The government is working on a plan to draw a clear line between ‘violent and non-violent forces’ in its latest effort to restore peace in Karachi and Balochistan, top leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party exclusively told The Express Tribune.
“It’s time for political parties to clarify their position that there is no motive behind the violence in Karachi or in Quetta,” said Interior Minister Rehman Malik. “[Some] political parties should stop the campaign – extortion in Karachi,” he added.
The minister further disclosed that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is investigating how tapes of lawmakers were recorded without the permission of the chief executive of the state. “I’ve ordered the investigation to unveil the criminals involved in this illegal practice,” he said.
Meanwhile, while briefing reporters at the office of the Senate deputy chairman, Malik said political parties that collect sacrificial hides and zakatul-fitrana should be banned.
Around 42 target killers have been arrested so far, he said, adding that they took more than 450 innocent lives in the last three months.
Although Malik admitted that those arrested claimed to have political affiliations, he declined to disclose any names of parties.
Resignation rumours
Dispelling rumours that he had offered his resignation, Malik said, “I will not step down until forces draw a line between violent and non-violent political parties.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman Senate Jan Muhammad Jamali endorsed Malik’s idea, saying that violence in Karachi and Balochistan could be curbed if political forces stand united against the aggression faced by both the volatile regions.
“Only political consensus can defeat the violent forces,” he told The Express Tribune, adding that the “chronic issue of missing persons in Balochistan should be resolved by engaging the locals.”
Jamali, who heads a senate special committee of Balochistan lawmakers, has called a meeting next week to address the issues of Balochistan. The issue of missing persons will be concluded when the committee gathers intelligence about such criminals, who, he said, ‘wear uniforms and impersonate as members of law enforcement agencies’.
While talking to The Express Tribune, leader of the house Syed Nayyar Bokhari said that only political forces can curb the violence in Karachi. “Investigation agencies should conduct investigations without political influence. It’s the only solution to the violence in Karachi,” he said.
Al Qaeda senior leader
Senior al Qaeda leader Younis al Mauritani is in Pakistan’s custody, the interior minister told reporters. “We have no plans to hand him over to the US yet,” he added. Pakistani intelligence agencies captured al Mauritani earlier this week from Quetta.
Malik further said the US has requested Islamabad to hand over al Mauritani but the government is currently interrogating the top al Qaeda figure.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2011.
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This is really a job, which a political government should do. If Rehman Malik has real intention of what he has said, he should make a framework for implementing the same. Moreover, he should also take initiative to eliminate these "terrorist factors" from the PPP, to be a role model. I believe if this happens, this will really a great job of PPP government, that will not only re-alive PPP in peoples heart, it will also change the role of governess in the country. That will definitely increase the vote bank of PPP.