Ode to Karachi

By Maqbool H H Rahimtoola

The morning mist settles
To the sound of wailing.
The young and the old,
All there in white,
Lifted towards their burials.

A war, a plague ?
No, just Karachi

To the sound of bullets,
The smell of death
Slowly walks this city.
But who cares ? No one.
More deaths, more suffering
The hospital beds are full.

A war, a plague ?
No, just Karachi.

The faithful come to pray,
Bombs explode and body
Parts fill our mosques.
Killed by brother Muslims,
Islam's Umma stands confused.

A war, a plague?
No , just Karachi

Fear in their eyes,
Dryness in their mouths,
Children tread these roads.
People leave for work
Who will return alive?
Random bullets fill our roads.

A war, a plague?
No, just Karachi

The gunmen move about,
With the message of death
Yet, remain untouched , un noticed
And invisible to the agencies.
Blind to the causes, the city buckle's
Confused and un cared for.

Will it ever stop?
Who cares,

Its just Karachi!

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General Strike in Sindh

From: awakenings
Date: May 13, 2007 5:18PM
Subject: General Strike in Sindh

On a general strike call given by Awami Tahreek's (Peoples Movement) Central Leaders Rasool Bux Palijo, Wishnoo Mal, Sayed Alam Shah, Ayaz Latif Palijo, Mohammad Khan, Bhurgri, Hakeem Zangejo, Javed Rajpar and Qadir Ranto complete shutter down general strike is being observed in all major cities and small towns of Sindh ( Province Pakistan). The strike call was given by Awami Tahreek on brutal murder of its central leader Nawaz Kanrani by MQM terrorists near Karachi Airport yesterday.

According to KTN, Sindh TV and Aaj Tv reports general strike, sit-ins and protest rallies are carried out in different major cities and thousands of party workers of Awami Tahreek and its women and students wings (Sindhiani Tahreek and Sindhi Shagird Tahreek SST) and common citizens of Sindh have come on roads in different cities and towns of Sindh.

According to TV reports complete shutter-down strike is being observed and rallies, marches and sit-ins have been arranged in Thul, Daro, Shahpur Chakar, Qasimabad, Gharo, Mehar, Kotri, Thatta, Talpur Wadda, Badin, Dokri, Mirpurkhas, Maleer Karachi, Chor, Sanghar, Dadu, Nasim Nagar Chowk Hyderabad, Wahi Pandhi, Baldia Collony Hyderabad, Sakrand, Koreja, Bozdar, Makli, Khairpur, Johee, War, Chambar, Ranipur, Tando Wali Mohammad Hyderabad, Ghulam Ullah, Shahdadpur, Hatri, Lakhat, Bhan Saeedabad, Faiz Ganj, Halani, Jacobabad, Matiari, Sobho Dero, Gulshan-e-Hadeed Karachi, Nawabshah, Hyderabad, Shahbander, Sultani Wah, Thoree, Moro, Noshehroferoz, Khesana Moree, Kandhkot, Matli, Tando Jam, Khairpurnathan Shah, Khanpur, Banon, Bathoro, Ghotki, Johi, Sindh University Colony, Shikarpur, Qambar, Warah, Sukkur, Garho, Tarai, Ibrahim Haidri Karachi, Dahon Mail Mori, Gupchani, Kakar, Dhabechi, Deaee, Chodughee, Nawabshah, Khadro, Soomar Chanar, Suhrab Goth, Dadharko Farm, Khorwah, UmerKot, Larkana, Mithi, Jungshahi, Nao Kot, Bhirya, Jam Sahib, Tharoo Shah, Moya, Wahi Pandhi, Seree, Jamshoro Phatak, Pano Aqail, Liyari Karachi, Tando Bago, Sakro, Bozdar, Makli, Johee, Hussainabad Hyderabad, War, Ranipur, Ghulam Ullah, Shahdadpur, MirpurMathelo, Bhan Saeedabad, Khuda Kee Basti, Hala, Rato Dero, Tando Mohammad Khan, Wahdat Collony Hyderabad, Gambat, Mirpur Sakro , Dighri, Golarchi, Tando Allahyar, Nasarpur, Nangarparkar, Jhudo and other cities and towns Sindh.

Thousands of Worker of Awami Tahreek and Sindhiani Tahreek with their RED & BLACK Flags marching in Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Larkana, Badin, Thatta and Dadu. More than 340 workers have been arrested in different parts of Sindh. According to KTN reports the City Police has just arrested 32 activists of SST (student wing) and Awami Tahreek near Gul Centre Hyderabad.

