“Special Police and Rangers’ contingents will be called in Karachi—even army might be called if the situation worsens,” says a senior Ministry of Interior official. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE
ISLAMABAD: As fears loom that London Metropolitan Police might take action against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) top leadership in the United Kingdom, the government prepares itself to handle the law and order situation in Karachi, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Interior Ministry and National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) top officials have revealed that the government has put paramilitary forces on alert in nine cities of Sindh province.
“Special Police and Rangers’ contingents will be called in Karachi—even army might be called if the situation worsens,” said a senior Ministry of Interior official.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also talked to inspector general police and Rangers after the NACTA and National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) informed him that Karachi and some other cities of Sindh might witness worst law and order situation in the coming weeks, he added.
Teams of both the NACTA and the NCMC had submitted interior ministry a report which suggested that there could be severe repercussions of London Police investigations against MQM chief Altaf Hussain on charges of money laundering and provocation of violence.
The officials said the British government regularly updated Pakistan on developments in Imran Farooq’s murder case as well as the probe against Altaf Hussain in several cases.
Last week in an official message, the British authorities informed Islamabad that London Police had found significant evidences against MQM workers in Imran Farooq’s case as well as against some MQM leaders in money laundering cases. “If a money laundering case is established against any MQM worker, then it would be treated as a financial case,” said an official quoting the official letter sent to Pakistan.
Last week, the NCMC also presented interior minister a handout that said if MQM failed to join government in the centre as well as in Sindh, it might divide into various sub-groups, a senior official told The Express Tribune.
Responding to a query as to whether the government had prepared itself to cope with the situation following London Police action against MQM top leadership, Interior Ministry spokesperson Omar Hameed Khan said: “Yes, all possible security situations will be controlled.”
MQM Senator Col (retd) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, however, said all rumours and speculations about MQM were baseless. He said London Police findings would not affect MQM and Karachi as they were questioning more than 1,300 persons in MQM leader Imran Farooq’s murder case. “All allegations, reports, findings are false and have no grounds against the party and its top leadership,” he maintained.
He said more than 109 MQM workers had lost their lives during recent months as the government failed to control terrorism. “Karachi may witness its worst law and order situation in the coming days,” Mashhadi predicted.
When contacted, officials of the Sindh Home Department said this kind of information or contingency plan is shared by the federal government, but they have not yet been informed about any such plan.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (54)
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if mqm has the guts then it should hit out at scotland yard and metro police. God forbid if anything happens in karachi. with rabta committee after rabta committee and cracks within most (after any type of prosecution against the guru) will go underground as they will be like sitting ducks for many other groups who will like to settle score with them. sensing something beforehand some might even cross over to dubai. now a hotel can never be a safe haven every time for some. let's not forget the thrashing, beating and attacks within the party after the post midnight address. the interior ministry should place them on ecl. by the way where is raza haroon? why are the prominent members not concerned about him?
I believe Scotland Yard have the proof to indict Altaf Bhai. The wait is for Pakistan to take necessary steps to deal with the fall out. Remember Ch. Nisar saying that Pakistan government has been advised - there is no need for British government to do that.
I am from India. I wish all the anti MQM voices here had the same passion for law and order in all parts of Pakistan, including areas where the Taliban are allowed a free run.
@Sana: Please be careful in the choice of your words and show respect not because you can appreciate a selfless leader, but because millions consider him their leader. Thanks
We love u altaf you have protected mohajirs from punjabi and sindi domination over mohajirs. We will die for you but not let any harm happen to you.
Who are we as a nation ? What have we done over the years to improve ourselves and bring justice to our people? We did all the wrongdoings, and then intentionaly disguised it, hide our sins purefuly for timely self relief and worldly benefits. Ineed we have no character or worth ... In the end, We are all ears and eyes towards the british goverment to somehow bring us justice .. We are Pakistanis ..
Imagine the outcry there would be, if the don went behind the bars. The consequences of UK investigation bring Karachities peace in question. The people are more concerned about the after effects of the decision than the actual happening. Here’s to hoping that the government will take necesaary measure to protect and secure the citizens as their first priority
@Sarmad Hassan: Brother, why are you so full of hatred?
@Haris: Vitriolic outpouring
@samia ahmed: And what terrain your forefathers should have gone to, peace loving US.
@ayshaM @samia ahmed
so why don't you leave then ? whose stopping you ? or what makes you not join your top party leadership sitting in edgware ?
this is the job of the provinces, if security in karachi fails, blame PPP, not PML-N. in any case if the PMLN does anything people will start complaining about not respecting mandates. whatever happens is primarily the responsibility of the mqm, as instigators, and the ppp as the government in sindh.
