PRESS CONFERENCE

KARACHI: 30TH APRIL 2011

 

Respected Journalists

First of all we thank all the journalists for coming to attend this emergency Press Conference. The purpose of calling this Press Conference is to inform you and the people of the country about the incident of the savage and dastardly murder of former MPA and member of Muttahida Lawyers Form Liaquat Ali Qureshi Advocate.

Liaquat Ali Qureshi was going to his home at Abul Ispahani road, Gulshan-e-Iqbal around 12:00 am in the night when terrorists on two motorcycles lying in ambush for him opened fire near Maskan Chowrangi. Liaquat Qureshi died on the spot.  He was among the most senior workers of the party and had held several organizational responsibilities. Presently he was discharging his responsibilities as a member of Muttahida Lawyers Forum. When the state operation started against the MQM on 19th June 1992 and many a people were forced to part ways with the MQM because of oppression and tyranny, Liaquat Qureshi held fast and continued to work relentlessly in the face of hardships with full determination and unflinching resolve. He had to face incarceration in consequence of his fearless struggle but no amount highhandedness and intimidation could keep him from moving forward with his struggle. Liaquat Qureshi was devoutly attached to Mr Altaf Hussain and he had unflinching loyalty to him till he breathed his last. The enemies of the just struggle of the MQM eventually martyred the most sincere, loyal, brave and determined worker of Mr Altaf Hussain by making him a target of their terrorism. The anti-MQM forces have deprived Mr Altaf Husain of a sincere and brave worker but we have firm belief that the blood of Liaquat Qureshi and other martyrs of the movement will not go waste. Merciless killers, their patrons and those who are conspiring against the MQM will not be able to escape the wrath of Almighty Allah. The blood of the martyrs will definitely herald a revolution.

RESPECTED JOURNALISTS

It is in your knowledge that the former Home Minister had asked on the floor of the assembly a few months ago as to why no elected representative is killed in the incidents of target killing. Soon after this statement MPA Syed Raza Haider was martyred. After this armed terrorists killed former Naib Nazim of SITE Town Syed Badshah Khan, UC Nazim of Saddar Town Hanif Bantwa, UC Nazim of Landhi Town Imran Khan, former Councillor of Saddar Town Muhammad Siraj, former Councillor of Malir Town Nouman Bukhari, and former Councillor of Shah Faisal Town Jamil Khanzada. UC Nazim of Saddar Town Muhammad Khalil Hashim was also martyred in a bomb blast. Last night former member of the Sindh Assembly Liaquat Qureshi Advocate was martyred. In the last four months a total of 96 leaders, workers and public representatives of the MQM have been martyred whereas as nearly 200 workers have been martyred over the last one year. Despite this the killers of the MQM workers and their patrons are still roaming freely from the grip of the law no solid steps have been taken by the government either for their arrest. The manner in which the workers and office-bearers of the MQM are being killed one after another indicates that the terrorists, killers and criminal elements have been given a free hand in the city. The government is acting as a mere spectator.

RESPECTED JOURNALISTS

We want to put this question to all the journalists, anchor persons, columnists, analysts, political leaders and others who tend to implicate the MQM in every incident and point fingers at the MQM regarding the target killings. We want to ask all those who level baseless allegations against the MQM as to who is killing and who are getting killed. The statistics bear out that it is mostly the MQM leaders, workers and sympathizers that have been killed in Karachi. We are picking the funerals of our martyrs and advising restraint to our workers despite mounting terrorism and vile conspiracies but there is a limit to our patience. We want to convey to the ruthless killers and their patrons that even though we are sorely grieved at the martyrdom of Liaquat Qureshi yet our resolve and determination will not be broken by such dastardly acts. We have firm belief that a day will come when each drop of the blood of our martyrs will be called to account and the killers our guiltless workers and sympathizers will meet their nemesis. We understand the continuous killings of the innocent leaders, workers and sympathizers is a part of a deep-seated conspiracy to destroy the peace of Karachi and already dwindling economy of the country. It is our fierce determination that we will not refrain from any sacrifice for the existence and security of the country and for bringing peace and tranquillity in Karachi. We will defeat the conspiracies by our unity and patience.

RESPECTED JOURNSLITS

We condemn the inhuman murder of Liaquat Qureshi in the strongest possible words and term it a part of unending terrorism against the MQM. Liaquat Qureshi was a senior member of the party and had held various important positions in the part besides being a member of the Sindh Assembly in the past. His barbaric murder is a great loss and big tragedy for the MQM and they are they are overwhelmed with grief. The MQM will observe a day of peaceful mourning throughout the country on 1st May 2011 as a protest against the savage murder of Liaquat Qureshi. We appeal to all the workers and sympathizers throughout Pakistan to hoist black flags on the party offices, wear black armlets and offer fateha for the soul of Liaquat Qureshi. We also appeal to the business community, shopkeepers, and transporters to observe a day of mourning tomorrow on 1st May on the brutal murder of the MQM leader and former member of the Sindh Assembly Liaquat Qureshi and express unity and solidarity with the MQM. We want to make it clear that if the targeted killings of the MQM workers, leaders and sympathizers did not stop and the killers are not arrested then the MQM would be free to adopt its future line of action.

RESPECTED JOURNALISTS

We demand of President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah to take serious notice of the continuous killings of the MQM leaders and workers. The killers of Liaquat Qureshi, one of the most senior workers of the MQM should be arrested and given exemplary punishment. We demand that the government take practical and solid steps to protect the life and property of the citizens. We express our heartfelt condolences to the family members of Liaquat Qureshi and pray Almighty Allah for his eternal peace. We pray Allah to forgive him and give courage to his family members to bear this great loss.

We thank you again for coming to attend this Press Conference.

 

CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

MUTTAHIDA QUAMI MOVEMNT (PAKISTAN)