Federal body will meet everyone but Mohajir Suba Tehreek in quest for peace
Committee unable to provide answers about arrests after bus attack.
HYDERABAD:
A federal cabinet committee tasked with finding solutions to bring about peace after two horrific attacks has said it will meet all stakeholders but not the Mohajir Suba Tehreek, a shadowy group that wants a separate province carved out of Sindh.
The committee was formed after an attack on an Awami Tehreek ‘Love Sindh’ rally against the Mohajir province on May 22 in Karachi. At least 11 people were killed and over two dozen were injured. Days later, a bus was attacked at Nawabshah in what is being suspected as ethnic-hatred motivations.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Syed Khurshid Shah, Syed Navid Qamar and Mola Bux Chandio met representatives of civil society at the residence of Zulfiqar Halepoto on Sunday. “We want to get views, analysis and advice of the stakeholders,” said Faheem at the press conference. The committee will compile a report based on the recommendations. “We want to make Sindh a land of peace.”
When asked whether the committee would meet leaders of the Mohajir Suba Tehreek, he replied that they would meet all stakeholders. He was, however, cut off by the accompanying two ministers. “We will not meet the Mohajir Suba Tehreek leaders,” said Chandio in no uncertain terms. “We will only meet leaders who represent the people and are not involved in some clandestine activity,” added Qamar implying that the Tehreek leaders will not be consulted.
Faheem acknowledged while recounting the sequence of attacks on the AT rally and the passenger bus in Shaheed Benazirabad, which left eight dead, that the situation needs political intervention. “They can’t be handled administratively.”
The committee also appeared divided about tackling enforced disappearances in Sindh. Faheem said their mandate does not cover missing nationalist workers. “The institutions concerned are already looking into it.” But Khursheed Shah, who took off from where he stopped, assured that they were concerned about the developing situation and would do their bit to address it.
The federal ministers parried many questions by just reiterating the government’s desire to restore peace in Sindh. They could not say why 100 nationalist workers have been detained from across the province after the bus attack but that there had been no arrests after the Mohabbat-e-Sindh rally in Karachi.
Even though they met Sindh Tarraqi Pasand leaders it was unclear whether the committee would call on leaders of the factions of Jeay Sindh Tehreek or not. “We will meet all stakeholders,” came the same answer.
The committee has been rejected by the Awami Tehreek. Ayaz Palijo, its president, has put forward conditions of arresting terrorists belonging to a political party he has named and taking action against police and health officials for failing to provide security to the rally and treatment to the injured people. “The government should disclose names and produce before the media the [...] snipers who have been arrested by the Rangers for firing on the rally,” Palijo has demanded.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2012.
A federal cabinet committee tasked with finding solutions to bring about peace after two horrific attacks has said it will meet all stakeholders but not the Mohajir Suba Tehreek, a shadowy group that wants a separate province carved out of Sindh.
The committee was formed after an attack on an Awami Tehreek ‘Love Sindh’ rally against the Mohajir province on May 22 in Karachi. At least 11 people were killed and over two dozen were injured. Days later, a bus was attacked at Nawabshah in what is being suspected as ethnic-hatred motivations.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Syed Khurshid Shah, Syed Navid Qamar and Mola Bux Chandio met representatives of civil society at the residence of Zulfiqar Halepoto on Sunday. “We want to get views, analysis and advice of the stakeholders,” said Faheem at the press conference. The committee will compile a report based on the recommendations. “We want to make Sindh a land of peace.”
When asked whether the committee would meet leaders of the Mohajir Suba Tehreek, he replied that they would meet all stakeholders. He was, however, cut off by the accompanying two ministers. “We will not meet the Mohajir Suba Tehreek leaders,” said Chandio in no uncertain terms. “We will only meet leaders who represent the people and are not involved in some clandestine activity,” added Qamar implying that the Tehreek leaders will not be consulted.
Faheem acknowledged while recounting the sequence of attacks on the AT rally and the passenger bus in Shaheed Benazirabad, which left eight dead, that the situation needs political intervention. “They can’t be handled administratively.”
The committee also appeared divided about tackling enforced disappearances in Sindh. Faheem said their mandate does not cover missing nationalist workers. “The institutions concerned are already looking into it.” But Khursheed Shah, who took off from where he stopped, assured that they were concerned about the developing situation and would do their bit to address it.
The federal ministers parried many questions by just reiterating the government’s desire to restore peace in Sindh. They could not say why 100 nationalist workers have been detained from across the province after the bus attack but that there had been no arrests after the Mohabbat-e-Sindh rally in Karachi.
Even though they met Sindh Tarraqi Pasand leaders it was unclear whether the committee would call on leaders of the factions of Jeay Sindh Tehreek or not. “We will meet all stakeholders,” came the same answer.
The committee has been rejected by the Awami Tehreek. Ayaz Palijo, its president, has put forward conditions of arresting terrorists belonging to a political party he has named and taking action against police and health officials for failing to provide security to the rally and treatment to the injured people. “The government should disclose names and produce before the media the [...] snipers who have been arrested by the Rangers for firing on the rally,” Palijo has demanded.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2012.