Peoples Amn Committee: I won’t say sorry, says Mirza

KARACHI:

An unapologetic home minister has said that he did not make any mistake when giving a statement about the Peoples Amn Committee (PAC) in Lyari and that he stood by his words.

Dr Zulfiqar Mirza also ruled out the perception that Lyari was a “den” for criminals and that all people associated with the committee were criminals. He told the media after the Sindh Assembly session that it was the political right of any party to include anyone in its rank and file. “We also have serious reservations over different groups and people joining the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) but we have not asked them to dismiss them,” he said.

The committee is a welfare organisation just like Edhi, the Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation and others. It has brought about changes in Lyari and Malir where workers of the PPP have been serving the people and enjoying their trust, he said, adding said that the PAC is gaining its popularity with each passing day.

On another note, he said that he was responsible for the deteriorating law and order in the city. “We have conducted research with the CPLC and the crime in Lyari is lower than that of other towns,” he said.

According to the home minister, criminals exist in every party but that does not mean you blame the whole party. “The MQM claims to have expelled many criminal-minded people, so has the PPP,” he said.

He added, however, that he was not willing to go to the MQM headquarters for now but he could visit every nook and cranny of the province.

Earlier, as Mirza entered in the session at around 11:30 am, all PPP members chanted slogans in his favour and started thumping their desks. Deputy Speaker Shahla Raza repeatedly asked them to keep quiet. “You people are chanting slogans to appease Mirza, just to get your work done,” she said. Mirza stood up to speak but she did not give him permission, saying, “No, never, this is not the proper time for your speech. I will give you a chance later on.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2011.