Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has expressed fears that during April 02 countrywide strike, called by religious parties alliance, miscreants on directives from some elements in the Sindh coalition government may try to disrupt peace by setting afire vehicles and damaging government and public properties. "Some provincial ministers' statements indicate that vehicles would be set ablaze as done in the past during the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's strikes," MMA MNAs and MPAs Muhammad Hussain Mehnati and others said in a statement and adding apprehended government might resort to violent activities to defame the MMA.
MMA leaders condemned reports that traders and transporters were being threatened at the Sindh Governor House for not observing the strike on Saturday and alleged that Governor House had transformed into a torture cell.
They condemned the statement of Sindh Minister Adil Siddiqui, in which he hinted at firing on those observing strike on April 02 and said it unveiled the government's intentions of shooting workers and supporters of the MMA on the strike day.
The MMA parliamentarians said Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui had already threatened transporters and traders not to observe strike and now Adil Siddiqui's statement proved that Muttahida Qaumi Movement was trying to create law and order situation in the city.
"Killing people for minor political gains is not an unexpected phenomenon from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement as in past too, it has killed its own activists and leaders for publicity and blackmailing," they charged and adding warned transporters and traders to remain vigilant.
They assured common people, traders and transporters that April 02 strike would be peaceful and common people would observe the strike voluntarily against the price-hike, poverty and unemployment.
The MMA legislators said people still remember days when Muttahida used to compel people to observe strikes for several consecutive days and when transport operators were being killed brutally by its activists.
"It is on record that one such strike by the Muttahida, over 100 vehicles were torched in first two hours of the day to compel the people to remain at homes," they said adding that the MMA believes in democracy and its strike would remain successful.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for MMA claimed that the government was planning to announce public holiday on Saturday, April 02 for one-day match between India and Pakistan to give impression that the people remained at home to watch cricket.
"If government announces public holiday on Saturday, it will give no face saving to the government and if it is untrue than complete shutter down strike will be observed, which will be another serious blow to the government," he said.
According to him, some ministers had suggested the government to announce public holiday on April 02 all over the country on the eve of first one-day international between Pakistan and Indian cricket teams, saying it will dilute the strike.