The dinner is another indication of the widening gap between the MQM and the PPP. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: After being sworn in as the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, accompanied by various cabinet members, reached Lyari for a formal dinner on Thursday night to meet the newly elected MPAs of the area. MNA-elect and sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur, also accompanied Shah on the visit.
According to reports, the dinner was hosted by the defunct Peoples Amn Committee (PAC) leader, Uzair Jan Baloch, in honour of the newly elected chief minister and his cabinet members. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders, however, maintained that the programme was arranged by Lyari MPAs, Saniya Naz and Javed Nagori. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Nagori said that the programme had been scheduled for Thursday and the CM had assured of his presence soon after the oath-taking ceremony. “Lyari is the only constituency wherefrom the PPP has swept all the seats. It is considered a second home for all PPP leaders,” he said.
The event was the first open gathering where Lyari’s most controversial personality, Uzair Jan Baloch, was sitting with the CM.
It must be remembered here that the outgoing government of Qaim Ali Shah had announced head money against Baloch following the demands of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to apprehend the Lyari gang members involved in criminal activities in the city. The head money, however, had later been withdrawn when the MQM parted ways with the government.
It is also worth noting that senior PPP leaders, including Rehman Malik and Syed Qaim Ali Shah, had repeatedly denied any contact with the PAC leadership in the past. Prior to elections, however, all cases and bounties against the PAC activists were withdrawn by Shah’s government.
These gestures may be indicative of the widening gap between the PPP and the MQM on certain issues - whereby, both the former allies have resorted to different pressure tactics. The MQM have announced their decision to sit on the opposition benches whereas the PPP, who had initially invited the MQM to join the government, has now started giving the impression that they can go without their support.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2013.
COMMENTS (19)
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@RK: "Anyone supporting Lyari gangs is NOT sincere to Karachi and it’s people." . I am sure Zulfikar Mirza would disagree with you.
Anyone supporting Lyari gangs is NOT sincere to Karachi and it's people.
well come the sister of president asif ali zardari feryal talpur and new c m and the others of mmebers of sindh assembly party members honour of sardar uzair for the host of dinner solve the problems of people of lyari and also wants the rights of lyari poeple and given the port foloe of the members of lyari who win the seat for the contest and we hope the new cm and party members of ppp complete the promise for the lyari people hope so
@RB Mian: "@Karachiwala What do PTI has to do with it?" . The moment PPP starts negotiating with PTI, MQM should become more vigilant, if not wiped out completely, the party would emerge quite weakened after that episode. No doubt their position can be called precarious. Successful propaganda by their opponents has painted MQM in a corner, branding them as a hoi polloi of street thugs. An image that needs immediate attention, much dead-wood needs to be get rid of. . This wakening up and revamping was much needed but if it is going to be just a cosmetic change then it would be an exercise in futility, as productive as of marching on the same spot.
RB man , ever visited Karachi ? Reckon no .The Karachi police is filled with conscienceless thugs and 90 % of them are outsiders .And they eye the locals as Golden goose . Why don't you take them to your province and let us have our own police from the locals .. So much for advice .
Standard of leadership and morality can be judged from this event.
@Baffled You dont need a buthcher to counter a butcher. Just rule of law.Rule of law is easiest and most efficient way. You just need right people in the administration with a will to do something for the betterment of the country and Karachi especially. I am voter of PTI and i do consider IK to be most eligible person for the job. But in punjab overall people stand for their rights in such matters so it makes even Shahbaz Sharif to look better when it is about Law and Order. A lot of people from Karachi are shifting to Lhr and Fsd and they are happy that they can take their families out at night, can do business with freedom, can keep new cars and mobiles and above all sleep with peace of mind. You know the reason for it? It is people of these cities who force the administration to take actions whenever situation gets out of hand.
people of Defence and Clifton just step out of your comfort zone and ask the memon businessmen of Kharadar and Mithadarand Jodia bazar .How these Lyari gangsters are taking bhatta so openly .
Donot worry these thugs have already made inroad in Defence and Clifton . Just wait and see .Without MQM nobody is there to counter these butchers .
even media was silent on May 11 about lyari....where no one was allowed inside..Rangers are afraid to enter lyari..SC court declared it as a no go area
@Karachiwala What do PTI has to do with it?
@Karachiwala: Hahaha! Brilliantly put. PTI cannot see past MQM. They have started a culture of all-hate against MQM.
We will see how things unfold in front of us. Maybe IK will be successful in KPK. We have no track record of him before. As far as Karachi is concernedm MQM will give its best!
@Karachiwala
Please wake-up before its too late !!!!!
@Lobster: There is idealism and then there is reality. You seem to believe in idealism. Strong police and fair judiciary would in the true sense take years and years to come into force. Sounds easy to say. MQM fights against these thugs with their own thugs. And honestly, their thugs are much less dangerous then the lyari/PPP and Taliban thugs. I'm no fan of MQM but its hard to disagree that they have worked for Karachi as well.
@Karachiwala: Criminals are not countered by voting other criminals, it has been proved in last 20 years. Strong police, fair judiciary is the answer
And the blood game is about to begin in Karachi against MQM. Oh forgive me, it had begun already!
@Karachiwala: and why are you guys crying you were in Coalition from past five years
I bet Tappi stayed away. Uzair's threat to Tappi were all over the media sometime ago.
PPP's way of trying to push MQM against the wall in Karachi. When zulfiqar mirza himself openly admitted having issued thousands of arms licenses to these barbaric criminals of Lyari it was quite evident who they were supposed to be used against. Even though Iv been pti's supporter all through out but i still realise that once these barbarians of worst kind get unleashed on to the common people of Karachi, IK/pti will no where be in the scene and only one party will be there openly against them and thats mqm. Bitter but thats the fact.
And PTI trolls along with JI crying babies don't see, hear or smell something in this news. what a shame. Thats keep us keep voting for MQM!