While addressing the rallies and marches the speakers said that the government was blatantly violating the fundamental rights and constitutional provisions and MQM (Ruling Party Mutahida Qomi Movement) has broken all its past records of brutality. They said under the directions of General Musharaf they are working for Emergency and Martial Law and deliberately the local police in front of armed terrorists was given only lathees. They said we salute the courage and firmness of Justice Iftikahr. They said Sindh and Federal Governments are responsible for this massacre of innocent Sindhis, Pakhtoons, Balochs and Punjabis and Supreme Court should take notice of this savage brutality as this entire episode has been planned by Mr. Musharaf, MQM and ML Q.

The strike and rallies were headed by Mohammad Khan Bhurgri, Wishnoo Mal, Ayaz Chandio, Mazhar Rahoojo, Gul Hasan Keerano, Rasool Bux Brohi, Haidar Mallah, Deewan Aroo Mal, Ghani Josh Palijo, Mustafa Leghari, Tahir Soomro, Deedar Sagar, Sahib Dinon Samon, Darya Khan, Latif Brohi, Ghafar Malik, Haee Bhutto, Dr. Ubed, Sartaj Chandio, Manzoor Marfani, Niaz Haidri, Khadim Tunio, Rajab Gaincho, Karim Bux Brohi, Akbar Mangnhar, Niaz Jattoi, Asghar Shah, Luqman Sethar, Manzoor Lahar, Akbar Jattoi, Shani Soomro, Muhammad Ali Junejo, Zulfiqar Phulpoto, BAnoo Umrani, Jalal Khan Chandio, Subhani Dahri, Ali Ahmed Bhano, Saiqa Mangnhar, Hakeem Zangejo, Aajiz Samon, Nagji Maharaj, Chothchand, Arbab Jinjh, Khalid Hussain, Ayaz Latif Palijo, Qadir Ranto, Fahim Soomro, Noor Nabi Rahojo, Hasan Ali Bapar, Bilawal Lashari, Roshan Ali, Rasool Bux Khaskheli, Javed Rajpar, Meer Hassan, Gulzar Otho, Hakeem Halepoto, Krar Rebari, Syed Jalal Shah, Shama Bhatti, Abdul salam Soomro, Javed Larak, Najam Jogi, Advocate Hadi Bhut, Mumtaz Naich, Ali Nawaz Dahri, Anees Khaskheli, Tairq Mehmood Khoso, Dedar Kandrani, Inyat Aarbani, Syed Lal Shah, Abdul ur Rehman Palijo, Anwar Rind, Arif Jhatyal, Nazeer Qureshi, Abdul ur Rehman Samoon, Mama Peeral Bhanoo, Lal Jarwar, Mamoon Detho, Nazeer Rajpar, Abbas Khoro, Agha Quban, Arif Junejo, Sohail Chanar, Kalim Malik, Nisar Buriro, Rashid Daoodpoto, Rehman Dahri, Riaz Pechooho, Sattar Mahar, Shafik Shahani, Sidiq Otho, Urs Jogi, Ismail Khaskheli, Zahid Mallah and others.

According to sources followed by the shameless attack on Aaj TV, MQM and Agencies once again have issued directions to Karachi based TV channels and Urdu media to not to cover General Strike News and Awami Tahreek Protest Day activities.

Brutal mass killings in Karachi

From: "awakenings"
Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 15:23:11 +0500

Chief Justice Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar in Karachi. 24 killed by terrorists

NEWS ALERT: -Thousand of activists of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muslim League Nawaz (ML-N), Awami Tahreek (AT), Jamaait Islami, Sindhiani Tahreek, Awami National Party (ANP), Tahreek Insaf, Jamiat Ulmai Islam (JUI), Jamiat Ulmai Pakistan, Sunni Tahreek, PSF, SST, Members and Office bearers of Malir Bar Association and Karachi Bar Association have been attacked here in Karachi today by the terrorists of MQM (Mutahida Qomi Movement. (Aaj TV, Sindh TV, GEO, KTN & ARY).

- Chief Justice of Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chodhri arrives in Karachi and refuses to travel to High Court in Government Helicopter. I will go with Lawyers by Road (Justice Chodhri) 12Noon. ARY, GEO, KTN

-Police, Rangers and Civilian Terrorists have tried to kidnap Chief Justice from Airport. (Aitzaz Hasan Adv, Ali Ahmed Kurd Adv, Munir Malik Adv).

-Sindh High Court takes suo-moto notice of manhandling of lawyers and road blocks. Home Secretary undertakes to provide safe-passage to Chief Justice. Sindh TV & KTN

-A procession of Peoples Party (PPP) led by Sayed Qaim Ali Shah, Nisar Khoro, Raza Rabbani, Dr. Fahmeeda Mirza, Sheeri Rehman heading towards Airport has been attacked near Natha Goth, straight firing by MQM terrorists, 11 injured. ARY, KTN

-A procession of Awami National Party led by Shahi Sayed under attack at Shah-e-Rahe Faisal, 2 Pakhtoon workers killed by terrorists of MQM. Aaj TV 12-35 pm.

-MQM has broken all its past records of brutality. Under the directions of Musharaf they are working for Emergency and Martial Law. (Abrar ul Hasan Adv, Noornaz Agha Adv, Rashhed Rizvi Adv)

- Firing in Maleer, Abbasi Shaheed, Gujjar Nala & Gulbahar areas led to the killing of two Pakhtoons and one Punjabi speaking worker of opposition. Continuing violence on Shah-e-Rahe Faisal. 62 persons injured. Police & Rangers disappear. Aaj TV, Sindh TV 11-42 pm.

-Clothes of Sindhiani Tahreek workers have been torn apart by MQM workers near Nursery. ( Sindhiani Tahreek leader Saiqa MAngnhar) KTN 1-37 pm

-A procession of JUP attacked by MQM near I.I Chudrigar Road. (JUP)

-Hospitals have not been spared by armed terrorists. MQM gunmen firing at the hospital for about one hour from the roofs of adjoining buildings injuring few patients & several visitors. A hospital staff member said, "We were lying on the ground to avoid getting injured."

-We have just been given lathees and terrorists are fully armed. This is a deliberate high level conspiracy. (DIG Mushtaq Shah and Pashtoon, Sindhi and Punjabi Police Constables) KTN 1-47 pm.

-Tahreek Insaf rally under attack by MQM, two workers carrying portraits of Chief Justice and Imran Khan injured near II Chudrigar Road. (JUP) Aaj TV -12 40 pm.

- MQM leaders say that the anti-Mohajir policy of Aaj, ARY, GEO, KTN and Sindh TV would be fully resisted. ARY

-Five dead bodies of lawyers and oppositions workers just discovered by GEO Tv. 1-21 pm

-Awami Tahreek workers attacked on Shah-e-Raah Faisal. Aaj Tv 1-14 pm

-Two workers of Jamaait Islami killed by terrorists. Sindh TV. 12-55 am.

-Awami Tahreek rally led by Rasool Bux Palijo reaches to High Court Bar. This entire brutal episode has been planned by Mr. Musharaf. (Awami Tahreek Chief Rasool Bux Palijo)

- 11 persons lost lives during ghastly manslaughter in different areas by MQM. According to TV, the entire Malir Halt and Shaherai Faisal Township had passed into the hands of a group of klashnikov-weilding young terrorist.

-Sindh and Federal Governments are responsible for this massacre of innocent people, Sindh High Court and Hon Supreme Court should take notice of this savage brutality. (Naeem Qureshi General Secretary Karachi Bar, Ayaz Latif Palijo Advocate of FRJP, Imdad Aiwan of PBC and Yousif Legahri of Pakistan Bar Council)

-Two Sindhi and Punjabi speaking lady lawyers kidnapped by MQM teoosrists near Maleer. Aaj

-Reporters and cameramen of KTN, Aaj TV and Sindh TV attacked in MQM areas. Aaj TV.

-MQM is involved in massacre in Karachi, why Govt is not taking any action? ( Sheree Rehman, Qaim Ali Shah, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, Sardar Raheem, Liaqat Baloch, Syed Alam Shah and Asfandyar Wali) GEO, Sindh TV 1-25 pm

-We are peaceful. PPP, Jamait Islami, JUP, Suni Tahreek, Punjabi Pakhtoon Itehad, ANP and Nawaz League and Sindhi and Baloch Nationalists are attacking our workers. MQM Rally is heading towards Mazaar-e-Quaid & Tibert Centre. (MQM leaders Nasreen Jaleel, Babar Ghori, Dr. Faruq Sattar)

-Men, women and children carrying the flags of PPP, ML-N, ANP, Awami Tahreek, MMA are heading towards Airport. ARY 1-47 pm.

-24 Workers of Opposition have been killed. (Zafar Jhagra of ML N)KTN 2-08 pm.

