the government were the ultimate sufferer. But I am confident that with the support of people of this city I will foil all conspiracies and the process of development will resume tomorrow,” he added. Mr Kamal said he hoped that incidents of violence could not stop foreigners and locals from investing here and that all foreign investors had complete faith in the city government.
C P
He expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives of innocent people during the May 12 and later incidents and expressed condolence with the bereaved families. He said the city government would help all the victims of the May 12 and subsequent incidents and for this purpose it was collecting all required information. He demanded that the authorities concerned to unmask the conspirators behind the May 12 incidents. The nazim avoided questions relating to the visit of Chief Justice of Pakistan, rallies of opposition parties and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and said that he did not want to enter into a political debate. ***
Dawn 15 May (n)
Over 60 people seek refuge in MQM camps By Our Staff Reporter
R
KARACHI, May 14: One family and 60 workers and supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement are living in two camps established by the party near its headquarters, Nine Zero, in Azizabad. “One family from Lyari and 60 Punjabi and Pakhtun workers are living in the two camps after they and their houses came under attack by opposition activists in different city areas,” head of the Media Committee Saif Abbas told Dawn on Monday.
H
Dr Farooq Sattar had told a press conference that the MQM had set up two camps for the workers and supporters of the party who were forced to leave their homes in the suburbs of the city following armed attacks on them and their properties. Mr Abbbas said that a number of party workers and supporters, particularly belonging to the Punjabi and Pakhtun communities, were displaced and a majority of them took refuge in their relatives’ houses in relatively peaceful localities. According to him, the displaced people did not want to talk to the media as they were in a state of shock due to what they faced from their own community members. The displaced people were living in Sherpao Colony, Muzaffarabad Colony, Qasba Colony, Aligarh Colony, Landhi, Super Highway, Sohrab Goth and other suburbs of the metropolis. MQM sources, however, maintained that the situation would improve in a day or two and all the displaced persons would go back home. ***
Daily Times May 15: (a) They shot us one by one...’ By Munawar Pirzada KARACHI: One shot. That’s all that it takes to end years of friendship and love. Three over-lock machine operators are now feeling the effects of such one shot, which pierced through the heart of one of their friends. Sakhi Rehman, Sikandar, Rahmat Shah and Nawaz had all been friends for over eight years. Last Saturday, they had been coming home from work when the violence broke out in Karachi. “When we reached Chandi Chock Nala, 26 armed men surrounded us and asked us to present our identity cards,” recounted Sikandar, who is a resident of North Nazimabad. “After making us wait for about 15 minutes, they forced us into a narrow lane nearby where they had already placed two other abductees.” The mob then asked the hostages
103
to recite the kalma. “I was so scared that I ran for my life. They tried to shoot me but missed. However, another part of their gang intercepted me in the next lane and brought me back to the gathering,” said Sikandar. When Sikandar returned to the scene, he noticed that the one of the two unknown hostages had been killed, while his friends and the other hostage were missing. Then the mob hammered Sikandar with their pistol butts, following which he lost consciousness. He was then shot and left to bleed. While all this was going on, one of Sikandar’s friends, Rahmat Shah, managed to escape. He went and took shelter with a couple of laborers. Meanwhile, Nawaz, Sakhi Rehman and an unknown hostage were held in a house down the road. “They shot us one by one at point blank range. I looked into the eyes of my friend, Sakhi Rehman, as he was shot in the chest. I heard his anguish, I saw his pain. I pray to God to not let anyone see what I’ve seen,” said a tearful Nawaz.
C P
When Nawaz saw his friend die, he knew that he had no other option but to make a run for his life. He got up and fled as bullets whizzed past his year. Fortunately he managed to escape unhurt. “Area residents saw all that was happening but didn’t do anything. Even the police, who were about 500 yards away, acted like spectators,” said Nawaz. The deceased, Sakhi Rehman, had been a resident of North Nazimabad. He had tied the knot only two years ago and was the father of a one-year-old. According to local residents, Rehman had never been involved with any political parties. Rehman’s father, Darbesh, is very old and unable to work. This leaves Rehman’s three unmarried sisters in a hopeless condition as Rehman was the only breadwinner. But that didn’t worry Darbesh, all he said was, “Where’s my son? I want my son.” ***
Daily Times 15 May (b)
SC addl registrar target-killed
R
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Four men sneaked into the house of Supreme Court (SC) Additional Registrar Hammad Raza in Sector G-10/2 early on Monday morning and gunned him down, apparently in a target killing.
H
Raza’s widow Shabana claimed that her husband had been target-killed because the intruders had not touched anything in the house. “They just came and shot him. He opened the door and they shot him and ran away,” she told Reuters. She said that the killers were able to escape even though a police vehicle was patrolling their neighbourhood at the time of the incident. Shabana said that Raza did not have enmity with any person and had not received threats from any person. Raza was stationed in Balochistan before being reassigned to the SC by CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry. “You called him to Islamabad. You should have protected him, and now my children need protection as well,” Shabana told Chaudhry when he visited Raza’s house to offer his condolence.
British High Commission officials also visited Raza’s family at the behest of his widow, who says she holds British citizenship. Shalimar police said four ‘robbers’ entered Raza’s house and killed him when he resisted. However, doctors at PIMS said Raza’s body did not have any scar or wound, challenging the police’s claim that Raza had resisted. Islamabad IG Iftikhar Chaudhry said it was too early to say if the incident was a target killing. Chaudhry said a police team led by DIG Shahid Baloch had been formed to investigate Raza’s murder. Meanwhile, an investigating officer confided to Daily Times that they had not found any sign of resistance by Raza. Acting CJ Rana Bhagwandas, Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Faqeer Muhammad Khokhar and other judges also visited Raza’s house and condoled with his family. Daily Times learnt that Raza was a prime defence witness in the presidential reference against the CJP. Munir A Malik, a lawyer on the CJP’s defence team, said the CJP had confirmed that Raza could appear in court as a witness to defend him and his murder at this time was suspicious. Meanwhile, Raza was buried at the Shahenshah graveyard in Karim Block, Allama Iqbal Town, Lahore. *** Daily Times 15 May (c) CJP lawyers, Asma among 24 banned in Sindh
104
KARACHI: Sindh Home Advisor Waseem Akhtar said on Monday that the Sindh government has banned the entry of 24 persons, including Aitzaz Ahsan, into Sindh for 30 days. Talking to the media at his office, he gave a list of only 14 persons whose entry into Sindh has been banned. They include Shaikh Mohammed Yakub, Iqbal Ahmed Khan, Taufiq Asif, Afzal Janjua, Sadaqat Ali Khan, Azmat Ali Bukhari, Shaikh Ahsanuddin, Raja Shafqat, Zamrud Khan, Abdul Qudus, Hamid Khan, Mohammed Akram Choudhry, Ali Ahmed and Asma Jehangir. The order banning the entry of Asif Bashir was, however, withdrawn on May 13. app *** Daily Times 15 May (d) Asma bursts into tears
C P
LAHORE: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairperson Advocate Asma Jahangir wept during her address to the lawyers on Monday at the LHCBA. During her speech when she recalled the Karachi incident, which she herself witnessed on April 12 she burst into tears. She could hardly deliver her speech. She said she had seen brutal incidents committed by the MQM “hooligans” on behest of the government. She said the government had tried to victimise Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and his lawyers. staff report ***
The News 15 May (a)
Countrywise strike against Karachi killings By our correspondents
R
KARACHI: A complete wheel-jam strike was observed in the metropolis on Monday on a call of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), which was backed by the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and other opposition political parties in protest against the bloodbath in Karachi on May 12. The Sindh governor had declared a day of mourning for Monday, besides declaring the day a public holiday in the province. After two days of violence, the provincial metropolis experienced a day of relative peace. However, tension prevailed in several sensitive localities of the city. Heavy deployment of police and rangers was observed on important thoroughfares and other parts of the metropolis, which experienced scenes of rioting and violence on Saturday and Sunday.
H
However, certain areas of Karachi including Sohrab Goth and Lyari witnessed torching of tyres by protesters and isolated incidents of firing. The law-enforcement agencies, especially the Rangers, had been given extraordinary powers to restore law and order in Karachi. Public transport did not ply on the roads for yet another day and commuters were left with no other option but to avail the services of rickshaws and taxis at exorbitant rates which were also fewer. Taxi and rickshaw drivers either blatantly refused to carry passengers or demanded very high fare. Petrol pumps in various parts of the city, which had largely closed their operation since Friday night out of fear of violence, could not resume their function till Monday. A few petrol pumps in relatively safe and privileged localities of the city however partially resumed their filling services. Owners of private vehicles faced serious difficulties in getting supply of petrol, diesel, and CNG. All markets, shopping, and commercial centres remained closed in major residential areas of Karachi. Major commercial, corporate and trading establishments in the city could not resume their functions on Monday as attendance of employees remained thin. According to the directives of the State Bank of Pakistan major branches of public and private-sector banks remained open on Monday but they could not provide their routine banking services to the customers due to the absence of accounting and other essential staff. Educational institutions including public and private-sector schools, colleges, and universities remained closed. Meanwhile, President of MMA Sindh Maulana Asadullah Bhutto and head of Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Dr Mirajul Huda Siddiqui thanked the masses for observing a peaceful strike. Leaders of the All Pakistan Organisation of Small Traders and Cottage Industries also greeted the people, transporters, traders, and businessmen of Karachi for observing a peaceful strike. According to reports from our interior Sindh correspondents, a complete but peaceful strike was observed in interior Sindh. All the business activities came to a halt and markets presented a deserted look. Government offices too remained shut. Though the call was given for a shutter-down, transport also remained thin on the roads as transporters kept their vehicles off the roads. A large number of vehicles were seen parked on bus stops, and petrol pumps also remained closed. Heavy contingents of police and rangers were deployed to avoid any unwanted situation and no
105
incident of forcible closure of shops was reported. Rallies were brought out and demonstrations were held in different cities and towns of Sindh, where lawyers also boycotting court proceedings. Muhammad Ejaz Khan adds from Quetta: A complete shutter down strike was observed in the provincial capital and other parts of Balochistan. The routine life came to a grinding halt in Quetta where no business activity took place as all shopping malls and shops remained shuttered. The provincial government had deployed additional law-enforcers at different localities of the city. However, no untoward incident took place. Meanwhile, the lawyers rallied in the provincial capital and boycotted court proceedings against Saturday’s bloodshed in Karachi. Our Lahore correspondent adds: Lawyers community throughout the province boycotted courts and staged rallies Monday against the Saturday killings in Karachi and forcing the Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to return from Karachi to Islamabad without addressing the Sindh Bar Association.
