News
Saturday, August 20, 2011
President invites MQM to join coalition government* Zardari says gesture will send a powerful signal to deter crimes mafia, gangsters
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday again invited Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to join the coalition government.
During a high level meeting held at the Presidency to discuss the Karachi situation, the president called MQM chief Altaf Hussain and emphasised the need for working together to fight lawlessness.
The president said that the MQM should join the government, adding that the gesture will send a powerful signal to deter the crimes mafia and gangsters.
The president said that elements behind the recent violence were those who wanted to drive a wedge between the Pakistan People’s Party and the MQM.
Reciprocating the sentiment, Altaf said that ending violence in Karachi was critical for peace and stability and that the MQM supported any move that was aimed at restoring peace to the city.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah, Secretary General to the President M Salman Faruqui, Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Hussain Wasan, Minister for Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani, Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, Law Minister Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Agriculture Minister Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, MNA Abdul Qadir Patel and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar.
Briefing the media, Babar said that the governor and chief minister briefed the meeting on the latest situation with particular reference to the incidents of violence and targeted killings.
The meeting decided that the Sindh government will approach the Balochistan government to seek permission for the Sindh Police to pursue gangsters, and criminals fleeing from Karachi besides stepping up surveillance of the routes leading to Karachi to keep an eye on the criminal elements and illegal movement of weapons.
Babar said that the meeting also decided to beef up intelligence network in Karachi to provide real time information to the police to apprehend culprits planning criminal activities.
A committee comprising the Sindh governor, the chief minister and the home minister was also formed to oversee the law and order situation in Karachi.
The committee members will remain in constant touch with one another and keep the Presidency informed about the latest situation in Karachi, the spokesperson said. The president has directed that all victims of violence be compensated immediately, the spokesperson said. Fateha was also offered for those who had lost their lives in recent violence. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk