MQM warns govt against blocking passive resistance

By Our Reporter
30 July 1999 Friday 16 Rabi-us-Saani 1420


KARACHI, July 29: Amid mounting tension the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Thursday warned the administration that if it tried to obstruct or to sabotage their peaceful hunger strike, then the party would be compelled to launch a public protest campaign, and the onus for its consequences would be on the government.

Senator Aftab Shaikh, deputy convener of the MQM coordination committee, was talking to newsmen after the fourth batch of the hunger strikers, two elders and two ladies, led by MNA Tariq Javed and MPA Asim Kabir, replaced the previous batch for another 24 hours at midday outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC).

They were carrying placards deploring extrajudicial killings and police excesses and injustice to the people of Sindh. They also deplored the violations of human rights and of constitutional provisions.

The anti-MQM group, which called itself "Voice of Karachi," also resumed its protest on the pavements of Lakson Square, opposite the KPC. They had hung banners inscribed with slogans demanding punishment for the killers of their relatives.

Senator Shaikh alleged that the local administration and the police had tried to prevent the people from coming to the site of protest and had put up barricades.

He said even he and his parliamentarian colleagues were stopped at the barricade. He had to personally remove the barricades to make way for the vehicles, said the MQM senator.

Senator Shaikh said he had told the officials on duty that "if we are not allowed to exercise our right of peaceful protest, then we will cut short the hunger strike programme and go into agitation."

He said the MQM did not recognize Section 144 because it was a colonial law and against the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution.

He refuted allegations that the MQM was trying to break up the country. "This is absurd because we are the people who fought for Pakistan and gave sacrifices for its creation. It is malicious propaganda of those vested interests who engineered the dismemberment of the country and are adamant on denying the people their rights," he said.

"We want our rights, and we reject the dictatorial and fascist tendencies of the government," said Senator Shaikh. He said the people were already enraged over the administration's attitude due to which there was a strike in Hyderabad on Wednesday. He indicated that if the regime's attitude did not change, "other forces, which are marking times, would also jump into the fray and launch an anti-government movement."

This was a reference to the anti-Nawaz protest rallies planned by the PPP in the Sindh province on Aug 4.

He said that the claim of heavy mandate did not mean that the mandate of others had diluted. Nawaz Sharif must learn to respect the mandate of others.

He said the local administration was clearly divided. The civil administration was moving in one direction, while the Inspector-General Police, Sindh was acting in another direction.

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