C P
The courts in all the cities gave a deserted look and the clients faced difficulties. In Lahore, thousands of charged lawyers, workers of the opposition parties and surprisingly common people marched on The Mall against the MQM, Gen Pervez Musharraf and Altaf Hussain. A total shutdown in almost all the major markets were observed in Lahore as the administration knowing the public mood against Karachi killings did nothing to stop the strike announced by traders. The MMA took out a rally in Rawalpindi as part of the strike. Activists of the religious alliance and other opposition parties burnt tyres at different places in the city to vent their anger against the rulers and shouted anti-government slogans. Agencies add: The trader community observed complete shutter down in Peshawar to condemn the Saturday’s carnage in Karachi. All important business centres including those situated in cantonment areas and Peshawar city presented a deserted look as majority of the shopkeepers kept their shutters down.
R
Early in the morning majority of shops remained opened and traders continued their business activities but later with the persuasion of the traders’ association and political leaders, they closed their shops to join the protest.
H
The political activists carrying placards inscribed with the slogans in favour of the struggle for independence of judiciary and flags of their respective parties marched through major roads of the city and later held a public meeting in front of Peshawar High Court. ***
The News 15 May (b)
Karachi massacre: opposition boycotts Senate proceedings By Mumtaz Alvi
ISLAMABAD: The combined opposition on Monday boycotted the Senate proceedings in protest against the Karachi carnage and violence against mediapersons, and blamed the Centre and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for the May 12 gory events. After staging walkout from the Senate, lawmakers of the PPPP, the PML-N, the MMA, the ANP and the PKMAP addressed a joint news conference. They called for resignation of the government and installation of a consensus government to conduct free and fair elections. Wearing black armbands the opposition senators, including Mian Raza Rabbani, Maulana Gulnaseeb, M Ishaq Dar, Asfandyar Wali, Prof Muhammad Ibrahim and Raza M Raza, thanked the nation, particularly the people of the Punjab, for making Monday’s strike a huge success. They made it clear that the ongoing movement would continue till the ouster of the Musharraf-led government. The opposition would raise the issue again on Tuesday (today) in the Senate, they added.
Rabbani lashed out at President Musharraf’s rally in Islamabad where the participants danced to the drum beating despite knowing about the massacre in Karachi. “What happened in Islamabad was reflective of their cannibalistic approach,” he said. “You have gone back to the days of cannibals. The rulers’ hands are blood-stained and this all was done on the directives of Musharraf.” Rabbani condemned the government and its allies and said that not only peaceful political workers but mediapersons were also subjected to the worst kind of state terrorism. “What the nation witnessed in Karachi was carried out under a well planned conspiracy, as the opposition had demonstrated peacefully during the chief justice’s visit to Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Lahore and elsewhere,” he said. He noted that the chain of events proved that the Karachi slaughter was preplanned: from Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s hint at the imposition of emergency to PML chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s
106
statement that the assemblies’ tenure could be extended by a year, and then before the May 12, a tense environment was created in Karachi. “Who armed certain people with the latest weapons and facilitated them to occupy the city’s flyovers to target unarmed political workers,” he questioned.
ANP’s Senator Asfandyar Wali billed the MQM as a mercenary force, a replica of Adolf Hitler’s Gestapo. He alleged that the MQM, a fascist outfit, gave a clear message to all the opposition forces that Karachi belonged only to them. “It is time to concede that they have taken all decisions and now it’s our turn to chalk out our strategy on how to cope with the entirely different Fascism-based situation,” the charged nationalist leader said. MMA’s Maulana Gulnaseeb said the ruling clique, led by General Musharraf, had miserably failed to deliver and therefore it must quit and pave way for the general elections. He said the entire nation had given its verdict against the rulers, as they stood with the lawyers and the opposition and wanted to see the back of the rulers.
C P
PML’s Senator Ishaq Dar said the opposition had been given a message not to turn to Karachi. A corps commander has declined to appear before the Sindh High Court chief justice. “To which direction, they are pushing this country!” he wondered. “The nation can no longer sustain all this.” Prof Ibrahim contended that the MQM had proved that it was not a political party but a fascist group. He called upon all the political forces to expose its (MQM’s) real face. ***
The News 15 May (c) Eight more die in Karachi
By M Zeeshan Azmat & M Azeem Samar
R
KARACHI: Eight people, including a 10-year-old boy, were killed in different areas of Karachi, apparently in continuation of the May 12 carnage, taking the death toll in three days of violence to 48. The dead included Muhammad Ashraf, who was killed on Sunday, but it was not acknowledged by the local police, and most of the deceased people belong to some political party whereas some innocent and nonpolitical people also lost their lives during heavy gunfire.
H
Three people, including a minor, fell victim apparently to the ‘shoot-to-kill’ powers of the Rangers in the Lyari locality on Monday night. However, the area police claimed that killing of only two young persons had occurred in the jurisdiction of Baghdadi police in Lyari and that too owing to an armed clash between gangs of Arshad Pappu and Rahman Dakait. Residents and political quarters concerned said police and rangers had opened fire on the people who had been protesting on late Monday evening against the violent incidents of May 12. The incidents occurred near Maqbool Masjid, Baghdadi and Slaughter House Road, in Shah Baig Lane area. According to a Lyari police official, two young men Sunny, son of Gulzar, (17), and Sohail son of Saleh Mohammad, (27), were killed, while Amjad, (25), and Sajjad Sharif, (17), were injured due to exchange of fire between rival gangs of criminals. According to the official, the Rangers and police were not involved in the incident. He said the injured, whose condition was not serious, were shifted to Civil Hospital. According to the locals, another minor Faizan, (10), son of Abdul Karim also fell victim to the firing by the law-enforcement agencies. They said the police and the Rangers had resorted to firing as they faced opposition, protest, and stone pelting in the area. Meanwhile, according to a spokesman for the Pakistan People’s Party, “state-sponsored terrorism” had been perpetrated against the politically motivated protesting quarters in Shah Baig Lane area of Lyari and it proved the “ill and criminal” intentions of senior government authorities for giving “shoot-to-kill” orders to the Rangers. He said the provincial governor had given such orders to the rangers without due authorisation. Meanwhile, according to unconfirmed reports two people were shot dead near Pehlwan Goth near Gulistan-e-Jauhar area on late on Monday. However, both the Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Sharea Faisal police stations have denied such reports. However, a spokesman for the PPP acknowledged the killing of only two in Lyari who were Sohail Ahmed and Sunny, belonging to a minority community. A body in a gunny bag was recovered from the Bin Qasim police station’s limits on Monday. The area police, quoting the relatives of the deceased, stated that the murder was a result of personal enmity. The area police further claimed that Yaseen, son of Ghulam Akbar, was killed somewhere in the night of Monday and then his body was put in a gunny bag. The deceased, in his 30s, was said to be a native of the Rahim Yar Khan district and he was teaching at a local Madrassa in Lassi Goth locality of Bin Qasim Town.
107
The police have lodged an FIR number 49/2007 against unknown people. However, a spokesperson for the Awami National Party (ANP) claimed that the deceased was their worker. The spokesperson further claimed that another deceased of Monday’s incident within the Peerabad police’s jurisdiction was also associated with them. Abrar Hussain, 32, was murdered in his house when three masked persons forced their entry into his house and fired at him, police claimed. The deceased was a resident of Islamia Colony No 2. The local police have lodged an FIR number 149/2007 against unidentified people and quoting the relatives of the deceased police claimed that the murder was the result of personal enmity.
C P
Disputing the police claim, the ANP spokesperson said both the deaths were related to violence. An unidentified middle-aged man fell victim to a firing incident near Kashmir Hotel in the jurisdiction of Al-Falah Police. The incident occurred after midnight and the unidentified armed men after opening fire on the victim fled the spot. The body was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for identification and further medical examination. An official of the Al-Falah Police informed The News that the firing incident might be related to the recent wave of violence in the city. Many incidents of protest were reported from different areas. The residents of Lyari, several localities of Orangi Town, Malir, and Quaidabad witnessed another tense day. They observed firing, pelting of stones at vehicles and passers-by and torching of tyres. Stick-wielding people created tension at Hasht Chowk, during midday on Monday and five people, including a Sepoy, were injured after receiving bullet shots. Some protesters attempted to block the road at New Sabzi Mandi but the Rangers removed all obstacles from the road. Meanwhile, one personnel of Rangers was reported wounded by a stone thrown in the area by protesters. The Rangers arrested four protesters on the spot. In another incident in Qasba Colony a mob set a hotel on fire. Reports of pelting police and Rangers with stones were reported from different localities of Baldia Town. Two people were reported injured as a result of aerial firing at Banaras Chowk and Kalakot.
R
According to some reports, the road which links Water Pump and Gulburg remained closed for every kind of traffic due to tense situation, which occurred on Sunday. Some areas like Patel Para, Jamshed Road, Nadra Hotel in Nazimabad witnessed burning of tyres and some incidents of pelting vehicular traffic with stones were also reported. Areas like Old Sabzi Mandi, Banaras Chowk, Orangi Town, Surjani Town, Quaidabad, Landhi, Malir and National and Super highways witnessed hide and seek between law enforcement agencies and protesters.
H
According to some reports, the Rangers and area police continuously patrolled the sensitive areas on Monday to keep the situation under control, but some people complained to mediapersons that they were left alone in their respective areas as personnel of law-enforcement agencies did not patrol the streets of these sensitive localities like Qasba Colony, Banaras, Aligarh Colony, Landhi. Meanwhile, Karachiites remained uncertain as to when the normalcy of law of order would be restored to the city. Since Friday evening the security situation has seriously degenerated with the mysterious withdrawal of police and rangers personnel from the security hotspots of the city. The citizens are unsure whether the peace and law and order situation would be revived for full restoration of public life, business, commercial, and trading activities on Tuesday (today) in the city after a gap of three days. Students, especially the school-going ones, also do not have authentic information as to when their academic activities would resume, especially their annual examinations. The claimed heavy deployment of rangers and police personnel in various sensitive areas of the city has not been much helpful and supportive to the citizens’ life. ***
Jang 15 May (a) Staff Reporter- Chief Minister Sindh Arbab Ghulam Rahim said that the government offered helicopter to CJ but he followed suggestion of Chaudhri Aitzaz Ahasan and refused. ***
Jang 15 May (b) Press Release from London- The leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Mr Altaf Hussain lauded the nation, especially Karachi and the Sindh province. He urged activists to act with tolerance and patience and to preserve peace instead of attacking terrorists. He also praised the Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Sindh Dr. Arbab Rahim, advisor home Mr Wasim Akhtar, Government of Sindh, Rangers, Police and
108
officers of law enforcing agencies for their patience and unity. Because of this they were able to curb the violence and plans of terrorists to destroy the development works as well as the peaceful situation of Karachi. *** Jang 15 May (c) APP Islamabad- The parliamentary leader of MQM in the national assembly said that riots in Karachi were done under a planned conspiracy against MQM. *** Jang 15 May (d) Staff Reporter- Near to the Jamia Malir, 30 year old, Muhammad Aslam was killed in firing. He was resident of Hansaabad Malir.
