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The News 11 May (d)<br />
Gearing up for May 12<br />
By Tahir Hasan Khan, Karachi<br />
The political temperature remained high in the provincial capital on Thursday — two days before the<br />
May 12 show down that will see the Chief Justice <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pakistan</strong> Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry visit the city.<br />
With the Muttihida Qaumi Movement (MQM) already planning a rally on the same day, the Sindh Chief<br />
Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam disclosed that other coalition parties will also be joining the MQM rally as the<br />
government had decided to fight with the opposition on the same political grounds.<br />
Despite the request <strong>of</strong> the Sindh government, the leaders <strong>of</strong> the lawyers’ bodies claim that there was<br />
no intention or plan to postpone <strong>of</strong> the visit <strong>of</strong> the Chief Justice <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pakistan</strong>.<br />
A confrontation-like situation has created a very palpable sense <strong>of</strong> fear among the people. Pir Pagara,<br />
chief <strong>of</strong> the Functional Muslim League, a coalition member <strong>of</strong> the present set up, warned that martial law could<br />
be imposed in the country if any law and order situation was created on 12 May due to the rallies <strong>of</strong> the political<br />
parties marking the arrival <strong>of</strong> the Chief Justice.<br />
The situation became even tenser as both the transporters and business community were holding<br />
meetings to plan the closure <strong>of</strong> their businesses on Saturday. The Sindh administration, too, is busy chalking<br />
out a strategy in view <strong>of</strong> the political show down in the city on May 12.<br />
Arbab told the media that the opposition had converted the judicial issue into political oneto bring the<br />
people onto the streets.<br />
The Chief Minister also called on the Sindh Governor in the evening and sources said that the political<br />
situation as well as administrative measures had come under discussion in the meeting.<br />
The MQM workers were busy setting up party camps in the city in preparation for the rally, while the<br />
leaders <strong>of</strong> the ARD and MMA claimed that their workers have also planned to set up welcome camps in city.<br />
The authorities <strong>of</strong> the Sindh government also held two separate meeting to review the situation and<br />
first briefed the Sindh Governor, and later the Home Secretary, about the existing situation and expected<br />
scenario.<br />
HRCP<br />
Sources said that the police and civil administration were worried by the situation and some <strong>of</strong> the<br />
senior <strong>of</strong>ficers advised the governor to convince the MQM to change its plans to defuse the tense situation.<br />
However, Dr Farooq Sattar, deputy convener <strong>of</strong> the MQM, said that the opposition move was part <strong>of</strong><br />
an anti-government campaign and it was the right <strong>of</strong> the MQM to defend the government, <strong>of</strong> which it is a part.<br />
The MQM was busy preparing to bring out a rally from Guru Mandir to Tibet Centre, MA Jinnah Road. The party<br />
has set up camps all over the city to mobilise the people.<br />
Sattar told the newsmen at Karachi Press Club that May 12 was a part <strong>of</strong> the election campaign <strong>of</strong> the<br />
opposition parties and that the MQM would also show its strength, which was its right.<br />
Meanwhile, the provincial ARD leader Syed Qaim Ali Shah claimed that all 26 opposition parties had<br />
completed their welcome plans for May 12 and declared that the participants <strong>of</strong> the opposition rally would be<br />
unarmed and workers only carry the party flags and portraits <strong>of</strong> their leaders. He told the newsmen after the<br />
meeting held by the component parties <strong>of</strong> the ARD that government would be responsible if any clashes were to<br />
emerge on the day.<br />
On the other hand, the lawyers’ community and MMA, Awami National Party, Tehreek-e-Insaf and<br />
others parties were also busy preparing to welcome <strong>of</strong> the chief justice in Karachi.<br />
But, another leader <strong>of</strong> the government’s coalition partners, Pir Pagara, called a hurried press<br />
conference on Thursday to issue a warning <strong>of</strong> impending martial law if there was any confrontation.<br />
Sources said that Pir Pagara had called a press conference after meeting with a member <strong>of</strong> President<br />
Gen Pervez Musharraf’s think tank. He advised the opposition parties to avoid creating an untoward situation<br />
on the chief justice issue. If a serious law and order situation was created on May 12, resulting in casualties,<br />
then there was a high propability that martial law would be imposed in the country, he said. Pagara supported<br />
the President Musharraf and said that the entire <strong>Pakistan</strong> Army is completely united under the command <strong>of</strong><br />
their Chief. He also said that if martial law was imposed, it would be done by General Musharraf.<br />
On a somewhat unrelated note, Pagara said that Benazir Bhutto is not dealing with the government but<br />
is, in fact, cheating it.<br />
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