News
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Imposing governor’s rule in Sindh not an option: NisarNo conventional cure for Karachi
* Interior minister says people have voted for both provincial and federal governments and both did not have any excuse for failing to deliver
By Razzak Abro
KARACHI: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Monday that he has not talked about imposition of governor’s rule in Sindh, however, the federal government cannot ignore the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi.
He expressed these views during his first visit to Karachi after taking over charge of his office. “I had said we give one month to the provincial government to improve situation. Reports on governor’s rule have started coming to fore following this statement, while we have not even made any mention about it anywhere. It is not known as to why such things are finding their way into the media,” he said while talking to media men on his arrival at Karachi airport Monday. “My aim to visit Karachi is to make consultations with governor, chief minister and chiefs of armed forces. ... The major objective of coming here is to become aware of prevailing situation of Karachi.”
During his visit he held meetings with law enforcement agencies, local business community, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, PML-F chief Pir Pagaro and leaders and workers of the PML-N. He also met former Sindh governor Muhammadmian Soomro, former Sindh chief minister Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, and former National Assembly speaker Illahi Bux Soomro.
Besides the law and order in Karachi he also discussed the forthcoming presidential elections and possible change of the governor in Sindh during his meetings with politicians. Talking to journalists at the airport he said the law and order situation in the city had not improved after the new government’s taking over of control. The situation in Karachi impacts the entire country, he said, adding that effective measures are needed to restore peace in the city.
During his meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, law and order situation in the provincial capital was discussed. He assured the chief minister that the federal government will provide required assistance to maintain law and order situation in the Karachi. Qaim Ali Shah told reporters that the interior minister praised the provincial government’s efforts for maintaining the law and order in the city. Talking to the journalists at an Iftar party hosted by him at the Chief Minister’s House he, however, said that the law and order situation is not conducive for holding local government elections in the province.
Later, talking to reporters during his meeting with Pir Pagaro, Chaudhry Nisar said that the law and order in Karachi is very much serious. He said that maintaining law and order is a provincial subject after passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, however, the federal government will fully cooperate with the provincial government in this regard. He said that he has given such assurance to the provincial government during his meetings with Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, and also shared some suggestions in this regard.
He said that security agencies have told him that peace can be restored in Karachi. Nisar said that the people had voted for both the provincial and the federal governments, and neither has any excuse not to deliver. He said a roadmap would be prepared by taking into confidence all the stakeholders to bring peace in Karachi.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk