KARACHI: An All Parties Conference (APC), being hosted by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on May 12 (2007) tragedy that claimed some 50 innocent lives, has demanded of those in the corridors of powers to ensure free and fair trail of those responsible for the massacre.
The participants of the conference, belonging to various political parties, civil society, lawyers franity, human rights organizations and others, expressed their views on the tragedy and termed it a worst example of fascist style of governing a state.
The APC passed a resolution, condemning the May 12, 2007 massacre and those responsible for it, besides, demanding justice for the victims. On the occasion, a documentary, revealing the truths regarding the tragedy was also screened.
Speaking on the occasion, JI, Pakistan Secretary General Liaquat Balouch held dictatorial rule of Pervez Musharraf responsible for the tragedy. He said that 50 innocent people have lost their lives on the day just because the misdeeds of Pervez Musharraf.
The JI leader said that he himself was present on the unfortunate day in Karachi. There was blockage, chaos, terror and blood everywhere in the streets.
Focusing on the dictatorial rule of Musharraf, he said that anti-democratic forces cause excessive damage to societies and the recent situation, particularly sub-judicial hangings are evident on it, he added.
Liaquat Baloch further said that Karachi is the economic nerve of Pakistan so the city should be provided with some relief and be secured from political, financial and other forms of terrorism.
JI Karachi chief Engr. Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has raised questions over the role of law enforcement agencies on the fateful day of May 12, 2007. He said that some 50 people were killed on the day even when a large number of LEAs were deployed on every nook and corner of the city.
He recalled that JI had also lost his nine innocent workers on the same date in 2004 and similarly like the culprits of May 12, 2007, those responsible for the earlier tragedy are still at large.
Engr. Naeem further said that the entire movement was revolving around the restoration of judiciary in general and the then chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhary in particular but unfortunately Mr. Iftikhar did nothing substantial to provide justice to the victims of May 12 tragedy during his tenure.
He was of the view that the cases regarding May 12, 2007 should be reopened so as to ensure the supremacy of law and justice. The JI leader further said that Karachi does not deserve “dry cleaned” people.
Tariq Nazir of PML-N said that Karachi will never for get the May 12, 2007 tragedy. He said that so far no proper action has been taken against the culprits of massacare of May 12. Siddique Rathore of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan said that the history of Karachi is evident that dictators are good for none, Abdul Samad Khattak, President Islamic Lawyers Forum said that no nation can succeed with supremacy of law, democracy and free judiciary. Syed Amir Najeed of Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadees said that the May 12 tragedy was continuation of torture and terror, being imposed on the city for the earlier three decades. Naeem Qureshi former president KBA, Mostakeem Noorani of JUP and other also addressed the conference.
