Karachi violence: President for reaching out to political parties
Six more killed across the city on Saturday.
KARACHI:
As six more people were killed on Saturday across the city, bringing the death toll to 19 in the latest bout of political violence, President Asif Ali Zardari formed a four-member committee to initiate dialogue among political parties.
The committee will focus on continuing the government’s reconciliation policy with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Muslim League – Functional (PML-F) and Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q).
The decision was taken during a meeting held at Bilawal House and attended by Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan, cabinet ministers and other PPP leaders.
The four-member committee includes Syed Khurshid Shah, Agha Siraj Durrani, Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro and MNA Qadir Patel.
The president also called for activating district-level peace committees, comprising local leaders and representatives of law enforcement agencies.
PPP-MQM relations
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said the resignations tendered by Sindh governor, provincial and federal ministers of the MQM had not been accepted and therefore their status as ministers is still intact. Gilani said the law and order situation in Karachi is a provincial subject and the federal government is in touch with the provincial government to improve the situation.
Gilani said, “We respect the mandate of the provincial government.”
MQM blames ministers
MQM’s coordination committee condemned the latest round of violence and said the criminal elements had the tacit support of “some ministers.”
“Free movement of armed terrorists in Landhi and Malir and the police’s role as silent spectators has forced the MQM to believe that all was done under a scheme,” said Raza Haroon on Saturday.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2011.
As six more people were killed on Saturday across the city, bringing the death toll to 19 in the latest bout of political violence, President Asif Ali Zardari formed a four-member committee to initiate dialogue among political parties.
The committee will focus on continuing the government’s reconciliation policy with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Muslim League – Functional (PML-F) and Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q).
The decision was taken during a meeting held at Bilawal House and attended by Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan, cabinet ministers and other PPP leaders.
The four-member committee includes Syed Khurshid Shah, Agha Siraj Durrani, Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro and MNA Qadir Patel.
The president also called for activating district-level peace committees, comprising local leaders and representatives of law enforcement agencies.
PPP-MQM relations
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said the resignations tendered by Sindh governor, provincial and federal ministers of the MQM had not been accepted and therefore their status as ministers is still intact. Gilani said the law and order situation in Karachi is a provincial subject and the federal government is in touch with the provincial government to improve the situation.
Gilani said, “We respect the mandate of the provincial government.”
MQM blames ministers
MQM’s coordination committee condemned the latest round of violence and said the criminal elements had the tacit support of “some ministers.”
“Free movement of armed terrorists in Landhi and Malir and the police’s role as silent spectators has forced the MQM to believe that all was done under a scheme,” said Raza Haroon on Saturday.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2011.