KARACHI – Despite all stumbling blocks in its way and the ban on its public gathering in Lyari by the Sindh government, the Awami Tehreek with the help of Uzair Jan Baloch-led Karachi City Alliance organised a huge public meeting at Gabool Park on Sunday to pay tribute to those killed in a deadly attack on its pro-Sindh rally on May 22.
A day before the event, the Sindh Home Department imposed the Section-144, banning public gatherings for five days across the province. Following this order, all roads leading to Lyari and Red-Zone area were sealed by placing containers and barricades. In addition, the government issued orders for the arrest of AT President Ayaz Latif Palijo under the MPO (maintenance of public order) rules. But, he managed to enter Lyari to address the event titled “Shaheedan-e-Muhabbat-e-Sindh Jalsa”.
Braving all odds, scores of workers of the Awami Tehreek and a large number of Baloch people managed to reach the venue of the meeting that was attended by local leaders from other political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami Sindh chief Maulana Asadullah Bhutto, Sindh National Movement chief Ali Hassan Chandio, the Awami National Party (ANP) provincial general secretary and PML-N leader Sultan Buhadur.
Addressing the public meeting, Ayaz Latif Palijo asserted that the Sindhis and Balochs were not afraid of any threats.
Referring to the government notification banning public events, the Awami Tehreek chief alleged that the ruling PPP had created an atmosphere of fear, so that the people could not attend this meeting. The government, he added, deployed 4,000 policemen to besiege Lyari and bar people from attending the meeting. “Nobody can stop us from entering Lyari and other parts of Karachi,” he averred.
Palijo assailed the PPP, saying it was following into the footprints of former despots, Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf. He also warned that if the ruling PPP did not change its anti-Sindh policies, the whole province would evolve the shape of a ‘red zone’.  Contending that the federal government allowed the Difa-e-Pakistan to carry out its long march from Lahore to Islamabad under a complete security cover, and that law enforcement agencies provided protection to a rally for Muhajir province in Karachi, Palijo regretted that the Sindh government was trying to stop the indigenous people to assemble in Lyari to commemorate the victims of the Love Sindh rally.  Palijo alleged that hurdles were put in the ways of workers coming from other cities in the form of caravans to sabotage the condolence meeting.
He said he himself reached the venue by local buses.
 He also alleged that over 500 workers, who were on their way to the event, were arrested.
Palijo made clear that their differences were with the MQM and its policies not with the Urdu-speaking people whom, he called, as brothers of the Sindhis. Coming down hard on the PPP, he said that Abdul Rehman of Lyari was declared a dacoit and killed, while Rehman Malik, who fled leaving former premier Benazir Bhutto behind in danger in the Rawalpindi blast, was promoted to the position of interior minister.
Palijo said that the leaders and ministers had also run away from Karsaz on Shahrah-e-Faisal in Karachi after a bomb attack on Benazir Bhutto’s caravan, but the people of Lyari stayed there with their leader.
He lauded the role of Uzair Jan Baloch for Lyari and its people, branding him as their protector. He also rejected the proposed Zulfikarabad city project in Thatta district, terming it a ploy to occupy the coastal belt.
He condemned the PPP government for not arresting attackers of the Love Sindh rally. Speaking on the occasion, Karachi City Alliance Uzair Jan Baloch said the government had announced reward on their heads to frighten them, but they would not feel fear. He said that “our fight is with the enemies of Pakistan”.
Palijo, however, vowed to avenge the blood shed during the riots in Karachi following the attack on his party’s rally. “These murders will not go unnoticed. Those shedding blood will be held accountable.”
Palijo announced that his party would take revenge of the murders not from the innocent Urdu-speaking people, but from “the terrorists”. He told the media that his party received text messages from a certain political party last night, threatening a repeat of the May 12 scenario during today’s meeting.  ANP leader Bashir Jan condemned the ban on public gatherings and obstacles created by the government to stop the rally. He said that city’s peace was deteriorated under the policy of reconciliation.
National flags, banners and portraits in support of the army were hoisted in the park. Besides, tableaus were presented and revolutionary songs were played during the event.