Jang 15 May (e)
C P
***
Staff Reporter- On Monday evening 18 year Samee, 22 year Suhail, 10 year Faizan were killed and 25 year Amjad son of Lal Bux, 17 year Sajad Ali were injured at Lyari Shah Beg Line. After confirmation of death by hospital’s administration people got back the dead bodies of Samee and Suhail without postmortem process. PPP’s Syed Qiam Ali Shah president of Sindh Province, Rashid Hussain Rabani member National Assembly, Nabeel Gabol, Dr.Saleem Hingoro, Nasreen Chandio, Provincial secretary information Waqar Mahedi and Rafiq Engineer strongly condemned the Rangers for the killings and the injuries. They said that the Rangers’ men involved should be arrested. The representative of Rangers, Caption Fazal said that Rangers had no connections with the firing incident. According to the TPO Lyari Pir Fareed Jan Sarhandi said that Mulla Nawaz and other 6 person related with Lyari gang on motorbikes had opened firing which caused death of 2 and injured persons.
R
Jang 15 May (f)
APP Islamabad- The parliamentary leader of MQM in the national assembly said that riots in Karachi were done under a conspiracy against MQM. Amir Liqat, Hyder Abbass Rizvi and Farooq Sattar unconditionally apologized for misconduct with journalists and AAJ TV on the behalf of the government, and said that if any worker of MQM found involved in misconduct then action will be taken against him. ***
H
Jang 15 May (g)
Spokesman of provincial information department in a press release refuted the allegation that any type of misconduct done with Media. AAJ TV incident was propaganda, neither was the building was not damaged nor was any person injured. ***
Jang 15 May (h)
Staff Reporter: Unknown person opened fire on Edhi Ambulance in Baldia Town. The Ambulance was damaged and driver managed to get away. *** Jang 15 May (i) Staff Reporter- The Rangers did flag marches in Karachi city with 21 mobile and 2-dozen motorbikes on Sharae-Faisal, Tariq Road, MA Jinnah Road and other areas of city. *** Express 15 May (a) Staff Reporter- The police have detained more than 200 persons from Sharae-Faisal, Alfalah, Airport, Model colony, Saoodabad, North Nazimabad, Ferozabad, Baloch colony, Orangi town, Mominabad, Pirabad, Manghopir, Surab and Sachal goth allegedly involved in killings, attempt to murder, riots and damaging government property. The cases could not be registered because of Police Station’s jurisdiction disputes. *** Express 15 May (b) Express Reporter - MQM blamed intelligence agencies and Government of Sindh for violence, contempt of Chief Justice and attacks on print and electronic media. MQM’s deputy parliamentary leader Farooq Sattar, Aamir Liaqat and Hyder Abbas Rizivi proclaimed that MQM had opposed the act of summoning
109
the Chief Justice to the Army House. The roads to airport and high court were barricaded by intelligence agencies. *** Express 15 May (c) Staff Reporter- Firing continued in Alaflah Malir leading to one death and one person being injured. At the Malir Alfalah in the street of Kashmir Hotel Muhammad Aslam son of Allah Wasaya was killed. In Sachal area, Tariq Maseeh was injured in firing. *** Express 15 May (d)
C P
Staff Reporter- Aziz Hassan Khan brother of deceased, Altaf, identified his brother’s body among 4 unknown bodies. Muttahida claimed that Altaf was sympathetic to the MQM, and he was killed by unknown terrorists at Paposh Nagar area at Chandni Chowk, while he was returning from MQM’s rally. Altaf was a resident of Azad Kashmir Muzaffarabad. ***
Express 15 May (e)
Staff Reporter - 50 year old Mehtab Hussain son of Mirza Hussain was injured crossfire between rival groups in the Mianwali Colony Qasba Mor area. ***
Express 15 May (f)
R
Staff Reporter- Ambulance of Edhi Centre was send to Gulshan Maymar but because of firing it was forced to return. ***
Express Karachi 15 May (g)
H
Staff Reporter-- Mehtab Hussain 50 years-old, son of Mirza Hussain, was injured in an armed clash between two groups in Pirabad area near Bilal Masjid area of Mianwali Colony Qasba Mor. At the Benares Chowk in a clash between two groups, 26 year old, Muhammad Fazal son of Nazir Muhammad was injured. At the Kalakot area near Chapal Chowk, a 35 year-old Police constable Gul Anwar son of Ali Akbar was injured in firing. In Gulstan-e-Johar at Chaman Iqbal Colony in a clash between two armed groups, Tariq was injured.
Firing continued in Alflah Malir, which caused the death of a person and injured one. Muhammad Aslam, son of Allah Wasaya, was killed at the Malir Alfalah on the Kashmir Hotel street. In Sachal area, Tariq Maseeh was injured in firing. ***
Express 15 May (h) Staff Reporter: In Pirabad area near Bilal Masjid some unknown accused entered the home of 35-yearold Abrar Khan son of Altaf Gul and killed him. The accused ordered him to stand against a wall and then opened fire on him. SHO Parvez Akhtar Bangash said that there were 3 alleged perpetrators, and they resorted to heavy firing in order to make good their escape. *** Express 15 May (i) Staff Reporter- In Lyari unknown person’s firing injured 1 policeman and one pedestrian. A dead body found in a sack on Port Qasim Road. The dead body was later identified as of Pesh Imam Muahmmad Yasin resident of Dhabechi. A parchi (short written message) was there with a message that “Mukahbri Ka Anjam”. *** Ummat 15 May (a) News Islamabad: Asma Jehangir leader of HRCP said in her statement that President Perziaz Musharaff and MQM were responsible for 12th May incident. *** Ummat 15 May (b)
110
Special reporter- Farooq Sattar said that actually Sharae-Faisal was not the route for MQM’s rally. *** Ummat 15 May (c) Special Reporter- Farooq Sattar’s press conference the journalists protested that “this is not Karachi but this is Islamabad”. In Karachi MQM was pressurizing journalists through security agencies. The journalists in Islamabad press conference demanded an unconditional apology. *** Ummat 15 May (d) Anonymous reporter- Sakhi Rehman, son of Darvesh Khan, resident of Umar Farooq Colony, Pahar Ganj in North Nazimabad was killed. He worked in a hosiery factory in Metroville. The story was narrated by his friend Sikandar. th
C P
On 12 May at 8.00 am Sakhi Rehman, Sikandar, Nawaz and Rehmat Shah went for work in the factory. The hosiery factory was in the Metroville area. At about 3 pm they came to know that situation of city was getting bad. They left their work, came out of the factory, and saw that there was no transport on the roads. They chose to walk through the side streets to take a shortcut to reach their respective homes. They reached Asia Textile Mills, and while they started to go up on Chandni Chowk Bridge about 20-25 boys were standing on bridge. When Sikandar and others reached near them, they saw that all boys were armed with TT pistols and Kalashnikovs. The group of armed boys encircled them and ordered them to stand in a row. They started to interrogate them asking where they were from, where they were coming from and where they intended to go. Sakhi and his friends told them that they were coming back from work in Metroville and were residents of Pahar Ganj. The boys demanded to see their Identity Cards but none except Rehmat Shah had an ID card. The group of armed boys returned the card and ordered them to go ahead.
R
At a very short distance another group of 8-10 armed boys interrogated them again and handed them over to two armed boys and instructed them to be taken below the bridge near the tree. Those two armed boys led the four of them near the tree and asked them to sit there. During that time, they also brought two other persons but it was difficult to recognize them because all 4 hostages were ordered to bow their heads down. Sikandar said that during that time, the boys received instructions on their mobile phones. Some boys came from bridge areas and asked, “what do we do with them?” to a boy who was getting instructions. That armed boy said to take them towards the Women’s Park.
H
Four to five of the armed boys followed the orders and led them towards the grassless park. “Sit in a row and bow down your heads, your time is over, if some one wants to recite Kalima he can”. Simultaneously they heard chamber-loading sounds of automatic weapons. Sikandar and others started to run. Sikandar could not know whether his other friends escaped but he heard a voice call out “no one should be let off”, as the armed boys started firing. Sikandar was lucky not to get struck. He ran for his life towards Paposh Nagar. He had tried to enter any door open on the street to save his life. When he reached a street in Paposh Nagar he saw two armed persons. They tried to hold him but he managed to get away from them. Again, he started to run and at very end of the street four other armed boys stopped him. Now he had no way to run. Those four boys did not ask any question but kicked him and beat him with their fists and the butts of their weapons. He felt faint but then he saw a boy came on a motorbike and recognized him as one of the 20 boys he had encountered earlier on the bridge, and thought that his end was near. That boy picked him up by his hair and said “You know how to run but how will you get away from us?” He ordered two armed boys to put Sikandar on his motorbike and to follow him. They brought Sikandar back to the Women’s Park. Sikandar could not see Sakhi his cousin, or his friends Rahamat and Nawaz there. He saw only one dead body out of two others who had also brought under the bridge near to the tree. After 10 minutes, the boys put him near the tree and asked to bow down his head. While he sat down a boy fired two bullets straight at him. Sikandar instinctively put his arm on his face and felt that a hot iron rod entered his arm and shoulder. He became like an unconscious body and blood was oozing form his bullet wounds. But Sikandar was still conscious and he heard “should we leave this body here or should we throw it elsewhere”. Sikandar posed like a dead body and his assailants also thought that he was dead because they felt no movement in his body. One of them held Sikandar’s legs while the other one grabbed his arm and they dragged him to a open drain and threw him. He was there for 1½ hour without any voice and movement, beeling from the wounds on his arm, shoulder and head. Then he heard voices of people and asked for water. Someone from the Tableeghi Jamaat took him in a vehicleand left him at a hospital. ***
111
Dawn 16 May (a) SHCBA to sue top officials By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 15: The Sindh High Court Bar Association resolved on Tuesday to initiate contempt proceedings against the home secretary and the inspector-general of police for their failure to provide ‘foolproof’ security to Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on May 12 to enable him to travel from the Karachi airport to the SHC on a route of his choice as ordered by a division bench on May 11.
