Ensure peace in Karachi at any cost: Zardari
President advises PPP leaders to not give any statements against coalition parties including MQM.
KARACHI:
President Asif Ali Zardari said that peace in Karachi should be ensured at any cost, while presiding over a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) core committee meeting on Sunday.
The meeting, held at Bilawal House, Karachi, was attended by Federal Minister Farooq H Naek, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Minister for Power and Water Chaudhry Mukhtar Ahmed, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Advisor Petroleum Ministry Dr Asim Hussain and some other provincial ministers.
Karachi, in the recent past, has seen several incidents of violence, especially those pertaining to sectarianism. A few political workers have also been targeted in such incidents.
According to AFP, ethnic, sectarian and politically linked violence has killed at least 740 people so far this year in the city of Karachi.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday had claimed that militants in large numbers have sneaked into the city and are trying to make it a “safe haven”.
During the meeting, Zardari also ordered that in Sindh, the local government system should be finalised and presented in the assembly for approval within two months.
Ties with coalition parties
Municipal affairs, law and order situation and ties with coalition partners were discussed during the meeting. According to sources, the president advised PPP leaders against giving out statements against all coalition parties, including the MQM.
He also ordered the formation of a three-member committee for talks with Pakistan Muslim League – Functional, National Peoples Party and Awami National Party.
The president said that the reconciliation process with political parties will continue.
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, on the eve of Pakistan’s 65t h Independence Day, had announced that the PPP-led government will talk to all political parties for a dialogue over the formation of a caretaker set-up government. He had said that the government will also hold dialogue with the opposition parties so that all issues of national importance are resolved through consensus.
Energy crisis
Zardari, giving out instructions to curb the ongoing energy crisis in the country, said that all possible steps should be taken for the cause.
Chaudhry Mukhtar briefed the meeting about ongoing projects to overcome the energy crisis and loadshedding in Pakistan, while Zardari ordered that the energy shortfall should be dealt with.
According to latest reports, the energy shortfall in the country has gone up to 5,726 MegaWatts and the cities are facing up to 12 hours of loadshedding every day.
President Asif Ali Zardari said that peace in Karachi should be ensured at any cost, while presiding over a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) core committee meeting on Sunday.
The meeting, held at Bilawal House, Karachi, was attended by Federal Minister Farooq H Naek, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Minister for Power and Water Chaudhry Mukhtar Ahmed, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Advisor Petroleum Ministry Dr Asim Hussain and some other provincial ministers.
Karachi, in the recent past, has seen several incidents of violence, especially those pertaining to sectarianism. A few political workers have also been targeted in such incidents.
According to AFP, ethnic, sectarian and politically linked violence has killed at least 740 people so far this year in the city of Karachi.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday had claimed that militants in large numbers have sneaked into the city and are trying to make it a “safe haven”.
During the meeting, Zardari also ordered that in Sindh, the local government system should be finalised and presented in the assembly for approval within two months.
Ties with coalition parties
Municipal affairs, law and order situation and ties with coalition partners were discussed during the meeting. According to sources, the president advised PPP leaders against giving out statements against all coalition parties, including the MQM.
He also ordered the formation of a three-member committee for talks with Pakistan Muslim League – Functional, National Peoples Party and Awami National Party.
The president said that the reconciliation process with political parties will continue.
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, on the eve of Pakistan’s 65t h Independence Day, had announced that the PPP-led government will talk to all political parties for a dialogue over the formation of a caretaker set-up government. He had said that the government will also hold dialogue with the opposition parties so that all issues of national importance are resolved through consensus.
Energy crisis
Zardari, giving out instructions to curb the ongoing energy crisis in the country, said that all possible steps should be taken for the cause.
Chaudhry Mukhtar briefed the meeting about ongoing projects to overcome the energy crisis and loadshedding in Pakistan, while Zardari ordered that the energy shortfall should be dealt with.
According to latest reports, the energy shortfall in the country has gone up to 5,726 MegaWatts and the cities are facing up to 12 hours of loadshedding every day.