QUETTA, March 8: The Muttihada Majlis-i-Amal and a prominent Shia religious personality have blamed the federal agencies and fanatics responsible for the loss of human lives and destruction of property in Quetta on March 2.

They have urged the people to frustrate the designs of the conspirators by forging unity and solidarity in their ranks. Speaking at a joint news conference at MPA hostel on Sunday, MMA Balochistan chief Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, MNA, and Allama Yaqoob Ali Tawasoli, Imam of Jumma, announced that there was no dispute between Sunnis and Shias but invisible forces were dividing the followers of both the sects.

The two leaders condemned the killing of innocent people and destruction of property by terrorists and miscreants. Maulana Sherani alleged that 'agencies' were behind the armed extremist groups who were using fanatics for their ulterior motives by creating hatred between Sunnis and Shais.

He maintained that ulema of both the sects were addressing a joint press conference which "proves that there is no conflict between us." He stated that the MMA had a clear policy that did not accept armed groups, whether they be Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Sipah-i-Muhammad, Sipah-i-Sahaba, Ansarul Islam or Mujihad group.

He added that federal institutions were patronizing the extremist factions who were out to create disorder in society. Responding to a question, the MMA leader, whose party is a coalition partner in the provincial government, said law and order was directly controlled by the federal government in the new district government system.

The provincial government, he said, had a minimum role, "so it should not be held responsible for the March 2 incident." About the possibility of governor's rule being imposed in the province, the Maulana said if the government wanted to disintegrate the country then Pakistan's name would be replaced with another name but we would be living in our homes with a new name.

He said the JUI-F had been successful in foiling the conspiracy of creating hatred between Pashtoons and Balochs in the province. Similarly, he said, "we would frustrate the designs of extremists to pit Sunnis and Shias against each other."

Allama Yaqoob Ali Tawasoli, Imam of Jumma, blamed the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi for the Ashura-day attack. He said the Kalashnikov recovered from the scene of the tragedy was inscribed with the name of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

When reminded that federal interior minister Faisal Saleh Hayat had denied in the Senate that security forces had killed most people, Allama Tawasoli said the minister was uttering a lie.

He added: "We would produce evidence of security forces killing people before the Judicial Commission probing the incident." Allama Tawasoli declared that Shia followers fully believed in the unity of the Muslims but extremists and fanatics were indulging in the terrorist acts. It was the responsibility of the government to eliminate the saboteurs' network.

Those present on the occasion included MNA Maulana Noor Muhammad, Allama Juma Asadi, Syed Ashraf Zaidi, President Shia Conference, Balochistan, Maulana Wasay, senior minister, and Colonel (retd) Younus Chengazi, minister for forests.

AFP adds: A bloodbath which left 47 people dead after an attack on a religious procession in Quetta was mostly caused by security forces, a government minister said on Monday. "Most of the killings were caused by police fire instead of attack by terrorists," Younas Changezi sports minister for surrounding Balochistan told AFP.