Mirza’s allegations: Malik seeks judicial inquiry
Says he has requested the PM to have the matter probed.
KARACHI:
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has written a letter to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani requesting him to constitute a judicial commission to probe the allegations levelled against him by former Sindh senior minister Zulfiqar Mirza.
Talking to reporters at the State Guest House on Monday after chairing a meeting on Karachi’s law and order situation, Malik said that Mirza had called him a traitor and a liar and accused him of supporting target killers, which has damaged his credibility as interior minister. “I can respond to these allegations myself but I have requested the prime minister to initiate an independent inquiry through a Supreme Court judge,” he said.
“I am facing threats to my life but will continue to work for restoring peace in the city,” he added, without specifying who was threatening him. He said that he had come to Karachi on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari and will remain here until the law and order situation improves.
Letter to attorney-general
The interior minister has also appealed to the Supreme Court to ban political parties from collecting Fitra (alms) and hides of animals sacrificed on Eid. The letter has been submitted through the attorney-general of Pakistan.
Talking to the media, Malik said that members of various political parties forcibly collect hides, adding that he has also briefed the prime minister on the matter and has his full support on ensuring a ban on such activities.
“We have found that a lot of people die in Ramazan over disputes on Fitra. This is why the government has decided to ban political parties from collecting it,” he said.
Regarding target killings, Malik said that six joint investigation teams have been constituted to probe the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2011.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has written a letter to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani requesting him to constitute a judicial commission to probe the allegations levelled against him by former Sindh senior minister Zulfiqar Mirza.
Talking to reporters at the State Guest House on Monday after chairing a meeting on Karachi’s law and order situation, Malik said that Mirza had called him a traitor and a liar and accused him of supporting target killers, which has damaged his credibility as interior minister. “I can respond to these allegations myself but I have requested the prime minister to initiate an independent inquiry through a Supreme Court judge,” he said.
“I am facing threats to my life but will continue to work for restoring peace in the city,” he added, without specifying who was threatening him. He said that he had come to Karachi on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari and will remain here until the law and order situation improves.
Letter to attorney-general
The interior minister has also appealed to the Supreme Court to ban political parties from collecting Fitra (alms) and hides of animals sacrificed on Eid. The letter has been submitted through the attorney-general of Pakistan.
Talking to the media, Malik said that members of various political parties forcibly collect hides, adding that he has also briefed the prime minister on the matter and has his full support on ensuring a ban on such activities.
“We have found that a lot of people die in Ramazan over disputes on Fitra. This is why the government has decided to ban political parties from collecting it,” he said.
Regarding target killings, Malik said that six joint investigation teams have been constituted to probe the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2011.