Haqiqi terrorists are planning another bloodbath on June 19 in connivance with law enforcement agencies

KARACHI, June 17, 1998
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday alleged that the Haqiqi terrorists are planning another bloodbath on June 19, in connivance with law enforcement agencies.

Addressing a press conference at Nine Zero, deputy convener MQM coordination committee Senator Aftab Sheikh alleged that Haqiqis were planning to attack houses of its members and confiscate party offices on June 19 in various parts of Karachi.

Senator Shaikh said he had communicated MQM's apprehensions to the president, the prime minister and others and claimed the President had assured of taking up the issue with authorities concerned.

He alleged that a huge quantity of sophisticated weapons had been provided to the "Haqiqi terrorists" by the law enforcement agencies. He did not specify the source of information in this regard.

"Our apprehensions about the plan can be justified through a number of statements, continuously being issued by Haqiqi leaders", he said, adding it was an attempt to bully the MQM workers into defection.

The Haqiqis, he claimed, will never succeed in their attempts.

He also cited a news item about suspension of telecommunication link of Karachi with upcountry in the small hours of June 18 as part of the conspiracy.

"Although we have no confirmation whether it will be coincidence, or a calculated plan, but we have reservations about it", he said.

Senator Shaikh said the law enforcement agencies were claiming they had not been patronising the Haqiqis "but the people of Karachi want to know how a handful of terrorists have kept the population of Landhi, Korangi, Malir and other areas hostage."

He said that the operation against MQM, launched in June 1992, was still in progress as no-go areas exist in various parts of the city. He alleged that at least over a dozen MQM workers in different city areas had been killed by Haqiqi terrorists during last two weeks.

The list of the deceased has been provided to prime minister Nawaz sharif by MQM chief Altaf Hussain during a meeting in London.