After K-P, terrorists have now started targeting Sindh: CM

Consul generals of Japan, Korea and China fear the deteriorating law and order situation.

KARACHI:

It would take more time for the government to control the worsening law and order situation in the city, said Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah. While taking to media personnel during his visit to Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum, Shah said that “terrorists” had diverted their attention from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and towards Sindh and other provinces.

However, he later appeared to contradict himself when he said that “It is not the case that terrorist and criminal activities are taking place in Karachi while the present government is in place. The same situation prevailed in the city when other governments were in power as well”.

While responding to a question about the reported migration of Hindus from the country, Shah said that the people had gone to India for pilgrimage. President Asif Ali Zardari had constituted two committees to look into the matter and resolve the grievances of Hindu community in Sindh.

“The whole issue is propaganda and has been started by a few people who want to defame the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government,” said Shah.

When asked about incidents involving of forced conversion of Hindu girls, who were later married off to influential people, the chief minister said that the girls had reportedly converted of their accord. “The issue of conversion is not a new thing, and our law permits a woman to marry of her freewill.” Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and provincial cabinet members were also present on the occasion.

Diplomats concerned about their safety

With the deteriorating law and order situation and rise of street crime in Karachi, no one is safe. These circumstances compelled the consuls general of Japan, Korea and China to meet with the Sindh Chief Minister, Qaim Ali Shah, on Monday to express their concerns and request that measures be taken to ensure security in the city.

The Japanese consul general, Masaharu Satom, Korean consul general, Iakilee and the Chinese consul general, Pangiag Jiang, told the CM that people from their homeland were being victimised at the hands of criminals.

“Around 31 people of our countries have fallen prey to criminal activities in Karachi, but unfortunately the police have only solved three cases,” they said, adding that the improvement of the law and order situation is vital to the development of Pakistan and that security must be provided to foreign investors as well.

Different areas were highlighted where many incidents had taken place and where security needed to be beefed up which include, National Highway, Clifton, DHA and SITE.

Shah assured the diplomats that security would be provided to foreigners. He directed the Sindh IG and Home Secretary to take all preventative measures and that security be provided to all foreign consulates in Karachi.

He added that Pakistan has cordial relations with China, Korea and Japan and lauded the efforts made by Asian countries during the floods and rains in Sindh during the last two years. IG Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari informed them that a separate cell has been formed for providing security to foreign missions and an SP has been assigned the task of their security.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2012.