Senior Pakistani politician accused MQM in Shia killing

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) Chairman Afaq Ahmed on Friday strongly condemned the killings of Shias, and said there was an incorrect perception among the people that the Taliban were behind the attacks and he accused a rival (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) party of orchestrating the murders.He also strongly condemned the killings of senior leaders of his party a day earlier and called for the immediate sacking of Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad.Afaq Ahmed said that he would start his election campaign in all the five districts of the city as soon as a neutral caretaker government took charge and he was optimistic that the people would respond.Addressing a press conference at the party office, he condemned the killing of MQM-H’s vice-chairman and three other party leaders. He demanded the immediate removal of the governor and accused him of being involved in the targeted killings in the city.He alleged that the troika of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Governor Sindh Ishrat-ul-Ebad and MQM chief Altaf Hussain were responsible for the lawlessness in the city.Speaking about the election campaign, he said it was too early to say anything, but added it was no secret that the movements of the MQM-H were restricted and as soon as a caretaker government took charge, his party would be able to visit different parts of the city.When asked how he planned to prepare for his election campaign considering a number of key supporters had left his party, Afaq replied that his loyalists were still behind him.The MQM-H leader believed that free and fair elections could only be held if terrorists were arrested and punished according to the law.Quoting a report of a human rights’ organisation, he claimed that over 9,000 people were killed during the period from 2002 to 2012 and 7,000 of these lost their lives in the PPP tenure alone./129