News
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Zardari to hold talks for peace in Karachi* Coalition partners authorise president to negotiate with political parties
* President, PM co-chair Sindh cabinet meeting to discuss violence in Karachi
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Three back to back meetings held at the Presidency on Wednesday on situation in Karachi resulted in a decision taken by coalition partners in the Sindh government to authorise President Asif Ali Zardari to hold negotiations with all political forces for bringing peace and normalcy to commercial hub of the country besides taking appropriate administrative measures for the purpose.
Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that the decision authorising the president to hold political negotiations was taken at first in a series of meetings of the Sindh cabinet, comprising provincial ministers belonging to PPP, ANP, PML-Q and PML-Functional, and chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
The government’s resolve to restore peace in Karachi at all costs and bring culprits to justice regardless of their affiliations was reiterated at the meeting. The meeting that lasted for over two hours was attended among others by Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik, Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Senator Dr Babar Awan, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, and members of the Sindh cabinet belonging to all coalition parties in the province.
Matters concerning law and order situation, coalition matters and performance of various provincial ministries were discussed at the meeting.
The president, during the meeting, called upon all political forces to complement government’s efforts for bringing peace and normalcy to the city and also bringing criminal elements to justice.
He said, “We believe in taking along all political forces on the issues of national importance, and will continue to do so in future as well.”
He said that Karachi was not only economic hub of the country but also had global significance. The president called for emergency administrative and political measures to bring peace to Karachi.
Addressing coalition partners, the president said, “We have to resolve this issue ourselves and at the earliest, keeping in view the importance of this city and its role in economy of the country.”
Representatives of coalition parties also spoke on situation in Karachi and put forth various suggestions to address problems relating to peace and security in the city. Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Hussain Wasan and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah briefed participants of the meeting on recent situation in Karachi and the steps taken so far to restore peace there. Briefing the participants, Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that police and Rangers were fully prepared and motivated to maintain peace in Karachi.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk