Aftab Sheikh demands rolling back of ATCs
By our correspondent

KARACHI: Deputy Convener of the MQM Coordination Committee, Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh, has demanded rolling back of the ATCs and an immediate halt to raids and arrest of the MQM workers and supporters in Karachi.

He was asked to explain what kind of notice the government should take over the peaceful hunger strikes of Muttahida. Aftab claimed that these courts were established to achieve the desired results of police. Aftab termed the ATCs as "police thappa courts".

He was addressing a press conference on Friday on the 12th day of hunger strike camp, staged outside the Karachi Press Club. Aftab further demanded that trial procedure of the ATCs be made clear or all the accused should be produced for trial in normal courts.

He said the government had not changed its policy despite peaceful hunger strikes, adding, on contrary the police had intensified the raids and arrests of the MQM workers, supporters and common citizens.

He said any crime that took place in Karachi was blamed on the MQM without any investigation. He vehemently denied the involvement of MQM in the killing of a policeman on Thursday. He condemned the statement of the DIG Karachi reported in a section of press. Aftab also condemned the statement of the adviser to prime minister on Sindh affairs that police would be provoked over the killing. Referring to the statement of adviser, Aftab said the government was planning a big operation against Muttahida.

Aftab said he would be justified to say that a message was being given to the police for action against the Muttahida. He said a referendum on whether the MQM Chief Altaf Hussain should hold hunger strike unto-death or not, would start on Friday evening all over Sindh including Karachi.

He said ballot papers having YES-NO columns had been placed for the purpose at all the MQM units. He said result of the referendum would be announced on August 9. Aftab said August 9 would bring an end to the first phase of peaceful hunger strike camp. The same day an MQM procession would be taken out that would proceed to the Governor House to present a memorandum.

Meanwhile, prominent lawyer Nafees Siddiqi on Friday evening visited the MQM hunger strike camp outside the KPC. Nafees announced full support to the demands of the Muttahida. He suggested that the PPP and the MQM should be allowed to form government in Sindh and the elected mandate should be respected.

He said under the prevailing circumstances in Sindh there was a threat to federation and he had come here for the solidarity and integrity of Pakistan.

He said in the history of Pakistan it was the first time that an adviser to prime minister was running the Sindh affairs which was illegal and unconstitutional.

Replying to a question, he said Benazir Bhutto and Altaf Hussain were mature leaders. To another question, he said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had no vision or intelligence and was unaware of problems being faced by the people in the country.

Nafees Siddiqi denied his association with the Muslim League and also denied that he had plans to join Muttahida.

A young boy on the occasion cut his finger and wrote 'No' with his blood on the ballot paper indicating that he did not want the MQM chief to sit for unto-death hunger strike.

However, thousands of telephone calls were received at Nine-Zero, Azizabad, urging Altaf Hussain not to observe hunger strike. A large number of voters also arrived at the camp and participated in the referendum.