C P
Addressing a general body meeting of the association, SHCBA President Abrar Hasan said he had informed the administration of the lawyers’ plan to proceed to the airport to receive Justice Iftikhar but all roads around the court premises were blocked at midnight on May 11. Even some of the judges were compelled to alight from their cars at some distance, walk their way and scale the boundary wall to reach the court premises. He contacted the police authorities on Saturday morning but to no avail. The government functionaries instead asked him to advise the CJ to cancel his visit in view of the tense situation in the city but he refused to oblige as the bar could not turn away its honourable guest. The meeting was also addressed by Pakistan Bar Council member Yasin Khan Azad, Sindh Bar Council members Saathi M. Ishaq and Salahuddin Gandapur and Sindh Unity Party leader Syed Ghulam Shah Bukhari. They squarely blamed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the provincial and federal governments, the provincial governor and the president for the violence and killings in the city. The speakers particularly condemned excesses against lawyers at the City Courts.
R
The lawyers, meanwhile, observed a complete strike on Tuesday. No cause list could be published or distributed on Saturday and Monday. There would be no protest on Wednesday but Thursday would be marked by day-long boycott of court proceedings in pursuance of a decision taken by the Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association. SHCBA members offered Fateha for those killed on Saturday in the SHC compound after the general body meeting. ***
Dawn 16 May (b)
Govt shies away from parliamentary debate on Karachi killings
H
By Raja Asghar
ISLAMABAD, May 15: The government on Tuesday chose an easy way out of parliamentary protests against the weekend killings in Karachi by proroguing the National Assembly and having the Senate put off until Thursday amid uproars, provoking opposition charges it had lost the nerve to face criticism and the right to rule. Opposition slogan-chanting, mainly directed at President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Sindh-based government ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), had brought both the houses to a standstill before the ruling coalition moves. The National Assembly sitting in the morning lasted only 15 minutes of angry exchanges and opposition cries of “murderers”, before a presidential order prorogued the 23-day session without a scheduled debate on the Karachi happenings of Saturday linked to an aborted visit there by suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to address a lawyers’ convention. The Senate, which began its present session on May 9, met for just 10 minutes in the evening, marked by a hard-hitting speech by opposition leader Raza Rabbani mainly blaming President Musharraf and his policies and slogan-chanting he led before Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro adjourned the house until 5pm on Thursday. Mr Rabbani described shoot-on-sight orders given to Rangers in Karachi as unjustified and contrary to law and said even Tuesday’s deadly bomb blast in Peshawar city was a consequence of the government’s “wrong policies” as were the violence in Balochistan and tribal areas. Both the prorogation of the National Assembly and the adjournment of the Senate meant some respite for the government from some of the severest criticism it has to face over Karachi’s massacre, particularly when a three-day Islamic conference of foreign ministers began in Islamabad.All opposition members stood up from their seats to shout slogans at the start of the proceedings while Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Khan repeated his assurance of Monday to encourage a frank debate to pinpoint the guilty and so that safeguards for the future could be taken. The slogan-chanting stopped briefly to allow a speech by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) deputy parliamentary leader Liaquat Baluch, who said President Musharraf, the MQM and London-based MQM leader
112
Altaf Hussain were responsible to “bathe Karachi in blood” under a planned move and called for MQM’s removal from the government. Some MQM members present in the house also stood up to challenge opposition slogans but found themselves drowned out, with no verbal support from other ruling coalition members. However, an apparently exasperated Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had a word of encouragement for the MQM when he intervened in the opposition slogan-chanting to say that those with a guilty conscience would call others guilty and advised the chair to better prorogue the house if the opposition continued its stance. PML member Zaheer Abbas Khokhar, who was chairing the sitting in the absence of Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain, immediately read out the prorogation order that he already had with him. Two PPP women members --- Naheed Khan and Fauzia Wahab ---- rushed to the treasury benches shouting anti-MQM slogans before they were moved away by their party colleagues.
C P
Opposition leader in the National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman told reporters later that the government had no courage to face opposition criticism and betrayed defeatism. “It has lost the ability to govern,” he said while objecting to the prorogation of the lower house and added: “The rulers are incapable to run the government.” Other spokespersons of opposition parties said their parliamentary groups were consulting among themselves to requisition a fresh session of the National Assembly to discuss the Karachi killings, which they blamed on the MQM and what they called the backing from President Musharraf and the federal government. They said the opposition parties had planned to speak in the debate after some slogan-chanting but the government had planned to ignore the opposition adjournment motions. PPP information secretary and MNA Sherry Rehman accused the MQM and the federal government of Karachi “barbarism” for which she demanded a high-level judicial probe.
R
Another PPP member, Nabeel Gabol from Karachi, accused the paramilitary Rangers for shooting dead three innocent people in his constituency and said a civil war had begun in the city “leaving no way for us but to defend ourselves”. PML-N member Saad Rafiq said the Karachi massacre would prove to be “Gen Musharraf’s last conspiracy” while his party colleague Khwaja Mohammad Asif said he thought the opposition should resign from the assemblies where “people with blood on their hands” were also sitting.
H
DEFECTION: At the start of the Senate sitting, Balochistan National Party (Awami) Senator Israrullah Zheri announced his dissociation from the ruling coalition and asked the chairman to allot him a seat on independent benches. ***
Dawn 16 May (c)
Slow return to normality By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 15: Frustrated by a bloody spell of violence that left over 40 dead in three days, citizens on Tuesday hoped for a return to normality as the city remained largely peaceful. However, ethnic strife caused two rival groups to trade gunfire in violence-hit areas of Lyari and Orangi Towns. Residents of Banaras, Aligarh Colony, Mujahid Colony, MPR Colony and Islamia Colony said they spent a sleepless night as they heard the sound of gunshots out in the street. The provincial police chief, Niaz Siddiqui, told Dawn that patrols by security forces had been increased. “We have put the police on alert to maintain law and order in the province in view of the Peshawar blast.” A bomb killed 25 people in Peshawar on Tuesday. No one claimed responsibility for the suspected suicide blast in the lobby of a hotel popular with Afghans in the capital of the NWFP, where militants opposed to government support for the United States have launched attacks. Strife-torn areas like Nusrat Bhutto Colony, dominated by Pushto-speaking people, saw an outbreak of violence when a young man was shot dead on Tuesday.
113
The slain man’s family claimed that the victim, identified as 25-year-old Shahjahan, was gunned down as soon as he opened his shop. Police insisted it was a suicide case, however. Shops, markets, educational institutions, industrial units and other business and commercial activities resumed on Tuesday. Motorists made a dash for petrol stations, which remained closed since May 12. *** Dawn 16 May (d) CJ’s counsel, lawyers begin hunger strike By Our Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, May 15: The lawyers and counsel of the Chief Justice of Pakistan observed a one-hour token hunger strike in front of the Pakistan Supreme Court, here on Tuesday, protesting against the presidential reference.
C P
The participants of the hunger strike included advocates Tariq Mehmood, Shafqat Abbasi, Taufeeq Asif and Mehreen Anwar Raja, who sat on the pavement under the sizzling heat from 12:30pm to 1:30pm to observe the strike. The protesters said that the one-hour token hunger strike would continue till the judicial crisis came to an end, the presidential reference was withdrawn and the independence of the judiciary and supremacy of the Constitution was restored. Later, the strike was joined by PPP MNAs, Naheed Khan, Fouzia Habib, Rabina Sadiq Khyamkhani, Khwaja Asif of PML-Nawaz, Fareed Paracha of MMA, Senator Safdar Abbasi of PPP and Maj-Gen (retired) Hamid Gul, former chief of ISI.
R
The protesting lawyers vowed to continue holding the strike on a daily basis, during the hearing of the presidential reference against the CJ, until it was withdrawn. ***
Dawn 16 May (e)
Lawyers protest against Karachi killings By Our Correspondent
H
NAWABSHAH, May 15: Members of District Bar Association (DBA) held a demonstration after boycotting court proceedings on Tuesday in protest against the government’s mishandling of chief justice’s visit to Karachi. They also offered prayers for the innocent people killed in the city on May 12. Lawyers including DBA Secretary Ziaul Hassan Lanjar and former presidents Rahim Bux Jamali and Qazi Mohammad Saleh held the demonstration inside the court premises. They charged that the chief justice was held hostage for nine hours at the airport and was later forced to leave and demanded arrest of the culprits involved in the carnage. Our Naushahro Feroze correspondent adds: Lawyers in Naushahro Feroze, Kandiaro and Bhirya Road town boycotted court proceedings and staged rallies. In Naushahro Feroze, lawyers led by DBA Vice-President Abdul Salam Luhrani brought out a rally which started from the building of district court and ended at the press club. They condemned what they called the target-killing of Supreme Court's additional registrar and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Our Khairpur correspondent adds: Lawyers boycotted court proceedings and observed a token hunger strike outside the sessions court building for about two hours in protest against Saturday’s killings in Karachi. They condemned manhandling of lawyers and armed attack on the offices of Aaj TV channel and vowed to continue their protest till the withdrawal of presidential reference against the CJP *** Dawn 16 May (f) PPP activists hold hunger strike THATTA, May 15: Activists of People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP), office-bearers and a number of former legislators observed a token hunger strike outside the press club on Tuesday in protest against loss of innocent lives in Karachi and probable division of Thatta district.
114
Members of District Bar Association and a large number of activists of Awami Tehrik, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz also joined the hunger strikers’ camp and offered Ghaibana Nimaz-i-Janaza of all the people who lost their lives in Karachi. The leaders said that the rulers had exposed their real face by using MQM to sabotage scheduled visit of chief justice, but their days were numbered and MQM would soon be made accountable for its crimes against humanity. They claimed that homework for the creation of a new district "Bhambhore" had been completed secretly by revenue experts under a pre-planned conspiracy to provide maximum opportunities to MQM to widen its political and financial influence in rural Sindh. The government was now cunningly examining the public pulse to go-ahead with the plan, they said. They said that landlords had grown more influential in the new districts. The party would launch a province-wide campaign if the rulers went ahead with their plan, they warned.—Correspondent
Dawn 16 May (g)
C P
***
Musharraf shrugs off criticism over Karachi killings By Ahmed Hassan & Iftikhar A. Khan
ISLAMABAD, May 15: President Gen Pervez Musharraf at a meeting with parliamentarians of the ruling PML and its coalition partners on Tuesday showed defiance in the face of criticism over the ongoing judicial crisis and shrugged off the criticism over Saturday’s killings and violence in Karachi. Inside sources told Dawn after the meeting that the president was poised and composed during deliberations on the political turmoil, acts of terrorism in Karachi and elsewhere and gave guidelines to coalition partners for working cohesively as a well-knit unit.
