MQM, ANP call for army deployment in Karachi
In a telephonic address, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain asserted that army should be deployed in Karachi and a stern action should be taken against those destroying peace in Sindh and Karachi.
Hussain made an appeal to the top leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to stop supporting the Lyari gang and other criminal and land mafia.
He also demanded that the government take effective steps to end violence in the city, and asked his workers to boycott those who do not consider them Sindhi.
Meanwhile, ANP also proposed the deployment of army in Karachi for a month so that peace and order can be restored in the city.
The proposal was put forward during the National Assembly Session that took place on Wednesday.
During the session, Federal Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Bilour said that the army should be deployed for a month in Karachi in efforts to de-weaponise the city.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Leader Ahsan Iqbal said both heads of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the military intelligence along with other law-enforcement agencies should brief lawmakers on the current situation in Karachi.
Amin Fahim rules out military operation
Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim on Wednesday ruled out military operation in Karachi and urged all the political parties to sit together and deliberate to improve the law and order situation.
Talking to media outside the parliament he said, “I do not see any operation in Karachi. All political parties, all stakeholders should sit together and seek out a political and administrative solution to the issue.”
Updated from print edition (below)
For the sake of peace: Altaf calls for army crackdown
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain invited the army to initiate an impartial crackdown on criminal elements, in Karachi irrespective of their political affiliations, to free the metropolis from the grip of armed terrorists.
Addressing MQM activists at the Lal Qila ground in Karachi on Wednesday evening, Hussain said that the government was duty-bound to contain the seemingly unending killing spree in Karachi.
“[Apart from Rangers] we want the army to take control of Karachi (and launch a crackdown). If they feel that anyone from the MQM is involved (in criminal activities), that person should be arrested,” he said. However, he cautioned the army and Rangers against targeting the MQM alone. “If anyone from the PPP or ANP is found to be involved (in such activity), they, too, should be apprehended,” he said.
He demanded of the government, especially Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, to stop supporting “Lyari gangsters and other criminals”.
Speaking in metaphors, he warned unseen rivals to let him keep his fists clenched. “(Otherwise) everyone must realise that the MQM, which is a conglomerate of all ethnicities, including Sindhis, Pashtuns and Hazarewals, is not wearing bangles (a euphemism to being effeminate).”
Urging the government “to mend its ways”, he said that, otherwise, people would boycott it in the next elections. “Do not misuse the power of the state to usurp MQM’s vote bank,” he said.
Alluding to a 48-hour deadline given on Tuesday night, he said that the ultimatum illustrated his intense desire to see an end to the killings and arrest of the killers. However, he said, the situation had only worsened.
He said it was completely unfair to blame the MQM and the Mohajir community for the violence engulfing the city, when they were the ones who were suffering the most.
He said that “fourth or fifth generation of people who left everything behind in India now lived in Karachi and they, too, are Sindhis. Now, there are no mohajirs, just haq parast Pakistanis”.
He said the MQM was waging a struggle against the ‘corrupt feudal’ class ruling over the country. He reiterated that the party was not against any particular community.
Meanwhile, over in Karachi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that no operation in Karachi was being contemplated, but action would be taken against elements found to be involved in violence-hit areas. Talking to reporters after presiding over a meeting at the Crisis Management Cell on the law and order situation, Malik said action would be taken against terrorists irrespective of their political affiliations.
“I cannot comment on Altaf Bhai’s statement. But I can claim that no targeted killing occurred there (in Karachi) over the past 12 hours,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 4th, 2011.
COMMENTS (29)
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ANP & MQM Both the parties play their politics on the blood of innocent peoples,last week Mr Faisal Muhammrd Dep"Sec" Genfral of PML (zia) disclosed that Army Have decided to taken action in karachin that's way MQM & ANP want to show that tey are really stop karachi violance. Today Mr Faisal Muhammed who is also formar chairman "Taqsem-e-Sindh Tehreek" said in Arab Media that "Independent Karachi Province" is an permeminent salution of Karachi Issue. I THINK THIS IS AN REAL ISSUE.
What an achievement !!!!! “I cannot comment on Altaf Bhai’s statement. But I can claim that no targeted killing occurred there (in Karachi) over the past 12 hours,” Rehman Malik said.
Army has taken an Oath of Honor to be loyal to and protect Pakistan and they have given many chances to politicians to run the country but unfortunately these politicians running the country have abused their powers and now again there is chaos and insecurity laced with the barbaric blood bath at the very heart of Pakistan. The army cannot sit and watch this destruction and ANP and MQM are Right, they are being human, and any body that wants the Army to protect Karachi is a human being and cares for humanity! Only the enemy of Pakistan will oppose the Pakistan Army at this critical time. . . let the honorable Army catch the the real enemy causing a daily blood bath! Inshallah, they will do a honest job by the Grace of God Almighty! Ameen.
what a solution - this is army who provided the solutions in last 63 years. what a solution.
my life army
my life is army
It is not understable that why MQM has taken u turn over deployment of Army in Karachi as earlier they were vehementally against it? It looks like they are serious to resolve the issue.
we need an ssg operation which is targeted to lyari and orangi the "garh" of terrorists
It is no the Army job to keep law & order situation in Karachi, its the duty of police to keep peace in the streets of karachi, if they can not do so then they should be send to their houses for parmanent rest, because they are fond of rest and bribe and are the key source of corruption in our society......
Hehe Army in Karachi really i wanna see this with my eyes that how political leaders and in-charges of different areas get punished in front of army. Murga Bannay walay scene kool
There you have it. Straight from the horse's mouth: "Do not misuse the power of the state to usurp the MQM's vote bank." The statement implies that the MQM will go all the way, including resorting to violence, just to protect its "vote bank," regardless of how many people are killed. This just goes to show that the violence in Karachi is mainly rooted in the desire of so-called political parties, including that one which has the habit of joining, leaving, and rejoining the government, to control territories and resources in Sindh. These so-called parties use brainwashed party workers, who apparently are oblivious to the real political and economic issues of the day, as foot soldiers, along with hired goons and a panoply of mafia-like gangs. The proposal to table a de-weaponization bill at the Provincial Assembly in itself is laudable, but that's as far as it can get. Nobody in his right mind would believe that such would be enacted and, more so, implemented in the province. That is insulting the intelligence of thinking people.
Both the parties play their politics on the blood of innocent. how can they call army to stop all. it is strange.
Operation in the Karachi is not a joke there are 2.5 corer people living in the karachi and its a business hub so to clean the karachi through the army operation will be the fool decision. ISI and MI take stand in karachi and the that should be started from the 90 mean Lalu khait, Azizabad and North karachi. mean the purly areas of the MQM with this then the areas of ANP and PPP mean liyari and the Banaras of Katti Phari. they may pick the person and investigate him and present that person in the Court then.
It is absolutely Army's job to take charge of Karachi. There is too much corruption and Karachi is taking a blood bath and any political party that is opposing the Army to take over must be extremely selfish and insecure about their leadership capabilities. The army should also make a judgement of their own, removed from politics, that they need to protect Karachi and not depend on the ineffective police or rangers as the problem is too big now. . . the problem now belongs to the ARMY and ARMY alone, it is their responsibility and they cannot and should not avoid it anymore. The enemy of Pakistan would like to see the blood bath to continue under the name of democracy.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Because all of this mess is created by PPP itself in the President House. Please read this article. http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/jul2011-daily/12-07-2011/col3.htm.
If Army is deployed, who are neutral, will certainly expose this drama with proof which is only to rule and govern by PPP.
Regards
Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Johannesburg - South Africa
We need a Swat type operation in Karachi. Too many innocent people have been killed in vain. Time to take our city back.
Bad idea. Armies are killing machines. These same people would criticize army when bodies start falling. It will also require additional funding of the army. Fire all police before taking any such step. It is not army's job to come between bickering political parties.
Ah, our Armed Forces. We can really rely on them to take on the miscreants in Karachi when they can't even take care of business in Islamabad. Where is the courage of the Lal Masjid Siege gone? Do we have no guts to eliminate bad guys anymore? Are we the bad guys?
Guys ! Let's delete this word "MUHAJIR" from the dictionary of Pakistan today because they are the patriotic Pakistani , and after today's remarks of Altaf Hussain (where he asked India tht can they keep the muhajirs) i guess this is the end of all complications. So from today no one will use this word in our lives. i promised that to myself. What about you?
Karachi almia is whenever PPP government come Karachi have bad days. I think PPP is the curse to Karachi awam!
When both MQM and ANP is willing and supporting military deployment in Karachi, then it is high time to deploy Army in the city for restoration of Peace. Government should act on war footings as innocent people are being murdered on the stret of the city. Enough blood has been shed, now time has come to take serious steps instead of lip-service.
Just couple of months ago MQM opposed the deployment of Army in Karachi. Now that they have been cornered by ANP and PPPP and feeling the pinch, they are asking for army. As far as the government is concerned, it is nowhere to be seen. It is just mafia war fighting for resources. At the end everyone will be the loser.
Let us get a government that knows how to govern....
We trust the army to clean up the mess in Karachi and restore peace
How can possible the army personal do their god job with political influence. somebody answer this question
The government should not feel shy in deploying Army as all law enforcing agencies have failed to restore peace in Karachi.
I don’t understand that why President Asif Ali Zardari do not ask Chief of the Army Staff to deploy army in Karachi as hundreds of innocent people have been killed in the past few months and Mr. Zardari’s government is looking at them as silent spectators.
There is no need to send Rehman Malik to Karachi every now and then, as neither Interior Minister, nor the law enforcing agencies are capable of handing the delicate situation of Karachi.
How many times have we read similar articles which state that the govt is going to bring in the troops and restore order to Karachi? This situation has been out of control for so long that it has further diminished the already poor international reputation of Pakistan ---- Karachi is suppose to be a symbol of Pakistan's stability not a symbol of it's failure. .. With all due respect to Pakistani's --- isn't it time to put in a government that actually governs?