Rehman assures MQM of tighter security for Karachi businessmen

KARACHI:

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has assured Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain that the government will protect all citizens of Karachi, particularly the business community.

In a meeting in London this week, Altaf had briefed Malik on the sense of insecurity among the business community in Karachi over threats from extortionists.

In a speech delivered via telephone to party workers in Karachi on Monday, Altaf said that he had met with the interior minister the day before.

Interior Minister Malik also visited Malala Yousafzai at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Monday and spoke to the MQM chief before his visit.

Altaf told the interior minister that since he (Malik) was tied up with other work, those involved in extortion and kidnapping rackets had begun to issue threats to industrialists, shopkeepers and traders.

The MQM chief said he had told Malik to restore peace in Karachi and convene a meeting of officials from police, Rangers and law-enforcement agencies and devise a course of action that would give relief to Karachi’s citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2012.