Kick-off: Govt-sponsored Karachi peace campaign begins

The government wants Karachi to be recognised as the ‘city of lights’ once again.

KARACHI:

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) ministers kicked off Karachi’s ‘peace drive’ by hoisting white flags at the press club on Wednesday.

The government, under the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari, launched the campaign to end the target killings in Karachi.

Around half a dozen cabinet members belonging to the PPP, the ruling party, reached the press club with a large number of their workers who were chanting peace slogans.

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the effort was meant to bring peace to the city and restore its image as the ‘city of lights’. He said that PPP’s workers and leaders were going to play their role in this peace process. Moreover Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has also directed all cabinet members to be a part of the campaign.

“All political forces inside and outside parliament would be approached for cooperation in the peace mission. In fact, not only political parties, but even the judiciary will be sent the peace message,” said Memon. He explained that every institution should work for peace in its own limits.

He went on to say that Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan has also promised to use his influence and extend his cooperation to make the peace drive successful.

Memon thanked Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s chief, Altaf Hussain, for his appeal to bring peace to the city. He urged the media to play a role and avoid reporting news that creates rather than resolves problems.

While answering a question, Memon criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s leader, Nawaz Sharif, and said “he is not sharif [decent] because he ordered an attack on the judiciary. We are warning him again not to interfere in the affairs of the judiciary and let it work independently.” Memon said that “the Sharif brothers have been looting and plundering public wealth since 1985. They started their political career on the instigation of a dictator, General Ziaul Haq.”

Minister for Excise and Taxation Mukesh Kumar Chawala appealed to the minorities to participate in a peace rally, which was being organised from Sea View to the Karachi Press Club on Saturday. He said that they had started inviting different political and religious parties to participate.

Minister for Power Shazia Marri and Minister for Revenue Jam Mahtab Dahar also came.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2011.