Pak minorities body demands Musharraf's resignation

ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) on Sunday strongly condemned the violence in Karachi on Saturday and demanded the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf to facilitate the formation of a national government based on common consensus.

"The violence committed against the workers of opposition political parties, journalists and lawyers is barbaric and a brutal act of terrorism," APMA Chairman Shahbaz Bhatti said in a statement here.

He said the government deliberately stoked the violence which left 39 dead and several injured, while police were silent spectators during the blood shed.

"Blood and sacrifices of innocent people of Pakistan would not go in vain and this is the beginning of Peoples' Revolution against the tyrannical forces," he said.

"The government of Pervez Musharraf has failed to ensure security for its citizens. Thus, Federal and provincial government of Sindh are responsible for the loss of lives in
Karachi," he said.

Accusing the government of curbing the freedom of the press, Bhatti said, "The repeated attacks on Journalists and television channels are heinous crimes and conspiracy of the government to curb the freedom of expression".

Bhatti also appealed to the Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Rana Bhagwandas to form a judicial commission headed by the Chief justice of Sindh High Court to hold inquiry and punish those responsible for the violence.