R
He said there was no threat to the ‘democratic system’ and accused the opposition of politicising a judicial matter and creating chaos in the country. About 150 lawmakers of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan People’s Party (Sherpao) and the PML-F attended the meeting. The president said the government would deal with an iron hand with those creating unrest and involved in arson and laying sieges.
H
He again ruled out the possibility of a deal with the exiled leadership, saying “we have contacts with all political forces but he will not ditch the PML by striking a deal with any party”. President Musharraf, after analysing the Karachi violence, judicial issue, political situation and government’s actions, asked participants to give their input.
He said he would seek re-election before next general elections and the present coalition partners would remain his team in the next government.
“I’m used to challenges and we’ll take on this challenge as well,” he said. An insider said: “The president’s tone and tenor gave a clear message to the participants that they cannot go beyond the agenda which he had explained.” Then took place a tense open house in which the participants expressed their views and gave suggestions, some of which were either ignored or rejected. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also came under criticism on the question of what was termed ill-advised and ill-timed presidential reference against the CJP. A member suggested action against those who had advised the president to file the reference in the Supreme Judicial Council against the chief justice, which had caused embarrassment to the government. The president, however, brushed aside the demand. One lawmaker said: “Mr President, this reference is a conspiracy against you as you yourself have admitted in one of your speeches.” And the prime minister in his brief remarks said: “Mr President, we are your team and we are determined to stand by your side.” Representatives of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement refuted allegations of involvement in the planned terrorism in Karachi and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incidents to fix responsibility on those involved in the tragedy. Some lawmakers, insiders said, tried to expose the MQM’s act but they were not encouraged.
115
The president said in unequivocal terms that he had decided to take on the current challenges and to go ahead with his plan of re-election in September-October and removing the bottlenecks in this way before that. He also asked the coalition parliamentarians that they should prepare for the next general election without taking any strain of the current situation. Some members, according to the sources, wanted to talk against the MQM’s role in the Karachi violence but they were silenced politely. Some tried to provoke the president against the ones who had advised him on filing the reference against the CJP but they were snubbed too. The president asked them: “That is over now, see ahead.” There was an overwhelming feeling in the meeting that before the Karachi incidents and in their followup, there was a lack of coordination between the Sindh chief minister and the interior ministry. The meeting took serious notice that the Karachi incidents were over-sensitised by the media. Some members even proposed to put certain curbs on the media to stop it from causing undue sensitivities to events which could disrupt peace and tranquillity in the society.
C P
A source said Pemra, which is working under the cabinet division, might be transferred to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. A way out must be found out to restrain media from unnecessarily politicising and sensitising things, some members said. ***
Dawn 16 May (h)
Many drivers missing since May 12, say transporters
KARACHI, May 15: Transporters on Tuesday expressed anger over torching of and damage to their vehicles on May 12 in Karachi. They described the day as ‘Black Saturday’.
R
Karachi Transport Ittehad President Syed Irshad Bukhari, Karachi Goods Carrier’s Association President Muhammad Khalid Khan, and representatives of Transport Carrier Association Union Karachi Port Trust, and Karachi Trucks, Trailers, Brokers Association said that hundreds of their vehicles were torched and damaged while many of drivers were still missing. Mr Bukhari said many drivers and owners of public transport were missing, after they went to police stations in connection with their burnt vehicles. He said their vehicles hired for ‘government duty’ to block streets were torched. He charged that the government first took out vehicles forcibly, which were, later, set ablaze on May 12, 2007.
H
Expressing grief over loss of innocent lives, Mr Bukhari said that the transporters would hold a meeting soon to devise a strategy for claiming damages. He said he could not give an exact figure of the burnt or damaged vehicles because majority of them were taken away from streets at gunpoint and not hired on a proper basis. Karachi Goods Carrier's Association President Khalid Khan said condolence messages of rulers were not enough to compensate human and financial losses of the ‘black Saturday’ in Karachi. “We do not know how to console the affected transporters, who had lost their livelihood. They had obtained their vehicles after hard work of decades, many others had bought vehicles on borrowed money on interest basis,” said General Secretary KGCA Ashiq Hussain Khan Niazi.
He said it was the first time that heavy transport was taken in the city at gunpoint by armed persons in the presence of police and rangers. He said that the worst affected were owners of trucks and trailers whose vehicles were lifted from local streets at gunpoint. “They started lifting our vehicles at gunpoint from different areas of the city from Friday afternoon till Saturday early morning. They parked them to block roads and streets and deflated their tyres,” General Secretary Transport Carrier Association Union KPT Maddad Khan said. He said the drivers were deprived of cash and other valuables and manhandled in Landhi, Malir, Ghani Chowrangi, Ranchore Line, Baloch Colony, Port Qasim and other areas and their vehicles were snatched at gunpoint. Amir Kalam of the Karachi Trucks, Trailers and Brokers Association claimed that when their organization contacted the Inspector General Sindh Police, he showed his helplessness. Sharing his personal experience, another member of the association, Aslam Niazi, said: “They snatched two of my trailer-trucks, which were on their way to the Keamari port from Port Qasim, parked them on Sharea Faisal and burst their tyres.” He said he had to spend Rs150,000 just to buy new tyres. The transporters wondered why the police and law enforcement agencies abandoned the city on the black Saturday and why transporters were not given security.
116
They expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and appealed to President General Pervez Musharaf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Governor Sindh and all other higher authorities to compensate the affected people and transporters.—PPI *** Jang 16 May (a) Nadia Rehan Yousafzai’s Article- Sakhi Rehaman was returning from his job in a factory. He was not a political activist or participant in any rally. Sakhi and his friend Sikandar appealed to the killers that they were not part any political party or rally but no one listened them, and opened fire on them. Sikandar friend of Sakhi was injured and is now under treatment and Sakhi was killed. He was only bread earner for his wife, one son of one and half year, seven sisters and two minor brothers. *** Jang 16 May (b)
C P
Press Release issued on behalf of Mr Altaf Hussain and Rabita Committee to condole the death of 48 year old, Mansoor Ahmed. The martyr was resident of Qasba Aligarh Colony and was an employee in the police department and elder brother of martyr Imran Ahmed who was a member of MQM Aligarh sector. Armed terrorists stopped him and killed him at Kunwari Colony Manghopir while he was returning from his duty; his motorbike was also set on fire. He had four sons and two daughters. In a press release, it was stated that 14 members of MQM were killed and more than 50 were injured. ***
Jang 16 May (c)
H
R
Staff Reporter- Karachi Bar Association in a urgent general body session announced to file cases against violent atrocities committed by Mr Altaf Hussain’s relevant sector incharges, and the government of Sindh. They also announced a social boycott of MQM related advocates in the Karachi Bar. KBA’s president Iftikhar Javed Qazi disclosed that during his meeting with IG Sindh it was promised that if KBA will keep opposition political parties at a distance then road-blocks and barricades would be removed. The advocates offered to change the date of the CJ’s address if the IG could assure them that the MQM would not announce a rally on the alternate date. IG Sindh said that he could give such an assurance. The advocates said that Chief Justice Sindh High Court Mr. Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed called IG Sindh for the removal of barricades from around the High Court but the IG said that he was powerless. CJ High Court also summoned the Corps Commander but he failed to turn up. ***
Jang 16 May (d)
Special Reporter: MQM’s parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar responded to criticism of his party on the part of unhappy members of the ruling party and allies in a session chaired by General Pervez Musharraf. Mr Riaz Fatiana suggested that if MQM would not have arranged a rally on 12th May then the rally of PML (Q) in Islamabad would have had a positive impact. On that statement, Babar Ghauri and Farooq Sattar said that they were not alone in making the decision to hold a rally and that the rally was organized after consultations with PML (Q). MQM leaders said that whatever happened in Karachi they had to face the consequences in Punjab and NWFP. They also complained that PML (Q) had not defended them while opposition parties agitated against them in the Senate and Assembly. ***
Jang 16 May (e) Syed Ghulam Shah and Mustafa Lakhani said that Sindh High Court Karachi, Malir Bar were blockaded by government’s ally party on 12th May. *** Ummat 16 May (a) Saljooq Ali Aizma in his report cited a Gulf newspaper Peninsula Qatar that HRCP had demanded from the government that it should disarm its ally party the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. HRCP alleged the federal government and its ally party were responsible for 12th May incident. Seattle Times cited an Associated Press reporter who witnessed MQM activists freely roaming on roads with weapons. They were calling for more ammunition and had taken positions on buildings in order to ambush rallies of opposition parties. British newspaper Telegraph reported that injured 23-year old Adil Bashir lay on the road all day and was brought to Jinnah Hospital only in the evening. Adil Bashir had three bullets in his body. He told reporters that he was not part of any rally but MQM’s minor age boys with other armed persons stopped him and alleged that he was
117
going to participate in welcome rally for CJ. Adil Bashir insisted that he was not going to participate in any rally despite that he was ordered to stand in a row with other persons who were all shot. *** Ummat 16 May (b)
C P
Anonymous reporter- Eyewitness Advocate Adil Khan, member of the managing committee KBA. Adil Khan left his home on 12th May and was on his way to the City Courts when armed person who tried to force him to go back home stopped him at various places. Nevertheless he overcame all hindrances and reached the City Court premises but armed terrorists had completely cordoned the City Courts and were assaulting lawyers. Adil Khan said that the advocates present in premises of City Courts decided to march to High Court to welcome CJ at the Airport. When the procession of advocates reached the Lighthouse, some persons were tried to block their path. All the advocates resisted and succeeded to go ahead when suddenly armed terrorists opened fire on the procession. Dozen of advocates rushed into the Lawyers’ Chamber to save their lives. The armed persons locked the doors of that building and besieged the advocates. The armed persons targeted female advocates for physical assault. Shazia Mugul got injuries on her hand and Noor Naz Aga was also injured. They also attacked Women Advocates Bar Room in city court and set it on fire. Advocate Aftab Ahmed tried to resist them but they beat him brutally. ***
Ummat 16 May (c)
R
Reporter - Eyewitness Advocate Ghulam Mujtaba who was injured in firing at Qaidabad told us that on 12th May terrorists were openly playing the game of death in Qaidabad, Malir, and Kala Board. They were killing/hunting openly innocent unarmed participants of rallies. He said that police and Rangers were not there. Ghulam Mujtaba was under treatment in Civil Hospital Hyderabad in surgical ward # 3 bed No. 20. Reporter gave details as informed by an eyewitness Advocate Zahoor-ul-Hussan Mahar president Malir Bar Association. Zahoor said that on 12th he left his home in Qaidabad for Malir court. The terrorists at Qaidabad Chorangi assaulted him and his car was also damaged. Flags and banners kept in car were also thrown down. Then other advocates of Malir court brought him to Malir court and they prepared to proceed in a rally to welcome CJ. Soon as the rally crossed Malir Halt firing was started on the rally from both sides of the road. The advocates in the rally rushed into an under-construction house to save their lives but again they were chased and faced firing by terrorists. Later they fled to a nearby village to save themselves. During that assault and firing Zia Rehman, Amanullah, Zafar Nadeem, Gul Muhammad Farooq, Asadullah Memon and others were injured. ***
H
Ummat 16 May (d)
Reporter - Informant Advocate Ghulam Mujtaba, junior to Muhammad Akram Siddiq, and resident of Gulshan-e-Hadeed. Mujtaba and his brother were on motorbike and reached Malir. In Malir came under fire from all sides and hid under a parked bus to save their lives. They said that they saw young boys wearing bulletproof jackets and roameing with the latest automatic weapons in their hands. They saw three dead bodies at a short distance from them when they were under the bus. They saw a dead body who had a red ANP flag tied to his head. The armed terrorists started to set vehicles on fire and then police reached there to disperse them. After the arrival of the police squad, Mujtaba and his brother came out and started their motorbike to runaway but they had gone only a short distance when they once again came under fire. Ghulam Mujtaba received two bullets to his arm and back, while his brother who was driving the motorbike received one bullet on his waist. Then they stopped a bus near Qaidabad to reach Steel Mill hospital where the administration finally agreed to administer first aid after much pleading and negotiation. Mujtaba said that they went Civil Hospital Hyderabad instead of any Karachi hospital. He added that they did not see any Ranger in their 2½ hour ordeal. *** Ummat 16 May (e) th
Reporter- The number of injured advocates on 12 May was 24 and an advocate Parvez Akhtar Kiani was killed. He left his home to welcome CJ. The armed terrorists also targeted and fired at Gul Muhammad Farooqi Advocate, and Ghulam Mujtaba Advocate. *** Ummat 16 May (f) Reporter- Informed by eyewitness Iqbal Aqeel Advocate of Islamic Lawyers Forum who reached the city court where he was encircled by armed terrorists and assaulted. The armed person said that today the black coats will not be spared and you will see today who is powerful. Some advocates reached the police station and tried to register FIR but the Station House Officer city court police station, Zahid Hussain, led them to the same terrorists. The SHO said to them “see the advocates are here to register complaints against you” then they again started to assault the advocates.
