Attack on election rally worst kind of terrorism: Siraj

LAHORE/KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Isalmi (JI) Amir Sirajul Haq in the early hours of Saturday declared the attack on his party’s election rally in Karachi the worst kind of violence and terrorism.

In a statement issued by the party here, he claimed the MQM was frightened in facing an imminent defeat in the NA-246 by-poll. Siraj said that MQM chief Altaf Hussain cannot keep his workers away from the habit of hounding through speeches alone.

The JI amir urged his party workers to show restraint and patience.

Speaking at a press conference earlier on Friday night, JI leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman had said the attack was an assassination attempt on Rashid Naseem – JI’s candidate for the NA-246 by-election.

He alleged that the MQM workers received orders to attack the JI rally from the Governor House.

“Where is Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who claimed restoration of peace in Karachi,” he questioned.

Rehman said the residents of the NA-246 constituency were with his party and announced another rally on Saturday besides holding a public gathering on Sunday.

He also said that JI Amir Haq will arrive in Karachi on Saturday.

JI’s amir for its Sindh chapter, Dr Merajul Huda on the occasion said that his party cannot be pushed against the wall through violence. “We have shown restraint in the past and would repeat it in the future as well,” he added.