Revisiting May 12 : Political parties break silence, demand reopening of cases

Resolution passed on cleansing Karachi of weapons.

KARACHI:

Religious and political parties have demanded a reopening and inquiry into the May 12, 2007 violence case, which is still pending in the Sindh High Court. This demand was made at a national conference organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Thursday.

In one of the biggest gatherings attended by representatives of nearly all religious, national and political parties, the impact and consequences of May 12 were discussed and solutions were sought on how to deal with the ‘enemy within’.

Bishop Nazeer Alam, who represents the Churches of Pakistan, also attended as well as Ahle Tasheeh clerics and leaders. They discussed how the government has proved to be helpless in the face of ever increasing violence and threats faced by the millions of people who live in Karachi.

Some members suggested leaving out mention of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which was challenged by former education minister Irfanullah Khan Marwat. “If we can’t even take their names, then how are we going to resolve the issue?”

Former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi avoided making any political statements and kept his speech short and reassuring. “When governments are weak, fingers are pointed at them,” was his concise remark regarding criticism of the present government. He called for unity among the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Awami National Party and the MQM in order to restore peace.

Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqi said that law and the supremacy of the constitution were largely ignored by the people, which cause such incidents.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), said that May 12 was not the first incident of its kind and “unfortunately, it was not the last one either.

“The chief justice might have been restored but not the law. There has not been any judicial inquiry on any issue, not even after Benazir Bhutto was killed,” Ahmed said. “Ironically, cases occurring 30 years ago are being reopened with enthusiasm.”

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Zafar Iqbal Jhagra said: “It was possible for people to carry out violence with such aplomb because they had the backing of the former President Pervez Musharraf. Until we start discussing these issues openly, no one would take us seriously.”

JI Amir Munawar Hassan, who was the last leader to address the gathering, openly criticised the MQM and what he said was the PPP’s meek stance.

A resolution was passed, which included that Karachi should be made weapons free, and judicial inquiries against ‘criminal-minded elements’ must be followed on to deter others.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2011.