Under fire from various political parties for the deadly violence in Karachi, the pro-Musharraf Muttahida Quami Movement has accused the opposition of hatching a conspiracy to disrupt peace in the commercial hub and creating political instability in the country.

MQM's deputy convenor and parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Farooq Sattar criticised political parties and suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry for their allegations against the party and claimed the entire nation was confused as to who should be held responsible for the loss of precious lives in Karachi.

However, he said, with the passage of time, answers to many questions had started emerging.

Over 40 people were killed in the heavy violence which broke out when suspended chief justice Iftikar M Chaudhry arrived in Karachi on May 12.

Sattar also apologised for the May 12 attack on Aaj TV channel offices in Karachi and the treatment meted out to media people on the day.

"Maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of the provincial government and being part of the provincial as well as the federal government I fully accept the responsibility for what happened," he said.

Aaj TV owned by the Business Recorder newspaper in Karachi came under fire from unidentified gunmen who sporadically kept firing at its studios for several hours forcing the staff and news anchor to duck for cover.

Sattar promised an inquiry into the firing on the Aaj TV offices and violence against the media and said the basic membership of MQM workers found involved in any action against the press would be cancelled.

During the press conference, media people sat on the floor and refused to accept refreshments as a mark of protest against the attacks on the media on May 12, reports said.

Sattar claimed that after unprecedented development in Karachi, the MQM was becoming popular in rural areas and a lot of people were joining the party.

The network of the MQM, according to him, was gaining strength in Sindh and the party was expanding in other parts, including Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

That was why, he said, the MQM was becoming a threat for traditional political parties and it was in this background that efforts were being made to clip the wings of the MQM