KARACHI - Former Senator Faisal Raza Abidi, while underlining his innocence, has said that he should be executed publicly if he committed any crime or violated any law. “For the last 15 years, the Shia community has been lifting dead bodies of their loved ones, but I have never promoted revenge campaign and always spread the message of tolerance,” he said, and added, “I am here to teach the people the real terms of democracy and Dharna politics.”

Abidi expressed these views while addressing a press conference at his residence here in New Rizvia Society after his release from the prison here on Thursday evening. “I am innocent and have not committed any crime, but always raised the voice for justice and truth,” said Abdi, adding, “If I have committed any crime then I should be hanged publicly.”

“It is our responsibility to face the investigation, and every time I am ready to appear in front of any investigation team, if summoned,” he added.

He further said that democracy could not run in this country. Abidi also announced to train loyalists to do politics with the objective to bring change in the system.

He said that world was moving towards world war three, and it would start in year 2018. “It is our responsibility to unearth and defeat the conspiracies being hatched across the world to destabilise Pakistan,” he added.

He said that rulers traveled in bulletproof vehicles, but did not bother to visit the families of North Nazimabad incident.

It is worth mentioning here that Abidi is a former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and aide of party’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

He, however, distanced himself from parliamentary politics after he tendered his resignation from Senate.

Since then, he behaved like a proactive Shia community leader.

At the time he was taken into custody, it was reported that he would be interrogated over the murder of two seminary teachers in Lasbela, but later it was confirmed that he was not implicated in this case.

Meanwhile, a central leader of Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqi, commenting on the release of Raza Abdi has said that the provincial government is behind his release, while party leader Allama Taj Mohammad Hanafi who had pointed out the elements sheltering and supervising the target killers was still in detention.

“The release of Abidi has placed a big question mark over the credibility of the rulers and LEAs as the former senator had been heading a terrorist group,” said ASWJ leader, adding that activities of Abidi remained a threat for the sovereignty of the country.

He further said that the Chief Minister had released him due to pressure by foreign forces, while it has also emerged a threat for peace of Karachi.

He demanded the rulers to put Faisal Raza Abdi name in Exit Control List (ECL). Prejudiced attitude of government would force the party to initiate country wide protest drive, he added.