Karachi violence: Tension grips city after Mirza's statements

KARACHI: Sindh Senior minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza has said that Afaq Ahmed is the real leader of the Urdu speaking people and he is the second biggest political prisoner after Asif Ali Zardari.

He was addressing the media at a dinner arranged by Awami National Party’s Sindh chief Shahi Syed’s residence, Mardan house here on Wednesday.

Mirza said that “if someone says that Afaq Ahmed is a criminal and a murderer, then I will say Altaf Hussain is a 100-times bigger criminal than Afaq.”

He said that he had met with Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqeeqi Chief Afaq Ahmed twice and that Ahmed was the real leader of the Urdu-speaking community. “The first time I met with Ahmed was when Dr Ishratul Ibad was still the governor and he pressured me not to reveal my meeting with Ahmed. I told Dr Ibad that I had to meet Ahmed since I am their minister”.

Mirza said that Ahmed was facing jail time without being convicted of a crime.

He said that he will continue his fight against criminals, murderers, and extortionist as long as he was alive.

I watched this news at night and now while writing this blog I am dressed up for university but there is no transport on road, after watching news I came to know that few vehicles torched. 8 died and dozens of people were injured in violence which news claimed as violence created by unidentified persons. Mirza's statement torn the peace of Karachi. People in different parts of Sindh have resorted to aerial firing just because Zulfiqar Mirza has spoken non-sense that in his opinion, Afaq Ahmed is the true leaders of Mohajirs etc. Replying to Mirza's non-sense statement, MQM member Fiasal Sabzwari said that now it is definite that who is voilating peace in Karachi but the fact is that the most of violation in the city is done by MQM, yes it was not right statement given by one mad man, that does not mean that you will violate the peace, kill innocents and torching vehicles all over city but in Sindh as well.