-Properties of Balochs, Punjabis, Sindhis and Pakhtoons have been attacked by Muhajirs. (Punjabi Pakhtoon Itehad) GEO

-Firing on rallies of PPP and Jamaait Islami. Baloch workers coming out from Liari and Ibrahim Haidri attacked by MQM near Civil Hospital and Korangi Road. Aaj TV. 1-53 pm

-Pakistan Bar Council calls upon all lawyers of Pakistan to hold rallies and sit-ins for release of Chief Justice from Airport Lounge. (PBC & SBC)

-Chief Justice will have to go back to Islamabad. (MQM Minister Wasim Akhter) ARY TV. 1-55

-Entire Shah-e-Rahe Faisal is under attack by terrorists. Buses and cars are burning. (Aziz Jan of Sindh Tv and Manzoor Shaikh of KTN) 1-50 pm.

-PPP, ML N and MMA leaders say that the people of Sindh, Punjab, NWFP, Balochistan and Seraiki support the integrity & courage of the Chief Justice.

-Women Rally of Muslim League Nawaz, PPP and Sindhiani Tahreek attacked by terrorists. KTN 2-11 pm

- Dead bodies of lawyers and Opposition workers are lying in different areas. 3 dead bodies found in TNT colony, 2 near security printing press and 2 near kala board. (Arbab Chandio of KTN) KTN, ARY and Sindh Tv.

-2 workers of Nawaz League killed by MQM. (Zafar Iqbal) 2-13 pm.

-6 workers of MQM have been killed by ARD and MMA workers, new reference be filed against Chief Justice. (Wasim Akhter of MQM)

-Trains and Buses coming from interior Sindh attacked by MQM workers. Aaj Tv

-Jinnah Airport is under siege (Dodo Chandio of KTN) 2-18 pm

-Sunni Tahreek leader Sohail Qadri killed by ruling party Mutahida (MQM) terrorists. Aaj & TV-1 2-30 pm

-KTN reporter Hadi Sangi attacked. KTN 2-12 pm

-Edhee Centre driver killed by terrorists. ARY, GEO TV 2-10 pm

-Bomb blast near Maleer. KTN 2-22 pm

-Karachi is ours. PPP, ML-N, ARD, MMA, PONM, Awami Tahreek, Jamaait Islami, JUI, JUP, Sunni Tahreek, Tahreek Insaf and ANP are united they will not bow before terrorists. ARY & Aaj Tv 2-33 pm

-PPP workers Fahad Khan and Aslam and Jamaait worker Shujait and Sindhi labour Rahmatullah Buriro murdered by MQM terrosits. Aaj TV and KTN 2-40 pm

-Awami Tahreek Central Leader and President of Jacobabad Nawaz Kandrani murdered by MQM terrorists near Karachi Airport. Firing on Awami Tahreek Rally. Rasool Bux Palijo, Wishnoo Mal, Sayed Alam Shah, Mohammad Khan Bhurgri, Qadir Ranto and Sindhiani Tahreek leaders give strike call for tomorow. Aaj, KTN & Sindh TV 3-04 pm

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Protest messages.

From: Sassui Palijo
Date: May 13, 2007 2:27 AM
Subject: Strongly condemn the brutal mass killings
To: sindh-politics@yahoogroups.com

We strongly condemn the brutal mass killings by the armed terrorists of Sindh government. We urge the supreme court of Pakistan to take sou moto notice of those innocent killings of PPP workers and others in Karachi and take action against those state sponsored terrorists. The Pakistan people's Party will observe black day tomorrow on May 13. Once again we would like to make it clear that we are not afraid, we will stand firm and will keep struggling against all sorts of oppressions and will keep fighting against those who are the most potent threat to country's internal security.

Sassui Palijo
MPA PPPP

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Mohtarma Bhutto condemns killing of PPP workers and others in Karachi

Islamabad May 12, 2007: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has strongly condemned the civil war conditions created by the ruling party in Karachi. This resulted in the murder of 14 PPP workers and injuries to scores of people.

"The sight of the sons of Pakistan bleeding to death in the street of Karachi is a shocking insight into the cruelty of the present regime", the Former Prime Minister said in a statement today. The PPP received reports that its rallies were surrounded by trucks and buses to besiege them. Then firing was started by MQM workers, police, law enforcement and men in plain clothes and masks with intent to injure and kill.

At least fifteen people and wounded nearly sixty people according to reports thus far.

