The religious extremists, who had
earlier announced to take out rallies have resorted to violence and hostility in
Karachi. Throughout the night of 11
October 2001 and since the early hours of 12 October 2001, dozens of incidents
of violence have been reported. The
people of Karachi are being terrorised and harassed by these religious
extremists, who do not represent the people of Karachi or any other parts of
Sindh. These religious-terrorist groups
mostly comprise of Afghani and Pashtun population, who are armed with lethal
automatic weapons and as in the past have been allowed to openly display and
use their firearms. The law enforcement
agencies including the police and paramilitary rangers, who are present on the
scene, are not even trying to protect the citizens of Karachi. In fact, these agencies are encouraging the
religious extremists to open fire upon innocent residents of Karachi and have
also allowed them to loot and plunder Mohajir houses and shops in several areas
of Karachi.
The supporters of Muttahida Quami
Movement (MQM), i.e. the people of Karachi, have been practically left hostage,
mercilessly in the hands of these religious extremists, who are fully armed and
protected by the rangers and police.
The religious extremists in Karachi have targeted Mohajir
localities. Unarmed and peaceful
citizens of Karachi are paying the price for not siding with the terrorists and
showing their solidarity with the international community, USA and the Great
Britain in its fight against terrorism.
It may be recalled that the MQM organised a huge public gathering of
over 200000, on 26 September 2001, in Karachi, to show its solidarity with the
international and its support in the fight against terrorism. Mr Altaf Hussain, the MQM Founder and
Leader, addressed this gathering. Since
this massive show of solidarity the religious extremists continued to threaten
the MQM leaders, office bearers and workers of dire consequences for siding
with the international community. Most
recently, on 11 September 2001, threatening phone calls were received at the
MQM Head Office in Karachi.
A FEW DETAILS OF TERRORISM IN THE NAME RELIGION IN
KARACHI
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Pakistan Time |
Reported
incidents in Karachi |
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4.55 p.m. |
The militants of religious organisations are now openly
involved in loot and plunder in Liaquatabad, Karachi. They are busy in forcibly entering the
houses of Mohajirs, looting the valuables and brutally beating the residents.
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3.40 p.m. |
Around two to three hundred religious extremists are
violently taking out processions in Jalalabad, Nazimabad No 2 in Karachi. These protestor armed with weapons have
clashed with the police and paramilitary rangers at Nadria Market. They have set ablaze the KFC fast food
restaurant. |
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12.35 p.m. |
The Afghan and Pashtun protestors on the Manghopir Road in
Karachi have shot Reena, a young Baloch girl. She is being treated at the Qatar Hospital. It is reported that a clash broke out
between the Afghanis and Baloch, which resulted in the injury to Ms Reena. Two persons namely Ismael, Aman
Ullah and Abdul Ghani were also seriously injured during these civil unrest. |
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12.05 p.m. |
The religious extremists groups,
including the Pashtuns and Afghanis, armed with automatic and lethal weapons,
have opened fire upon innocent Mohajirs residents of Qasba Aligarh Colony near
Awaan Hospital in Karachi. These
religious extremists are now reported to be forcibly entering into the houses
and looting the valuables and harassing the residents. Moreover, they are also looting the shops
along the roadside. In the absence of the personnel
of law enforcement agencies including paramilitary rangers has left the
innocent unarmed residents with no choice but to defend themselves by
throwing stones. The areas directly affected as a
result are Qasba Colony, Aligarh Colony, Bukhari Colony and Qasba More. |
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11.30 a.m. |
The religious extremists have
gathered in a very small number at Qaidabad in Landhi, Karachi. They are chanting slogans. They have set ablaze a van. It is reported that they are armed and
plan to carry out destruction after the Friday Prayers. |
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9.45 a.m. |
The religious extremists are attacking the houses of
Mohajir residents in Qasba Aligarh Colony in Karachi. They are threatening to attack the entire
locality. When the local Deputy
Superintendent of Police was contacted, he replied that he was unable to
provide protection the citizens of Karachi. |
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5 a.m. |
Some of the religious extremists
have burned tyres at Korangi No 5 in Karachi. They are believed to be members of Jamaat-e-Islami. The paramilitary rangers and police are
present on the scene and in fact providing complete protection and
patronising the events. |