Close holiday in Sindh on May 12.

KARACHI, May 09, 2009 (Balochistan Times) -- Shaken by an expected ethnic flare-up in Karachi, the Sindh government has announced a close holiday on May 12 in all over the province, appealing to the coalition partners, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), and the Awami National Party (ANP) to withdraw their respective strike calls for the day. Addressing a press conference at the chief minister house, flanked by provincial information minister, Shazia Marri, and minister for food and agriculture, Nadir Magsi, the chief minister said that the decision had been taken after consultation with the allied parties, and the law enforcement agencies officials. He rejected the impression that the decision had been taken on the pressure of coalition partners. The best way to pay homage to the martyrs of May 12 (2007) is to pray for them instead of inciting each others sentiments, Shah said. He said the PPP was the worst victim of May 12 as his 25 workers were killed in firing. We will observe May 12 as mourning day to pay homage to our martyrs, he said. To a question regarding judicial inquiry of the gruesome incident in which 50 people had lost their lives, while over 100 were injured, the chief minister said that investigations into the incident were already underway, however if the allied parties made any such demand then a commission led by a sitting high court judge could be constituted for the judicial inquiry. The chief minister said that the law enforcing personnel would remain vigilant on May 12 despite a close holiday in order to avert any untoward incident. No one is above the law. If any one tries to take the law in his hands, he will be treated with iron hands, Mr Shah repeated the traditional words. He said that section 144 had already been imposed in the province, which must be abided by. In reply to a question, he said that Islamabad had been worried about the law and order situation in Karachi, and that was Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had met the leadership of the MQM and the ANP during his last visit to Karachi. The chief minister said that Sohail Ansari, president of PPP (Karachi central) had been suspended for demanding a de-weaponisation campaign in Karachi under the supervision of army, compensation for the families of May 12 victims, and dismissal of Governor Sindh, Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)