118
*** Ummat 16 May (g) Staff Reporter- On Wednesday Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-Ibad went to see injured under treatment Jinnah Hospital. When he reached the special ward the provincial deputy secretary general of Awami National Party Bashir Khan refused to receive compensation and said that “if I shoot you and then pay you five lakhs will you agree to that”. Governor faced hostile slogans form injured workers of ANP. *** Ummat 16 May (h) th
Express 16 May (a)
C P
Unknown Reporter- The number of injured advocates on 12 May was 24 and advocate Parviez Akhtar Kiani was killed. Among the injured advocates including ex-vice chairperson Noor Naz Agha, Shazia Mughal, Amanullah Yousafzai, Asadullah Memon, Riaz Hussaini, Ashraf Samoon, Shahzad, Mujtaba Khan, Fida Muhammad, Abbass Ali, Zafariab Beg, Aftab Ahmed Gulshan, Ghulam Mustafa Awan, Abdul Saeed Qureshi, Nasrullah, Abdul Wasee Kakar, Mazhar Qayoom, Mujtaba Mughal and others were brutally beatend and wounded by armed terrorists.
Staff Reporter- Police thwart attempt to create ethnic violence after killing. Twenty-year old Shahjahan who was disabled with a bad leg was shot in the head and killed as he stood outside his shop in Sir Syed Town sector 7-C. He was resident of Kunwari Colony Manghopir. The police of the area handled the situation with help of residents of the sector 7-C. Some persons tried to make the incident appear as a case of ethnic targeting. The police SHO Inspector Zulqarnain Akhtar and ISI Allah Warayo with help of locals dispersed people and delivered the dead body of Shah Jehan to his brother Hamayoon.
R
Express 16 May (c) An article by Tausif Ahmed Khan “Karachi ki Tanahaee” -On 12th May the judges were dishonoured. One judge had to seek rescue in a police station and he reached high court in the police mobile. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Justice Sabeehudin Ahmed could not enter in high court. He had to walk through the barricades fixed by the administration therefore the other judges had to follow his action. Chief Justice Sindh High Court called IG Sindh but he expressed powerlessness and the Corps Commander could not came on call of CJ because of law and order situation of Karachi. ***
Dawn 17 May (a)
H
Benazir draws judiciary’s attention to Lyari killings By Our Reporter
ISLAMABAD, May 16: Chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party Ms Benazir Bhutto has condemned the use of disproportionate force against innocent youths by the Rangers, who killed several people in Lyari the other day. In a statement, she said that the Rangers were sent to the troubled area to protect citizens, and not to eliminate innocent youths and a child. She demanded an inquiry into the killings which, she observed, had devastated the families who could never recover from the tragedy. She said it must be ensured that such killing did not take place again. Ms Bhutto called upon the judiciary to take suo motu notice of the killings, and demanded immediate halt to the bloodshed. She said her party was unhappy to see that the people of Karachi had first suffered at the hands of suspected MQM terrorists and now they were being killed by the Rangers. She also called for the formation of an inquiry commission to investigate the May 12 events. The former premier pledged her party’s continued political support to the lawyers’ ongoing movement, and observed that the movement for the protection of judiciary was expanding into a political one. “Free and fair elections cannot be held if gangsters, thugs and terrorists held cities hostage,” she remarked. She noted that the terrorists who had come with sticks to beat up the opposition in Islamabad and with guns to kill them in Karachi would never permit fair elections to be held. Therefore, under the banner of the lawyers’ movement, the political parties were all getting together to carry on their struggle for the removal of the present regime and formation of a national government of consensus to hold fair elections and transfer power to people, she added. Under the present regime, the state authority had collapsed and the country was heading towards anarchy and chaos, she observed, adding that the regime was contributing to civil war by usurping the constitutional rights of freedom of movement and freedom of association with sticks and guns.
119
Ms Bhutto said that the tribal areas had been parcelled out to the Taliban, whereas Tank and Bannu had been given to religious elements, parts of Islamabad to the Imam of Lal Masjid, Gujrat to Chaudhrys, Attock to the Nazim Šunder and Karachi to the terrorists, suspected of belonging to the MQM. She noted that terrorism had spread throughout the country. She said that democracy could only be restored when a national government was able to offer protection to the innocent citizens in casting their vote free from the shadows of the thugs and terrorists. She also condemned the bomb blast in a Peshawar hotel on Tuesday that killed nearly 30 people as ‘a despicable crime against humanity’, and said the regime had miserably failed in checking militants and extremists. “By previously signing peace treaties with terrorists and extremists in the tribal areas, the regime had emboldened to spread to the settled areas of the country as well,” she remarked, adding that the PPP was alarmed by the spread of violence and terrorism across the country.
C P
She said that extremists and militants had regrouped and grown in strength following rigging in the 2002 general elections. ***
Dawn 17 May (b)
Opposition move to discuss May 12 violence in assembly By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, May 16: The combined opposition in Sindh Assembly on Wednesday moved a substantive motion under Rule 179 of the Rules of Procedure of the assembly to requisition session of the assembly at the earliest to consider the mayhem of May 12 in Karachi for fixing the responsibility.
R
A substantive motion is a self-contained proposal drafted in such a way as to be capable of expressing a decision of the assembly. The motion, signed by over 44 MPAs belonging to Pakistan People’s Party and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, was submitted by Leader of Opposition Nisar Ahmad Khuhro in the assembly secretariat. Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Rafique Engineer, Sharfunnisa Leghari, Hafiz Naeem, Abdul Rehman Rajput and other MPAs were also present. Mr Khuhro told a group of media persons present on the occasion that the speaker had to summon the assembly session under Rule 179 within seven days to consider the issue raised in the motion.
H
He said thousands of viewers of electronic media had seen the footage showing activists of a ruling coalition partner holding the flag of Muttahida Qaumi Movement in one hand and Kalashnikov in the other. The incident could not be ignored as the government appeared helpless for the whole day when several people, including the ambulance driver of Edhi Trust, were gunned down on streets and roads of the city. He pointed out that the whole nation observed complete strike to protest against the mayhem in Karachi which was no less than a referendum against the government.Mr Khuhro observed that the measures being taken by the government against people indicated that the days of government were numbered. The substantive motion reads: “The Sindh government failed to protect the lives of innocent people who were killed by the armed activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement throughout the main Sharea Faisal in presence of the unarmed police, although the government knew that the workers of various political parties would go in processions to the airport to receive the chief justice of the Supreme Court who had to arrive on May 12 at the invitation of Sindh High Court Bar, Karachi bar and Malir District bar. The assembly holds the chief minister and his adviser on home affairs responsible for the killings as well as the loss of property worth millions of rupees in Karachi.” *** Dawn 17 May (c) MQM slams Asma Jahangir By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI, May 16: Terming Asma Jahangir a `chauvinist lady’, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has advised her to form a political party instead of making `cheap’ statements against the MQM under the cover of human rights. In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the MQM MNAs criticised Ms Jahangir, the chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, for her ‘biased political views’ against the party and advised her to form a ‘chauvinist party’.
They alleged she had secret relations with the Pakistan People’s Party and that the MQM was collecting evidence against her to inform the public and the media about her alleged wrongdoings.
120
*** The News 17 May (a) NPSC dismayed at police performance By our correspondent QUETTA: The National Public Safety Commission (NPSC) has expressed its dismay at the performance of the police and other law-enforcement agencies on May 12 in Karachi. “The police did not play its due role in maintaining law and order in Karachi,” said acting chairman and a former Sindh governor Lt-Gen (retd) Moinuddin Haider while addressing a news conference here on Wednesday.
