Gearing up for May 12

The political temperature remained high in the provincial capital on Thursday — two days before the May 12 show down that will see the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry visit the city.

With the Muttihida Qaumi Movement (MQM) already planning a rally on the same day, the Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam disclosed that other coalition parties will also be joining the MQM rally as the government had decided to fight with the opposition on the same political grounds.

Despite the request of the Sindh government, the leaders of the lawyers’ bodies claim that there was had no intention or plan to postponement of the visit of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

A confrontation-like situation has created a very palpable sense of fear among the people. Pir Pagara, chief of the Functional Muslim League, a coalition member of the present set up, warned that martial law could be imposed in the country if any law and order situation was created on 12 May due to the rallies of the political parties marking the arrival of the Chief Justice.

The situation became even tenser as both the transporters and business community were holding meetings to plan the closure of their businesses on Saturday. The Sindh administration, too, is busy chalking out a strategy in view of the political show down in the city on May 12.

Arbab told the media that the opposition had converted the judicial issue into political oneto bring the people onto the streets.

The Chief Minister also called on the Sindh Governor in the evening and sources said that the political situation as well as administrative measures had come under discussion in the meeting.

The MQM workers were busy setting up party camps in the city in preparation for the rally, while the leaders of the ARD and MMA claimed that their workers have also planned to set up welcome camps in city.

The authorities of the Sindh government also held two separate meeting to review the situation and first briefed the Sindh Governor, and later the Home Secretary, about the existing situation and expected scenario.

Sources said that the police and civil administration were worried by the situation and some of the senior officers advised the governor to convince the MQM to change its plans to defuse the tense situation.

However, Dr Farooq Sattar, deputy convener of the MQM, said that the opposition move was part of an anti-government campaign and it was the right of the MQM to defend the government, of which it is a part. The MQM was busy preparing to bring out a rally from Guru Mandir to Tibet Centre, MA Jinnah Road. The party has set up camps all over the city to mobilise the people.

Sattar told the newsmen at Karachi Press Club that May 12 was a part of the election campaign of the opposition parties and that the MQM would also show its strength, which was its right.

Meanwhile, the provincial ARD leader Syed Qaim Ali Shah claimed that all 26 opposition parties had completed their welcome plans for May 12 and declared that the participants of the opposition rally would be unarmed and workers only carry the party flags and portraits of their leaders. He told the newsmen after the meeting held by the component parties of the ARD that government would be responsible if any clashes were to emerge on the day.

On the other hand, the lawyers’ community and MMA, Awami National Party, Tehreek-e-Insaf and others parties were also busy preparing to welcome of the chief justice in Karachi.

But, another leader of the government’s coalition partners, Pir Pagara, called a hurried press conference on Thursday to issue a warning of impending martial law if there was any confrontation.

Sources said that Pir Pagara had called a press conference after meeting with a member of President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s think tank. He advised the opposition parties to avoid creating an untoward situation on the chief justice issue. If a serious law and order situation was created on May 12, resulting in casualties, then there was a high propability that martial law would be imposed in the country, he said. Pagara supported the President Musharraf and said that the entire Pakistan Army is completely united under the command of their Chief. He also said that if martial law was imposed, it would be done by General Musharraf.

On a somewhat unrelated note, Pagara said that Benazir Bhutto is not dealing with the government but is, in fact, cheating it.