Motharma Bhutto said the democratic and constitutional right of the lawyers to welcome the Chief Justice who was to address the Karachi bar was punctured by government sponsored shooting with dead bodies lying in the roads and blood flowing on the streets.

She expressed the concern that coalition members of the regime were creating civil war conditions to impose emergency to strengthen dictatorship and prolong the unrepresentative anti people forces that emerged from the rugged elections of 2002.

She condoled with the families of the deceased and said that her heart went out to those who had lost their loved ones. The former Prime Minister commiserated with the wounded and added that their sacrifices would not go in vain.

Called upon the Supreme Court to take suo moto notice of the incident, registration of criminal cases against the law enforcement and MQM members involved, their arrest and prosecution.

Mohtarma Bhutto directed the Party leadership to visit the bereaved family members of the Party workers who lost their lives and look after injured.

She also directed the Party�s lawyers� wing to provide legal support to the Party workers.
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From: Aziz Narejo
Date: May 13, 2007 7:10 AM
Subject: SANA condemns massacre in Karachi, demands govt. resignation
To: sindh-politics@yahoogroups.com

SANA condemns massacre in Karachi, demands govt. resignation

Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) has strongly condemned the massacre of peaceful citizens and civil society activists in Karachi and has demanded an immediate resignation of the government. SANA president Aziz Narejo in a statement issued in Houston, Texas also expressed grief and sorrow at the loss of life as a result of the terrible violence and held the government and its coalition partner MQM directly responsible for the tragedy.

He said the massacre was carried out in a planned way to sabotage the reception of the Chief Justice of Pakistan who had flown to Karachi to address the Sindhi High Court Bar Association. He said the Chief Justice had earlier visited Rawalpindi, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Peshawar and Lahore and a large number of lawyers and citizens had gathered at those places and on the roads to welcome him but all the meetings and rallies had remained extremely peaceful. The situation worsened when MQM announced to hold a rally in Karachi to coincide with the lawyers� rally, which was previously announced to receive the Chief Justice.

SANA president said that the popularity of the Chief Justice has unnerved the military regime and its collaborators, PML-Q and MQM, and as they see the power slipping out of their hands, they have resolved to go to any length to continue their rule. Prior to the lawyers� rally in Karachi, the government tried to intimidate the lawyers and the opposition parties, arrested hundreds of activists and stopped the people from participating in the rallies. As reports say the armed MQM men had occupied some overhead bridges and several other strategic locations overnight in Karachi. They started direct firing on the people as they were on their way to the airport to receive the Chief Justice.

Aziz Narejo said that the government and its allies are sadly repeating the history and using fascist tactics as they did in 1971 when they formed outfits like the �Al-Shams� and �Al-Badar� in the Eastern wing of the country and inflicted, insult, injury and violence to the people in the majority province demanding justice in the country. He said the policies pursued by the present government and its allies would cause similar situation if not stopped in time.

He demanded immediate resignation of the government as its policies were leading the country to civil war like situation, which would be very harmful for the country. He said a neutral set up should hold free and fair elections to take the country out of the mess created by the illegitimate government.

Aziz Narejo
President, SANA
(Sindhi Association of North America)
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From: Mashooq Talpur
Date: May 12, 2007 6:32 AM
To: sindh-politics@yahoogroups.com

The rallies by political parties in support of government, make no sense, when you are already in office to whom what are you demanding, just to show political muscle indicate's that still our political parties needs more dictatorship rule in this country , and still we are immature with zero tolerance. It is not your right to come to street when you are sitting in Governor house and ministerial offices.

Karachi needs peace but the party who have mandate of people, what a shame to its leader's when people of Karachi are suffering from load shedding, they don't come to streets but when our Honorable Chief Justice comes to address 50th anniversary celebration, they come out with rally and block Karachi roads to show the muscle of power...

Believe me Pakistan needs 'Imam Khomeini' to clean up all the mess, we talk about democracy, but we must learn the lesson from UK political happening where a sitting Prime Minister leave the office with dignity and honor ,and we are sorry to say we can't tolerate a Chief Justice of our superior court, who has at least done at least save our one and the only Steel Mill which is running in profit and providing thousands of jobs to people of Pakistan. How many jobs have government given? I salute to Chief Justice, because he is at least fighting for justice which he may not get, our history shows but at least shown to peoples of Pakistan, that Pakistan will be rule one day with rule of law &... those who choice the path of Justice, ALLAH ALMIGHTY HELPS THOSE PEOPLE... at least I have faith and believe in that ....

Mashooq Talpur
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