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Journalism of Courage
Fresh political violence gripped Pakistans commercial capital,Karachi,on Thursday,leaving 15 people dead in fighting sparked by a senior ruling party leaders criticism of the citys dominant political group.
Angry mobs went on a rampage and burnt vehicles after Zulfiqar Mirza,a minister in the Sindh provincial assembly and senior member of President Asif Ali Zardaris Pakistan Peoples Party,urged the people of Karachi and Hyderabad,the second-largest city of Sindh,to stand up… and rid yourselves of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
I appeal to the people of Karachi especially,and of Hyderabad,to stand up for yourselves,for Pakistan,for Karachi and for your innocent children,and rid yourselves of these cursed ones, he said while talking to reporters,referring to senior MQM leaders.
In comments broadcast repeatedly by local television stations,he also criticised Mohajirs the descendants of Urdu-speakers who migrated from India for being ungrateful for the home they were given after the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
Police and rescue officials said that 15 people were killed and 21 injured in incidents of firing in many parts of the city since Wednesday night. At least one person was killed in Hyderabad,police said.
Several protests were held in Karachi and other cities of the province,where hundreds of angry protesters burnt tyres,chanted slogans against Mirza and burnt his effigies,demanding his removal as a minister.
Mirza later apologised for his comments. My statement last night was my personal view and was not meant to hurt anybodys sentiments. But if it has done that,I sincerely apologise, he said in a statement.
