KARACHI: 12 May 2007, the bloodiest day when people of the Metropolis witnessed a huge massacre after the clashes took place between political parties.
Though it has been thirteen years after the carnage, but people of Karachi still remember the darkest day when armed militants roamed the city in broad daylight and killed more than 50 people in various parts.
On this day, violence had broken out when the then-President of Pakistan General (retd) Pervez Musharraf deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and he reached Karachi to rouse support for his cause where thousands of lawyers had gathered in the form of rallies to reach Jinnah International airport to receive him.
However, the situation got tense when the armed militants and activists of political parties clashed and opened fire on each other. Since Karachi was an MQM stronghold, it was observed at that time that MQM was involved in the carnage that took place on May 12.
According to media reports, law and order on that particular day was nowhere to be seen as armed militants took over the city and brutally killed the innocent people without hesitation.
Shahrah-e-Faisal corridor, Patel Para/Business Recorder Road, Paposh Nagar, Banaras and Lyari, and other areas came under attack by the rival groups.
The bloody memories still ingrained in city’s political discourse and political parties have been commemorating the day of violence by organising public gatherings in the city.
Political parties of Pakistan including Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and the Awami National Party (ANP) have arranged condolence programmes for May 12 in memory of those killed in the violence.
According to the JI’s secretary information Zahid Askari, the party has organised a multi-party conference to commemorate the May 12 carnage.
“The 12 May carnage was one of the darkest hours in its history. The families of the victims are still waiting for justice and inquiries into the clashes have yet to be completed,” said Askari.
