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Intra-PPP Tensions: Mirza demands ban on Malik’s entry in Sindh
President summons Zulfiqar Mirza to Islamabad over heated debate with Rehman Malik.
Argument reportedly took place at Governor House during cabinet meeting with PM Gilani in Karachi. PHOTO: APP/ FILE
KARACHI:
Sindh Senior Minister Zulfiqar Mirza lashed out at Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik at the special Sindh cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Gilani on Monday, calling for Malik to be banned from entering the province.
Mirza’s flare-up came when he tried to talk about the devastation caused by the floods in Badin, at which point he was reminded by the prime minister that the meeting was called to discuss the law and order situation in Karachi. At that point, Mirza angrily denounced Malik, who was also present at the meeting, saying that Malik was not bothered by the violence in Karachi.
“Malik sahib is always pleading the case of one political party during every meeting and does not care about the law and order situation in Karachi,” said Mirza, alluding Malik’s efforts at reconciling the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) with the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
“All of this [violence] is happening in Karachi because of his [Malik’s] role,” said Mirza. “I request that a ban be imposed on his entry in Sindh.”
Mirza accused the interior minister of interfering in Sindh affairs. Malik, for his part, remained silent during the entire diatribe and instead relied on the prime minister defending his actions. Prime Minister Gilani said that Malik did not take any actions that were not authorised by him [Gilani] or President Asif Ali Zardari.
The PPP tried to downplay the fight between the two. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said: “There was not any kind of fight, scuffle or exchange of heated words between them.”
Later, both Malik and Mirza were shown on state-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) hugging each other and being cordial. However, it was later confirmed that Mirza was summoned by the president to Islamabad.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2011.
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Reader Comments (27)
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What he always say is.. ” I have taken notice” and nothing else.
The nationals are dying and government is enjoying. What a Pitty?Recommend
This would be a very wise step from the Presidency if wisdom prevails there?
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How do you expect good from these politicians if they can’t stop bickering among themselves.
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I think everyone must realize that the violence in Karachi CANNOT continue. It will come to an end with or without the current political setup. Its only a matter of time that people will have no choice and come onto the streets.
Please let some sanity prevail and army take some decisions and steps to curb this violence.Recommend
Every body in Karachi knows very well the behind the target killing in Karachi, Zulfiqar Mirza is playing an active role by patronizing the Baluch’s of Lyari.
Zulfiqar Mirza has said “Sindh Hamara Hay”, if the Sindh is his personal property.
Zulfiqar Mirza should realize the point hat Mr. Rehman Malik has played a very positive and active role in bringing both viz, the PPP and MQM close to each other.
Zulfiqar Mirza is too junior to Rehman Malik. Zulfiqar Mirza is Provincial Minister and member of Sindh Assembly whereas Rehman Malik is the Federal Minister and a Senator.
The Prime Minister has very rightly said that Rehamn Malik only come to Karachi when he is told to go to Karachi and does not visit Karachi for his personal reasons.
Now the ball is in the court of President of Pakistan. He being the Co-Chairperson of PPP should convene a meeting of PPP’s Central Executive Committee and expel Zulfiqar Mirza from PPP’s basis membership. The President should also put him out from the Sindh Assembly and also ask him to resign from the minister-ship.
Zulfiqar Mirza has come to Pakistan after being in self exile for a long time and filled the nomination papers to contest the Sindh Assembly’s elections.
I hope Zulfiqar Mirza read my commentsand know what people of Karachi thinks about Zulfiqar Mirza.Recommend
I am with Mr Mirza on this. He always show up in Karachi and breaks the record of his own rhetoric of his past visit. Like some three days back he said, we will bring the target killers live on tv in 48 hours. Its 72 hours and still no showing up.Recommend
really mirza u r among the greatest personalities of sindh. i wana sacrify my life for persons like u
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This is what our politicians are? How dare Mirza stop a federal minister coming to Karachi? Karachi does not belong to Mirza and should grow up and learn abc of politics.First lesson is tolerance and even that is missing just pity!
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I wonder if Rehman Malik is still convinced that the majority of killings were carried out by embittered girlfriends.
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Zulfiqar Mirza needs to grow up seriously.
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solution to this problem! karachi should be another province!!!
sindis find it too hard to accept that they have no political control over karachi. call mqm whtever u want..but this party did more for karachi than any sindi land lord did for his own region…sind shud be divided for better adminitration
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How can you possibly Ban an Minister of the state???
What sort of Govt or Nation is this???
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these are the reasons which show why democracy fails with feudals.. u need a leader like musharraf who shows governance.. at a time of crisis makes the decision and implements it.. not bickering and fighting among incompetent fools..give the order to the ssg.. get in there and clear them out..
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Aoa. I personally don’t like ppp but I love zulifqar mirza stance in sindh. If he could given one week free hand trust me he will wipe out all bhataa khor, terrorist there. He can’t do anything bcz of zar-dari
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Both individuals are good for nothing. But I will support Zulfiqar Mirza statement 100%. Blatant and callous Rehman Malik should be rather sent home for good, in last 3.5yrs what results has he produced? Incompetence to the hilt!
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Why only ban Rehman Malik from Karachi, I say we ban him from whole of Pakistan.
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Hedgefunder, how can you BAN a Pakistani from traveling to any city within Pakistan? What BS is this? MQM banned Imran Khan from entering Karachi back in the day too. Who do they think they are?
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@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui Sahib: I am amazed that you do not realize that Dr. Mirza can afford to throw these temper tantrums and even attack a Federal Minister because Dr. Mirza is a close childhood buddy of President Zardari from their St. Pat’s days. Rehman Malik Sahib have been a tremendous asset to both Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and President Zardari because of his role in benefitting them from the UN’s “Food for Oil Programme” for Saddam Hussein. That alone netted the couple a tidy sum. Please read: http://www.asiantribune.com/pak-politicians-involved-iraqs-oil-food-programme-sc
So, both Rehman Malik Sahib and Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza are valuable to President Zardari. A little Noora Kushti between the two is harmless. So please do not be too much concerned about it. Also, please note that Dr. Mirza does not give two hoots to what you think and “what people of Karachi think about Dr. Mirza.”
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mr. zulfiqar will never grow up. he appears to be most impressed with sultan rahi’s diologues. mr rehaman must tender resignation after this insult and for so many other insults he has brought upon himself and to the nation.
if our “great” prime minister cannot control a person in a cabinet meeting how can he call himself effective. why could not he tell mr. mirza that it is not a choice with him who should come to karachi. instead he was apologetic when he said that rehman malik is not visiting in his personal capacity. why mr. rehman cannot visit karachi in his personal capacity?. he is a citizen of pakistan and he can live, stay or visit any place in pakistan, a right granted to him by the constitution of pakistn. he does not have to ask mr zulfiqar mirza for this.
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Rehman Malik has to his credit some very funny contributions: attributing killings of innocent to their girl friends and wives, creation of so called ”third party involvement”, blaming Sarfraz Shah of snatching guns from Rangers who killed him, branding a serious political conflict as a mere land mafia, drug mafia war ……… He has been dealing law and order in Karachi for last three years, he is mainly responsible for the current state of affairs. He should be rightly banned to handle Sindh affairs and entry to Sindh. He was elected to senate from Sindh and has been working against the interests of Sindh since. He has been praising the very people who are responsible for the violence in karachi. He should immediately be relieved from Interior Ministry, at best he be made Information Minister where he can bark whatever he likes. Any way he is going to be next Maulana Kausra Niazi to PPP when the time comes.
He has made strategic blunders in handling affairs with Nawaz league and restoration of judiciary. He and Babar Awan are only the recipe for disaster. Wake up PPP leadership!
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@Hedgefunder:
“How can you possibly Ban an Minister of the state???
What sort of Govt or Nation is this???”
Do listen to Najam Sthi’s show on August 22 (Aapas ki Baat. He had made many predictions with regards to the Karachi situation as well as Raymond Davis. At the time he made the statements, they seemed contrary to the prevailing wisdom in the press. But his insights have proven true repeatedly.Recommend
@Ali:
Yes , it says a lot about Democracy Pakistan style !!!!
Too much Ghairat and not much else of anything else !!!
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Yes Mr.Mirza said absolutely right, people are interested in Mr.Maliks funny statement.
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Dr zulufqar mirza is great leader of sindh dharti of sofia-e-kiram
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i don’t what going on with ppp. zulfiqar mirza is supporter of sindhi people and real son of sindh soil. mirza knows how to handle the situation in karachi, its my request to sindh govt kindly handover him the ministry of the interior again.
al though rehman malik is good leader of ppp and loyal to president asif ali zardari, but we have seen last three year i use to defend the case of only one party. it should not be like that.Recommend
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
siddiqui sahab, i respect your point of view, but being the citizen of sindh, will you allow any federal member to inter-fare in your personal and internal law and order situation. your answer would be no definitely.
“sindh hamara hai”, means sindh is of sindhi people. whats wrong in it???
sindhi people are those people who were passed the resolution of the pakistan first time on 3rd march 1943 when punjab, nwfp denied. we were the people who laid the foundation stone of pakistan.
we sindhi people are very hostile, wellcoming all the emigrants from the india,punjab,nwfp but our this positive deed has become the reason of downfall of sindhi nation.
jis tarha punjab panjabio ka hai, balochistan balochon ka hai, isi tarha sindh hamara hai,
SINDH IS THE PROPERTY OF SINDHI’S
there is no conflict in it and there is even no need to create one.Recommend
What I do not understand is why is everyone talking about Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan etc? For once cant we all be just Pakistanis? Please, please, please stop using the Sindh / Punjab / KPK / Baluchistan cards. Remember of there is no Pakistan there is no Sindh / KPK / Baluchistan or Punjab.
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