Ahsan Iqbal rules out banning MQM

Minister says action against London faction can be initiated according to law

KARACHI: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday categorically denied any proposal to ban the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Talking to the media, following the inauguration of the Executive Passport Office in Clifton area of the metropolis, he said action against the London faction of the party could, however, be taken in accordance with the law of the country.

He also took exception to political parties creating hurdles in the passage of the National Census Law in the upper house of parliament.

“The parties adopting delaying tactics do not want elections at the right time," the interior minister said.

To a query regarding Senator Ishaq Dar, he said cases were being registered under a political agenda against the former finance minister of the country.



With regard to the first Executive Passport Office opened in Karachi, the minister said NADRA had already established three mega-centres in Karachi with the objective to provide world quality services to the citizens.

“Under the arrangements, the Executive Passport Office will not take more than five minutes as processing time for the applicants; hence, expediting the process and ensuring quality service delivery," said the minister.

“An overall approach has been adopted by the federal government to improve service delivery at all its public facilities,” he said mentioning that more and more executive passport offices are being established in different cities of the country.

As for Karachi, he said its importance as the commercial hub of the country could not be ignored and to make it a world class metropolis the federal government had initiated a series of development projects for the inhabitants.

"The federal government has not financed any of the metro bus schemes initiated in different cities of the country; however, for Karachi Rs24 billion have been funded to get materialised its Green Bus Service,” he told a questioner.

The minister for interior also mentioned that Rs12 billion were being provided to help Karachiites get potable water, while the much-needed Karachi Circular Railway project was included in the CPEC project.

"The PML-N government has also ensured resumption of the Lyari Expressway scheme to provide quality facilities to the citizens." he said, mentioning that work on the much-needed scheme is currently near completion.

To another query, he said corruption will not be tolerated at any cost and that those involved in any illegal activity would be taken to task.
He said the PML-N government in coordination with the provincial government and law enforcers had been able to restore peace in Karachi.



"We have arrived to a point that international events are being held here while sports-related programmes are also being arranged," he said.

Apart from the PSL matches efforts are underway to ensure that international level hockey matches and that of other sports were also played with due provision of foolproof security arrangements, the minister said.