Shia Muslims sits-in paralyse Karachi, disconnects city from upcountry

Karachi-based Shiites’ sit-in that began on Saturday noon to express solidarity with the sitters-in of Quetta has entered into second day on Sunday. Tens of thousands of Shiites participated in the sit-in being staged to press the federal government to dismiss Balochistan government and army control over Balochistan province.

“Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri, chief of Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen has appealed to 50 million Shiites not to sit at home and lodge their protest coming out of their houses,” Maulana Sadiq Raza Taqvi, secretary general of the MWM told the protestors at Numaish Chowrangi.

Shia Muslims came out of houses to participate in the sits-in responding positively to the call of Allama Jafri. Whole of Karachi was reverberating with the slogans of Labbaik Ya Mahdi (AS) and Labbaik Ya Hussain (AS). Thousands of women, children, youths and children were seen at the sit-in.

The sits-in at Numaish Chowrangi, Shahrah-e-Pakistan Incholi, Gulshan-e-Maymar Super Highway, National Highway Malir, Natha Khan Goth, Colony Gate, Star Gate, Korangi Industrial Area road, Landhi Babar Market, Steel Town, Nazimabad and North Nazimabad main roads, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, and at other places virtually paralysed the city. Karachi was disconnected from upcountry due to blockade of main highways.

MWM leaders Allama Shaikh Hassan Salahuddin, Maulana Rajab Ali Bangash, Maulana Aqeel Abbas Sadiqi, Maulana Ali Mohammad, Maulana Jafar Raza, Maulana Karimi, Professor Shaista Zaidi and Khanam Zahra Najafi spoke and condemned the callousness of the government.

Shiites protest rallied all out support from almost all the major political parties and big wigs of the country’s politics. Former President General Pervez Musharraf in his telephonic address expressed full support the Shia Muslims and their just demands.

Dr Farooq Sattar, Waseem Aftab and Wasay Jalil of the MQM called on the MWM leaders at Numaish sit-in and informed that MQM Chief Altaf Hussain support to the legitimate demands of the sitters-in. They informed that Altaf Hussain had not slept for last three nights.

“United States and Israel are playing dirty game in Pakistan and the region and they and their hired terrorists were massacring people in Pakistan, Syria and other countries,” Ghinwa Bhutto, Chairperson, PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) spoke at the sit-in.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s officials Dr Meraj ul Huda, Mohammad Hussain Mehanti, Nasraullah Shajji, Naeem ur Rehman and Sarfaraz Ahmed expressed their solidarity with the Shia Muslims. They said that they and MWM are part of Milli Yakjehti Council. The JI officials supported the demand of army control over Quetta

Senior politician Meraj Mohammad Khan, National Party’s Ayoob Qureshi, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s Asad Iqbal Butt and others also spoke at Numaish sit-in. They vowed that whole of Pakistan has turned up in support of oppressed Shia Muslims.

Allama Nazir Abbas Taqvi of Shia Ulema Council, Maulana Hassan Salahuddin of the MWM and Hassan Abidi of Imamia Students Organisation spoke at Malir National Highway. The residents of Clifton and the DHA went to stage sit-in at Bilawal House where Maulana Shabbir Meesmi and Maulana Mohammad Karimi spoke to the protestors. 

The MWM and other parties demanded of the government to launch an army operation against the notorious takfiri terrorists of the outlawed outfits.

“The countrywide sits-in will be continued till the demands are met altogether,” vowed MWM leader Sadiq Raza Taqvi.