News
Monday, September 05, 2011
95% party flags removed in Karachi: Malik* Interior minister says action will be taken against anyone found guilty of land grabbing
KARACHI: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Sunday that almost 95 percent of the flags of parties had been removed from the streets and other areas in different parts of Karachi and that the remaining ones would soon be removed.
The interior minister said this while talking to the media after various meetings at the State Guest House. He said that he would send a team to review the situation with regard to the removal of flags and added that if a flag was found in any area, action would be taken against the SHO concerned.
He also expressed gratitude to the parties for their cooperation in the removal of flags. Speaking about his meeting with builders, Rehman Malik said action would be taken against land grabbing in light of the directives of the president and the prime minister.
He said that claims would be examined and decisions would be made accordingly. Rehman Malik said that if any member of the Association of Builders And Developers (ABAD) was involved in land grabbing, action would be taken against him. He said that according to initial reports, around 40,000 acres of land had been grabbed in Karachi.
In reply to a question, Rehman Malik said that the federal government was providing full support to the Punjab government in the case related to the kidnapping of Shahbaz Taseer, son of Salman Taseer, former governor of Punjab, adding that no one had yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of Shahbaz Taseer.
He said that he had declined to provide any foreign country with the data pertaining to out-bound flights of the airports in Pakistan. He said that a foreign-designed software was being used at airports in Pakistan, adding that the National Database and Registration Authority (NARDA) had developed its own software, which was being used on a trial- basis and would be inaugurated soon, Rehman Malik said.
To a question about the kidnapping of Pakistani children by Afghanistan-based factions from Bajaur Agency, he requested the Afghanistan government to take a personal interest in the matter for the recovery and safe return of the children. He added that the abduction of children had been claimed on Afghan soil and that he would talk to his Afghan counterpart by telephone in this regard and would also go to Afghanistan for the recovery of the children if needed.
He told another questioner that all the parties were needed by the government for the prosperity of the country and the strengthening of democracy. To another question he said that the MQM could return to the treasury benches whenever they wanted and that their resignations had not yet been accepted.
He also appreciated the role of law enforcement agencies for the maintenance of law and order in Karachi and said that most of his time would be spent on bringing peace in the metropolis. He also telephoned Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on his recovery from illness.
A statement issued by the MQM said that Rehman Malik also prayed for the long life of Altaf Hussain. Talking to Rehman Malik, the MQM chief said that his party would foil all conspiracies against democracy with the help of all pro-democracy entities.
Rehman Malik arrived in Islamabad on Sunday evening after spending a long time in Karachi on the directives of the president and the PM. He will brief them on the law and order situation in Karachi and will apprise them of the measures taken to bring about an improvement there. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk