MQM DECIDES TO OBSERVES 23RD AUGUST AS A
“DAY OF MOURNING AND CONDEMNATION”
IN PROTEST AGAINST THE GENOCIDE OF MOHAJIRS IN KARACHI
Emergency Press Conference at Azizabad, Karachi
KARACHI: 22ND AUGUST 2011 Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has announced to observe peaceful Day of Mourning and Day of Condemnation on 23 August 2011 against the genocide of Mohajirs by the peoples Amn Committee and Gang war terrorists. Addressing a press conference Dr. Farooq Sattar said that More than 100 innocent and unarmed citizens of Karachi have lost their lives as a result of continued violence and the terrorist activities of the Peoples Amn Committee and Gang War terrorists. According to details of the Press Conference:
Respected Journalists
First of all we thank all the journalists and media persons for coming to attend this hurriedly-called Press Conference. The purpose of calling this press conference is to inform you about the genocide against innocent Muhajirs in Karachi, continuing savagery and inaction against the barbaric killers of the People’s Amn Committee and gang war because of patronage from the government.
Respected Journalists
You are well aware about the thuggery, killings, extortion, and loot and plunder of the criminal elements in the Old City Areas of Lyari that has become a no-go area even for police, rangers and other law-enforcing agencies. Youths belonging to the Kutchi community have been abducted and killed by the terrorists of People’s Amn Committee in Lyari. Several instances have happened in the last few months and the protests of the Kutchi community against overt patronage given by certain PPP ministers to the terrorists People’s Amn Committee are on record. The Amn Committee started collected extortion money from the traders, industrialists and shopkeepers of Karachi by sending extortion slips. Life threats were given if the money was not paid. Houses of some businessmen were attacked with hand grenades in order to strike terror into the hearts of the business community at large so that none may refuse to pay the extortion money. Bomb attacks on the gambling dens in Lyari occurring because of discord over distribution of extortion money are also on record. Use of lethal weapons by the Amn Committee and the gang war terrorists against each other has also become quite frequent. It is unfortunate that legal action against these terrorists, savage killers and extortionists was put off only because these hardened criminals enjoyed the complete support from certain ministers from the PPP. These terrorists continue to play with the life and property of innocent citizens with the backing of the government.
Respected Journalists
It must be in your knowledge that a tragedy struck on the night of 17th August 2011 when a former MNA of the PPP Waja Karim Dad was killed along with a friend near a Jamaat Khana in the old city area Kharadar of Karachi South. This ruthless murder was described as the outcome of the internecine feud of among the terrorists of the Lyari gang war in the newspapers. Another gruesome incident happened in which five innocent citizens killed, and their bodies were dumped in the Mohajir areas. The Amn Committee terrorists went on a killing spree in the old city areas at the behest of certain ministers and assembly members of the PPP in order to give a new turn underlying the sad incident. Terrorists started their evil activities from the morning of the 18th August 2011. Armed terrorists of the Amn Committee started kidnapping the Mohajir youths one after another in Ranchore Lines, Garden, Kharadar, Pak Colony, Baldia Town and other adjoining area of Lyari. Mohajir Employees of private companies were kidnapping from public buses and company vans after ascertaining their identities. The abducted persons were taken in torture cells located in different areas of Lyari where they were subjected to inhuman physical torture. They were later killed by firing and gunny sacks containing the bodies of these hapless persons were dumped in various parts of the city. These bloodthirsty terrorists not only subjected these guiltless Mohajirs to cruel bodily torture but also cut off the heads of more than 10 persons. Bodies of some were hacked into pieces and thrown in gunny sacks. The barbaric terrorists continued to abduct and kill innocent citizens with impunity and more than 100 people have fallen victim to their gory actions. Three days ago some government officials claimed that they had recovered more than 20 kidnapped persons, but it has not been revealed as to who kidnapped them and where they were kept in the torture cells. What action has been taken against the kidnappers has also not been made public as yet. The truth is that these innocent people had been recovered from different areas of Lyari. Their recovery from Lyari speaks volumes about the people involved in the kidnapping and merciless killing of the Mohajirs. It also amply demonstrates as to who are they influential personalities that support these kidnappers and killers. Many Mohajir youths are still in the clutches of these heartless terrorists who were kidnapped in the last few days. Their families are still waiting for the return of their loved-ones.
Respected Journalists
In the present situation unfolding in Karachi, extreme pressure is being brought to bear upon the MQM by the citizens of Karachi and patriotic Pakistanis, to come up with a definite line of action this manslaughter. Taking full stock of the situation, the MQM has decided to observe 23rd August throughout the country as a day of mourning. We appeal to the haq parast people throughout Pakistan to hoist black flags at their houses tomorrow on the mourning day and wear black stripes on their arms. We appeal to the people to arrange for the recitation of the Holy Quran for the benefit of the innocent people slain by the terrorists. We ask them to express solidarity and unity with the grief-stricken families by registering their peaceful protest. We also appeal to the business community tormented by the terrorists of the Amn Committee and the transportation community to take full part in the day of mourning to register their protest against ferocious terrorism.
We demand President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani to take serious notice of the barbaric killing of the Mohajirs by the terrorists of the Amn Committee. The Mohajirs must not be looked up as helpless and the revolting genocide continuing against the Mohajirs should be stopped. The government must take action against ferocious killers and ensure protection to the citizens. Protection given to the terrorists of the Amn Committee and gang war must be taken away. We want to make it very clear that if the government did not pay heed to the legitimate demands of the MQM and moved against the killers with firm steps, the MQM would be free to adopt its future course of action for giving protection to the life and property of the citizens of Karachi.
We would also appeal to the international community, national and international human rights organizations, civil society, intellectuals, columnists to take earnest notice of the butchery and mayhem under the aegis of the government. We appeal to them to raise a voice against the terrorism and extortion-collecting of the People’s Amn Committee and come forward to protect the life and property of innocent Mohajirs.
We would once against offer our heartfelt sympathies to families that have fallen prey to the untold cruelty of the terrorists. We assure them that their grief is felt by each and every worker of the MQM. The blood of the innocent spilled without any reason would not go waste. The terrorists would meet the curse of Almighty Allah.
We thank you once again for coming to attend this press conference.
MEMBERS CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE
MUTTAHIDA QUAMI MOVEMENT (MQM)
PAKISTAN