Imran Khan on Karachi violence: ‘Political parties must abolish militant wings’
PTI chief says major parties in Karachi part of the problem, not solution.
KARACHI:
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan has said that political parties cannot control anarchy in Karachi because their own militant wings are the root cause of the unabated violence.
“Name any political party in Karachi that gets votes but doesn’t have a militant wing,” Khan challenged, while addressing a press conference on Sunday at Palwal House, PTI vice-president Najeeb Haroon’s residence in Karachi.
“Militant wings have become a trend now. Our party has made a huge effort to curb internal pressure to establish such a wing,” Khan said.
He reiterated his party’s position that only a neutral governor rule under a powerful administration can stabilise Karachi. Ruling out military intervention as a permanent solution to the violence in Karachi, he said that an unbiased police force could control the situation.
He continued his criticism of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), calling the party ‘the pioneer of belligerence in Karachi politics by instituting a political wing’ and ‘the forerunner in organising and funding land and extortion mafias’.
When asked about allegations made by former Sindh home minister Zulfiqar Mirza, Khan said that he had levelled some serious allegations and urged the Supreme Court to ensure a transparent probe into Mirza’s revelations against Interior Minister Rehman Malik and MQM chief Altaf Hussain. “Politics of allegation will ultimately divide Karachi along ethnic lines,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2011.
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan has said that political parties cannot control anarchy in Karachi because their own militant wings are the root cause of the unabated violence.
“Name any political party in Karachi that gets votes but doesn’t have a militant wing,” Khan challenged, while addressing a press conference on Sunday at Palwal House, PTI vice-president Najeeb Haroon’s residence in Karachi.
“Militant wings have become a trend now. Our party has made a huge effort to curb internal pressure to establish such a wing,” Khan said.
He reiterated his party’s position that only a neutral governor rule under a powerful administration can stabilise Karachi. Ruling out military intervention as a permanent solution to the violence in Karachi, he said that an unbiased police force could control the situation.
He continued his criticism of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), calling the party ‘the pioneer of belligerence in Karachi politics by instituting a political wing’ and ‘the forerunner in organising and funding land and extortion mafias’.
When asked about allegations made by former Sindh home minister Zulfiqar Mirza, Khan said that he had levelled some serious allegations and urged the Supreme Court to ensure a transparent probe into Mirza’s revelations against Interior Minister Rehman Malik and MQM chief Altaf Hussain. “Politics of allegation will ultimately divide Karachi along ethnic lines,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2011.