ISLAMABAD: The members of senate on Thursday condemned the May 12 massacre of political workers and lawyers on the arrival of then deposed chief justice of Supreme Court in Karachi nine years ago.
They alleged that Pervez Musharraf and his cronies staged bloodbath in Karachi on May 12 and added culprits should be brought to justice, besides devising a comprehensive strategy to prevent such ugly incidents in future.
Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani said he saluted to the lawyers and political workers who had been victims of the incident. He said people of the country had to play role to defend the Constitution.
On a point of order, Usman Kakar said May 12 was a blackest day in the country’s history and all those who had been involved, should be punished in line with law of land.
Nihal Hashmi observed those who placed containers to block roads on May 11 night in Karachi were still moving freely and no action had been taken against them as yet. He said cases should be registered against the perpetrators to bring them to book.
Jehanzeb Jamaldeni said May 12 was national tragedy and collective efforts should be made for promotion of democracy in the country.
Senator Saleem Zia said May 12 was a black day in the country’s history and alleged Musharraf and an ethic-based party of Karachi was involved in the incident which claimed several precious lives of innocent people.
He said there had been peace in Karachi but situation went from bed to worst when ethnic-based politics was started there. He said inquiry should be held in order to lay hands on the culprits and award them punishment.
Sardar Azam Musakhel said characters of the tragedy was still at large in Karachi and no action had been initiated as yet. He said commissions were constituted but unfortunately things had not reached to conclusion, he added.
Senator Hafiz Hamdullah said May 12 massacre was highly condemnable and alleged Pervez Musharraf and cronies got killed innocent people, adding comprehensive inquiry should be conducted.
Mushahidullah said the credit went to the PML(N) which initiated court proceedings against a dictator and was forced to appear before court.
He said when PML(N)-led government tightened noose around Pervez Musharraf, all political parties including PPP started asserting pressure asking as to why action was not taken against abetters of the dictator and why Pervez Musharraf alone was being targeted.
He alleged Pervez Musharraf had been involved in attack on Lal Masjid in which innocent students were killed. But, he said, Mulana Abdul Aziz pardoned Pervez Musharraf, paving way for him to flee abroad.
Regarding May 12, he said MQM leaders including the then governor of Sindh should be grilled as they had also role with regard to the incident.
