Governor meets Wali in bid to calm tension triggered by May 12 clashes

Karachi: Governor of southern Sindh province Ishratul Ibad, in a move to soothe the rising ethnic tension in Karachi after the May 12 violence, met with Awami National Party Chief Asfandyar Wali and offered condolences on the killing of ANP supporters.

After meeting with Wali for half an hour, Ibad told newspersons that the purpose of the meeting was to offer condolences for the deceased in the May 12 violence and no other issue was discussed.

"My meetings with various political parties are to bring peace in the city after the May 12 mayhem. I felt it is very necessary in the current situation of the city," Ibad said.

Street violence

Ibad said he was out of the country after the May 12 clashes and he met Wali to offer condolences soon after his arrival. The country's worst political street violence in two decades erupted when Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry arrived to address supporters in Karachi.

At least 51 people were killed and 50 were wounded in the clashes between pro-government activists, who opposed Chaudhry's visit and opposition supporters backing him in his confrontation with the government.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a coalition partner in the pro-President Pervez Musharraf government, was blamed for most of the killings in the city. Faced with criticism from its ruling ally over the violence, the MQM yesterday announced its willingness to withdraw its ministers from the federal and Sindh provincial cabinets.