C P
“Yes certain security lapses were witnessed on May 12 in Karachi and the Commission is establishing contact with the Sindh government to determine the reasons whether the police could not provide safety to the general public in Karachi,” Moin said. He said the Commission would make sure that such security lapses that occurred in Karachi may not take place in future. He said those responsible for the security lapses should be awarded punishment, adding the NPSC is an important part of the Police Order-2002, the formation of which was notified in June 2006 with a view to bringing improvement in the existing policing system in the country by building its capacity and keeping a vigil on its performance. Moin said the NPSC is a body, which has representation of six elected Parliamentarians (three each) from the treasury and the opposition benches besides six from the civil society. The top priority of the Commission is to create such an environment through interaction between the police and the civil society under which the people may feel them secure.
R
He said the Public Safety Commissions would be established at the provincial and district levels. Referring to measures being taken to improve the policing system under the police reforms in the country, he noted that the projects costing Rs 8 billion would be implemented for the purpose and the National Police Bureau (NPB) is working on them.
H
He said a modern national forensic science laboratory would be established in Islamabad and at provincial level. This would facilitate the courts in getting the evidences. He said police stations would be set up with the recruitment of new police force at the tri-border junction (Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan) to improve the law and order situation there. Moin said the law and order situation has improved significantly in the province, and he lauded the initiative of the government for converting the “B” areas into the “A” ones. He termed it a historic advancement in the Balochistan policing. He said the government is spending Rs 10 billion on the project, which includes raising a new police force, Balochistan Constabulary. He said the amount being spent on bringing improvement in the police system is unmatchable in other parts of the country. Present on the occasion among the members of the Commission were MNA Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri (JUI), MNA Shahina Talat (Muttahida), MNA Ghulam Rasool Sahi (PML-Q), Muhammad Abbas advocate, Dr Sabiha Hassan, Mrs Sarkar Abbas, Mir Sikandar Hayat Jamali, besides NPSC Secretary and Director-General National Police Bureau Dr Shoaib Suddle and provincial police officer Balochistan Tariq Masood Khosa. *** The News 17 May (b) Opposition requisitions Sindh PA session By our correspondent, Karachi Opposition members of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) have requisitioned a Sindh Assembly session to discuss the May 12 killings and violence in Karachi. The opposition leader and other opposition members submitted the requisition application in the assembly secretariat on Wednesday. The opposition also submitted motions along with the requisition, wherein the members blamed the chief minister and his adviser on Home Affairs for the May 12 carnage and the incidents thereafter. According to the opposition, 44 members have signed the requisition application and under the rules
121
the speaker must convene the session within 14 days of the submission of the requisition application. Talking to newsmen after submitting the requisition, opposition leader Nisar Khuhro said that the members have asked the government through a motion as to who handed over the city to terrorists on May 12 to kill innocent citizens. It was also asked in the motion as to who had ordered for unleashing killing spree, he added. He said that the terrorists even did not allow shifting of the injured and dead to hospitals and they targeted the ambulance drivers who tried to take the inured people to hospitals. Khuhro said opposition members believe that the Sindh government had failed to save the lives of the innocent people and asked where the Rangers and police were when terrorists were shooting at the people. He said the opposition did not commit any unlawful act of taking out processions to welcome the Chief Justice of Pakistan to show solidarity with him who was victimized for refusing to follow the wishes of President Musharraf.
C P
Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Hafiz Naeem, Shama Mithani and other opposition MPAs were also present on the occasion. ***
Jang 17 May (a)
R
Members of the National Assembly of MQM issued a press release- Reacting to Ms Asma Jahangir’s statement against MQM they said that if Ms Jahangir is keen on politics she should remove the veil of human rights and should come openly with her own political party. She should name her party as “chauvinist party”. They said that people knew that Asma Jahangir is an extremist chauvinist woman and actually, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan is Chauvinist Commission of Pakistan. That was why Asma Jahangir remained silent on extra-judicial killings of 15,000 youngsters of MQM. In the press release, they further said that people are getting to know about the secret relations of Asma Jahangir with PPP. They further said that Muttahida’s research committee was busy collecting proof of ill doings of chauvinist RCP and Asma Jahangir and will disclose them to the people and international media. ***
Jang 17 May (b)
H
Staff Reporter- Karachi Bar Association: 300 advocates, led by Naeem Qureshi, marched to try and lodge an FIR but managed only to record a complain against Government of Sindh, MQM and officers. Naeem th Qureshi in his record reported that on 12 May Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was invited to address Golden Jubilee of the Sindh High Court. At about 10 am, advocate’s procession left the City Courts for High Court when unknown (but identifiable) terrorists opened fire attempting to kill advocates in the procession. The advocates dispersed into two groups; one group ran to Karachi Bar and other one fled toward Lunda Bazaar to save their lives. The group, which ran to Lunda Bazaar, faced some vehicles with MQM flag and armed persons. They opened fire that aimed to kill, and when advocates ran and escaped to a nearby building the Muttahida persons threw stones, fired, maltreated them and threatened to kill them by spraying petrol. The MQM activists threw inflammable material into the Women Advocates’ Bar Room in the City Courts to set fire to it. As a result the furniture was completely burnt. The armed persons injured many advocates including Shazia Mughal, Tabasum Naz, Syed Abbas Ali, Aftab Ahmed Kalmati and Zafariab Beg. On the same day, the armed persons made Noor Naz Agha member Bar Council hostage in Densol Hall. The SHO City Courts refused to take any action against the culprits. *** Jang 17 May (c) Staff Reporter- About 200 advocates and leaders of Karachi Bar Association went to register cases against Altaf Hussain, MQM’s relevant sector in charges, government of Sindh and other leaders of MQM for atrocities on 12th May including attacks on advocates and barricade to resist Judges from work. After half an hour wait, the city court police told KBA leaders that the reason for not registering the complaints was that nothing happened on 12th May in their jurisdiction. After that type of response, the advocates in the procession raised slogans against police and government. *** Awam 17 May (a)
122
News Desk - Chief Minister Sindh said that to secure High Court the roads were blockaded through containers. *** Express 17 May (a) Staff Reporter: The Director-General Sindh Rangers General Javed Zia was spoke with a delegation of Pakhtuns and journalists in the Ranger’s Headquarters at Jinnah Courts. He said that if the Rangers had taken any action on 12 May then a large number of deaths would have occurred due to their lethal weapons. The Rangers were ordered to provide security at airport, banks, franchised institutions, consulate generals, and government offices including high security zones and to CJ only. He said that Rangers also fulfilled the responsibilities to provide security to specific rallies but were not responsible for others. He said that it was the first time that 13,000 Rangers were deployed in Karachi. He added that actual and fundamental responsibility of Rangers was to provide security in the Sindh segment of the Pakistan-India border.
Jang 18 May (a)
C P
***
Brigadier Ghulam Muhammad Mohtaram Secretary Home Department in his press conference accompanied by IG Sindh Niaz Ahmed Siddiqi and CCPO Karachi Azhar Farooqi said that the government was th informed that Chief Justice Supreme Court Mr Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry had to come in Karachi on 12 May to address the Sindh High Court Bar. On that event, the opposition parties announced their rallies to welcome th him. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement applied on 8 May for permission for their rally on 12 May. The City th District Government allowed that request application on 10 May. To handle that situation the government discussed and got supporting reports from federal intelligence agencies. The federal agencies suspected riots in Karachi because of rival rallies. Considering that situation the Secretary Home Department contacted the leaders of opposition and MQM. The opposition leaders said that if MQM would postpone it’s rally they also could withdraw and he got the same answer from MQM leaders.
H
R
During the press conference, CCPO Karachi Azhar Farooqi responded to a question that considering th th security measures 170 persons of various organizations were arrested on 11 and 12 May night. There were th 12 persons arrested with weapons who had planned to attack the rally of Chief Justice, and after 12 May 21 th persons were arrested. When asked how many persons arrested were involved in armed clashes on 12 May he gave the figure of 21 people. He was then asked about the number of arrests of persons shown in firing weapons in the print and electronic media. The Home Department Secretary responded that an investigation was in processes. Although it was the MQM that had blockaded Share-Faisal and other roads by buses, trucks and other vehicles the home secretary only named the other parties and not the MQM in his replies. CCPO Karachi Azhar Farooqi responded to a question regarding 6 hours continuous firing on Aaj TV – he said that the Patel Para firing was started people returning home from the Muttahida rally were attacked. He said that Patel Para was largely populated with Pakhtuns and the area was always prone to political and other types of conflict. ***
Jang 18 May (c) Notice against police’s inefficiency: The chairman of National Public Safety Commission Lt-Gen (rtd) th Moinuddin Hyder said that NPSC had recognized the inefficiency of the police on 12 May and will collect information regarding their mistakes that caused many deaths and financial loss to the country. He said that action would be taken against them. In his statement he admitted the inefficiency of the police and assured action will be taken. *** Jang 18 May (d) News - Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaeed Bhutto) Hyderabad leaders condemned killings of 3 persons by Rangers in Lyari. They said that Rangers and Police were authorized to shoot on sight but no action was taken against armed terrorist who were playing with lives of innocent people. *** Jang 18 May (e) Staff Reporter - (Pakhtun Loya Jirga) Pakhtun Action Committee’s chairman Shahi Syed distributed 1 lakh and 25000 rupees to heirs of the dead and injured respectively. Chairman of action committee and other leaders stated that Pakhtun are a non-violent nation and they had come to Karachi to work and earn. ***
123
Express 18 May (a) Editorial Section – The statement of head of Police of Sindh was available on the record that he was not able to take any action. *** Express 18 May (b) Editorial Section- Director general Sindh Rangers General Javed Zia said that if the Rangers would th have taken action on 12 May than there would be heaps of dead bodies in Karachi. *** Express 18 May (c)
C P
Staff Reporter- Muhammad Buksh Lashari (who was the only advocate that reached inside airport) in his address to Sindh High Court Bar Association’s general body gathering on 17th May disclosed that on 11th May he had information that there was a plan to kill Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. The area around Falaknaz was under control of terrorists, and they may have planned to kill the CJ by firing from the bridge. He said he wanted to inform CJ and so he tried to deceive the administration by purchasing an air ticket so that can could go inside the airport as a passenger to inform the CJ about the assassination plan. ***
Eyewitness: Karachi, May 12, 2007
R
Beena Sarwar May 30, 2007
“Here in Karachi, we avoid ‘name calling’ and ‘finger pointing’ due to fear of having our knees drilled…”
H
01:00 p.m., she was stopped by a political worker who put a TT pistol to her forehead (“NOT the temple, the FOREHEAD).” She was allowed to proceed after showing her press card. Over at the Sindh High Court, lawyer Ayesha Tammy Haq sent this text message around 5 pm Karachi time: "In the High court. Things getting worse. Judges will not leave as there will be a rampage. I was with the CJ. City courts being attacked as re Aaj and Geo. We are going to have army rule in Karachi. It looks like that was always the plan i.e. redemption of the army.” (Later in an interview, General Musharraf denied such plans and reasserted his commitment to democratic politics. But then, he has also justified what happened in Karachi as “the political activity” of a political party attempting to show its strength to its constituency – interview with Talat Hussain, Aaj TV, May 18, 2007) Another lawyer emailed: “Not only was the Sindh High Court under virtual siege by armed activists, but lawyers attempting enter the Court were repeatedly beaten and roughed up. The armed activists did not even spare the Judges of the High Court.” One judge was held at gun point and his car damaged. “While holding me at gun point, the youth called someone and stated ‘Yeh bolta hai kay High Court ka judge hai...kya karun is ka?...achaa theek hai, phir janay daita houn.’ (He says he’s a judge of the High Court. What should I do with him? Ok then, will let him go).” Many judges, unable to drive to the Sindh High Court, had to leave their official `flag` cars and make their way through menacing crowds and climb over the court’s back wall in order to reach their chambers. Munir A. Malik, one of the 25 lawyers accompanying Chief Justice Iftikhar Choudhry from Islamabad to Karachi, narrates how they were forced to remain inside the airport. The Sindh government representatives offered to transport the Chief Justice by helicopter but this offer was for him alone. Since the lawyers with him had already foiled the attempts of “two uniformed people” to “snatch the CJP and take him from the other side,” he refused. (‘Story at the airport’, The News on Sunday, Special Report, May 20, 2007) Armed men attacked lawyers at Malir District Bar, Iftikhar Choudhry’s scheduled first stop in Karachi, killing a lawyer and injuring several others, including female lawyers. The Chief Justice and his team, of course, were ‘externed’ to Islamabad after several hours. Late that night, residents in the low-income Ranchore Lines mohalla were awakened by loud banging on their doors. One resident relates that it was two young boys distributing freshly cooked biryani and suji in plastic bags: “Yeh chief justice ki wapsi ki khushi mein hai” (This is to celebrate the Chief Justice’s return [to Islamabad]). On the Karachi streets, Uzi’s press card had saved her again at around 05:00 p.m. as she and a
124
colleague tried to reach the Rangers Headquarters in Dawood College. “A car chockfull of ammunition passed in front of us, stopped, backed up and stopped in front of us, Kalashnikovs pointing at the two of us from the windows. We showed our press cards and the car moved on. NEVER in my LIFE have I felt more grateful to my press card than I did yesterday.” At around 06:00 p.m., she and her colleague were trapped by gunshots all around. “Short of climbing the walls and entering one of the houses around, there really was no other place for us to go.” They stopped a police mobile and asked which way would be safe to go. The answer, accompanied by laughter: “You can be killed wherever you go. Choose your place.”
