APMA chief injured, two APMA workers killed

Written by: Jawad Mazhar (ROD)

Karachi, Pakistan, Oct 19^th (ROD): All Pakistan Minorities Alliance’s (AMPA) two Christian political activists killed, APMA chief Shahbaz Bhatti sustained minor injuries to his right hand, several wounded and number of APMA worker are missing after the bomb attack on Benazir Bhutto’s (BB) motorcade which was heading to the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah on Faisal Highway Karachi. APMA’s Chief Shahbaz Bhatti accompanied Ms Bhutto in the plane from London to Karachi.

Khalid Gill told ROD that more than 25 thousand party workers of APMA flocked up to greet BB on her return to Pakistan after 8 years exile, outside and inside the airport at Karachi.

APMA’s Punjab’s Zonal Coordinator Khalid Gill said that Tahir Naveed Chaudhary, Pervaiz Rafiq, Naveed Amir, and Najmi Saleem led APMA workers from Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan and Lahore zones respectively to Karachi airport.

Gill said that their workers from North West Frontier Province (NWFP) were led by APMA Provincial President Prince Javed and APMA activists from Balochistan province were headed by Provincial President Mr Jaffar George. He added that Sikh members were guided by Sardar Kalian Singh and Hindu APMA members were led by Bearbal Ram Chohan.

Gill also said that more than 25,000 APMA activists from all across the country were present on the occasion to greet Ms Bhutto warmly back home. He added that APMA had the plans of freeing doves and displaying fireworks, but the topsy turvy created by the two bomb explosions ruined the peacefulness of the procession.

Khalid Gill also said that two (02) of the APMA workers Ashraf Raza (Karachi) and Ilyas Masih (Sargodha) were killed on the spot as the bombs exploded only 120 feet apart from the APMA’s truck. Gill maintained that these explosions left many APMA workers severely injured and many are still missing.

Gill announced APMA’s three days mourning from Oct 19^th to Oct 21^st, for the People killed or wounded in the bomb attack and condemned these attacks.

Chairman Rays of Development Organization (ROD) Mr Ferhan Mazher condemned these attacks on the BB’s caravan. He said this is the conspiracy against the democracy in Pakistan.