C P
In published reports, journalists prudently avoided naming the parties involved. “Young men toting flags and banners had set up camp outside the airport departure lounge. They hid, however, when policemen came by. Reporters in the vicinity were asked whether they had seen any political activists around. Munawar Pirzada (from Daily Times) said that he had seen some nearby. After the policemen had left, the activists came up to the reporter, dragged him by the hair and took him aside. They then proceeded to threaten him with dire consequences if he said anything the next time the policemen came around” (Urooj Zia, Daily Times, May 14). But the affiliation of these gangs was visible in the live coverage provided by several private television channels, which showed plainclothes men brandishing weapons on the deserted roads, using government tankers as cover, exchanging gunfire with unseen opponents, the tri-colour MQM flag visible on their motorcycles. After Aaj TV’s continuous live coverage of such scenes, armed men attacked the television station, firing at it for several hours. Instead of stopping the coverage, Aaj showed live footage of reporters ducking behind a desk, shots being fired at their office, as anchor Talat Hussain provided an account of the situation on the phone. Reporters in the area asked the Rangers posted nearby to help the Aaj workers trapped inside their building. The answer: “We’re helpless. We can’t do anything unless we have orders from above.”
R
Aaj TV’s refusal to suspend its live coverage emboldened the new breed of ‘citizen journalists’. “My faith in independent media was restored and I was confident that I am not alone,” wrote one blogger. He had hesitated to post out the testimony of a doctor at a Karachi hospital who witnessed armed political workers turn up to finish off an injured political worker. Encouraged by the Aaj re-broadcasting of images that clearly showed the involvement of MQM workers in the violence, he published the testimony with a disclaimer that “it was an anonymously posted comment and could be entirely false, you be a judge for yourself.”
H
The testimony was apparently sent by a doctor who had been at work for several hours attending to multiple gunshot wound victims in his hospital lobby, where a makeshift emergency room had been set up. Nothing, he writes, “struck down my soul more than what 9 fully armed workers of MQM along with 2 sector office bearers did. They tried to drag out the wounded and dying body of a Sunni Teri worker (whose identity they later learnt) for presumably finishing him off.” The protesting doctors were slapped around and dragged by their legs to the back of the gurney alley. With “shotguns, pistols and ak-47`s in hand,” the men ran back to the lobby presumably to find their target again. The doctor ran out to the rangers and police near the hospital front gate. Their answer to his appeal: “Jaante ho inn logon ko phir bhi kyon larta ho…hamain upar se order hai ke inn ko char baje tak karne do jo karna hai. Char baje ke baad kuch dekhainge` (When you know who these people are why do you still fight them … we have orders from above to let them do whatever they want until 4pm. After 4pm we will see). As a previous MQM supporter, the doctor had recognized some of the assailants and called a friend related to MQM deputy leader Farooq Sattar. Five minutes later the men received a phone call and left, threatening the doctors (and stealing one of their cell phones, “Chikna set hai” -- it`s a cool set). “The guy they had come looking for had been shot one more time in the head. The o.t dress we had dressed him in 10 mins earlier was freshly bloody.” Full text at: http://karachi.metblogs.com/archives/2007/05/is_this_what_ha.phtml There is a story behind each of those who were killed, some belonging to one or other political party, and others just because they were there. Masked men stopped ambulances and sprayed them with bullets, killing an Edhi Ambulance driver, Faizur Rahman Khan, 65, when he refused to throw out a wounded person he was transporting to hospital from near the airport; the wounded man was also shot again. Armed gangs herded passers-by into an alley and shot dead a young overlock machine operator along with another man, in front of two colleagues who were also shot but survived to tell the tale (‘They shot us one by one...’ by Munawar Pirzada, Daily Times, http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\05\14\story_14-5-2007_pg12_3). There have been reports about an SHO who guided a procession into an ambush and a pregnant woman who had to deliver her baby in the car when armed men refused to let her proceed to the hospital with her husband. The Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) reports that several journalists were manhandled and nine wounded. Some TV cameramen were beaten and their cameras snatched or damaged. In all these stories of horror, there is at least one amusing aside: the stranded reporter Uzi had the thrill of getting to ride a motorbike when her editors sent a senior reporter to pick her up. “You couldn`t use a car etc, because on a bike your press card was visible, and that was a kind of immunity. In a car or a van, they`d shoot at you on sight. So yeah, I got to ride pillion on a bike, and I didn`t sit sideways either, like women
125
usually do here. :D I sat like guys usually do – ‘handsfree mode.’ :D Initially I was scared shitless, but then I got used to it, and it was AWESOME -- like flying! MQM-waalahs on the way kept turning and staring at the weird Chick who was riding pillion like guys do and didn`t have to hold on to anything to maintain her balance. :D AWESOME, it was! I want a bike now! :P" All power to Uzi, I say. I hope she gets her bike and I hope she gets to ride it. Someone should do a study on why Pakistan is the only Southasian country where it`s a no-no for women to cycle or drive scooters, or sit pillion astride (rather than side-saddle as they do, uncomfortably and dangerously, sometimes holding on to several children). It wasn`t always that way – until the 1960s college girls in Lahore, Karachi, even Peshawar bicycled around pretty freely, some even in saris. A trivial matter perhaps, given what`s happening in the country but these issues are not entirely unlinked.
C P
Karachi educationist, Anwar Abbas, later emailed: “My son-in-law and daughter who live in a building adjoining Baloch colony flyover had a good look at the ‘thugs’ in action from their rooftop. Their only regret is that they did not have a camera to capture the ghastly scenes.” They returned to their flat because their little daughter was alone with the maid and because the ‘thugs’ had also climbed the roofs of adjoining buildings in order to obtain an aerial view of their targets and shoot at random. He added: “It is not important which group they belonged to; it is important that they could behave the way they did in complete disregard to the rule of law; if indeed the law was awake or not in collusion with the ‘thugs’.” Many others, including Aaj TV’s Talat Hussain and MQM’s Dr. Farooq Sattar have also suggested that the “blame game” be avoided.
But a lawyer friend, “angry and distressed in Karachi”, argues that “If we avoid ‘name calling’ and ‘finger pointing’, we will simply be brushing the events of last Saturday under the carpet of indifference. Here in Karachi, we avoid ‘name calling’ and ‘finger pointing’ due to fear of having our knees drilled. Even Urdu speaking lawyers, while talking of last Saturday’s events at the Sindh High Court look over their shoulders and speak in hushed tones when mentioning the name of MQM…
R
“As we try to understand the carnage of 12th May, we have to ask the following question: Which political group stands to lose the most in a Musharraf ouster? Not the PML (Q). The Chaudhrys and their ilk will merely disperse and filter back into the PML (N) or the PPP. The unprecedented power and privilege of the MQM however is firmly tied with Musharraf`s hold in Islamabad. It was the threat to their benefactor from the supporters of the Chief Justice, which unleashed the gunmen on 12th May. Zaffar Abbas is correct when he writes that Karachi was only at peace for the past many years because it suited its militants (`Back to the future?` Dawn, May 14, 2007)…
H
“’Finger pointing’ is necessary, because throughout our history, instead of a catharsis, we simply go through a ‘jo ho gaya ab bhool jaao, aagay daikho’ (forget what has happened) attitude. Already, with the President’s pat on the back at the emergency meeting of the ruling party in Islamabad (on Monday) the MQM is back on the front foot… “Although it is unlikely that the perpetrators of Saturday’s violence will ever be brought to justice, at least they should continue to be exposed before the entire country. More importantly, they should face the consequence of such exposure. Public image is very important to the MQM and the national outrage at their conduct may be the best prospect of compelling them to change their ways.”
126