@samia ahmed: I curse my fore-fathers to have come to this rough terrain. You are so right
Money laundering and murders. Well no big deal in today's messed up socioeconomic cultures of the world, particularly third world. The point is what forces pushed educated law abiding individuals to take justice into their own hands and get detracted from moral ideals of society. Pakistan is a wild west of the past where justice and law doesn't exist. I curse my fore-fathers to have come to this rough terrain.
Dual nationality........gone very wrong.
Devel will be behind bars soon. Inshallah
@BetelQ8: There needs to be no preparation. Altaf Hussain is a human being, he could be indisposed for any reason, he of course cannot lead the party forever. It is his teachings and philosophy that would live on and guide the party. MQM is a disciplined party sets models for others to emulate, needs no advice
Dont know who is responsible for what Karachi is today. But I want to see Karachi as one of the greatest cities in the world. As it used to be before 1980's
Good for pakistan to isolate karachi and to make it a seperate province
Finally!! fingers crossed
Please, its a appeal to govt. of Pakistan, arrest all leadership of MQM and as much workers as you can in Karachi. This is the time to hit. End this misery for us.
Love the MQM senator, magically predicting violence in the next couple of weeks. Seems that's all they know. It gives karachi great pleasure to bid you farewell.
STORM is coming and by that I dont mean any fallout on Khi. Game of MASSIVE deception. Brace yourself, get ready for an independent .... by 2014, if only you could sense and see!
So when is London Fahsion Week?
Sane minds in MQM should prepare themselves for post-Altaf scenario, since his fate is quite evident.
@Jawaid: Indeed an International conspiracy by finding "well earned" hundred of thousands of British Pound sterling from perhaps the most "honest" and "pious" man on the face of this earth.
WAKE UP MAN.
@Salman: And which political party has not sought to divide Karachi on the basis of ethnicity?
Dream On MQM Haters, you will as usual bite the dust...
Cant wait to rid the world of this creep. Wonder why Britain ever made the mistake of giving him nationality
Zardari is leaving for 3 Week "private" visit of UK. He seems to have learnt a lesson from quaid e tehreek's episode. By the way which country's president goes on "private" visits and that so long???
i agree with the point made by Mr. Jawad, its an international conspiracy to creat worst law and order situation in Karachi and i m deadly sure about one thing..if Altaf is arreseted then all criminal minded people will try to creat unrest in Karachi and law enforcement agencies will remain keep quit and will watch the game silently
Once a famous man said "Hazaron khawishien aise"
I can't even believe that the people of Pakistan are falling into this trap. This is a well planned international conspiracy to bring Karachi to the melting point, which in return will create a Dhaka type situation in Urban Sindh. You unwise people have no idea what the international powers are going to do to Pakistan........1971 is being re-visited !
@Fed up: PTI, I highly recommend your workers and supporters to take cover, Judgement Day is coming !!!
MQM will break into different sub groups if they dont become part of gov't. And the time is coming.
Ban MQM forever as it has done nothing but destroying the peace in Karachi using ethnicity as a tool to divide people
if Govt has put security in cities of sindh on alert, it means his arrest is in the offing, since Interior Ministry is being briefed on daily basis in developments relating to all Cases against Altaf Bhai..... Me being his worst critic... yet feeling bad for his fall like this.... at the end every one has to pay for their deeds. kudos to Scotland Yard.
Mr. Altaf n some other are British citizens, British government investigate, arrest or convict an individual, practically it won't make sense for a political workers associated with such persons to make trouble in a 3rd country. And if they do than they should prepare to face 3rd country laws as well.
Can't believe that it took a foreign govt. to free Karachi from this Mafia, whereas the locals did nothing but bow down to guns and gangsters. Karachi was a beautiful city before MQM took it hostage. This is still too good to be true.
@Fed up: Karachi is one of the most armed cities! A shoot at sight order would result in a shoot out. Not sure if the armed forces can handle urban warfare. Already the armed forces has not been able to get a handle on the taleban and has been losing its men.
Don't except much from UK, which is nothing but a Banana Republic. All these years it knew exactly what Altaf Hussain was doing and listening to all his (hate) speeches but still choose to do nothing. Was UK colluding with Altaf Hussain in all this?or just found out what he was doing all these years?
NACTA job is to stop terrorism...not to involved in politics to divide the political parties in groups...people love Altaf Hussaian
Personally I believe in the event of such violence in Sindh, especially Karachi, the armed forces should be given a shoot on sight order if they witness violence. People need to fear the law and not think they can get away with destroying property and hurting innocent people.
What a bunch of he said and she said rumors. But MQM haters will enjoy as usual.
British govt. should ensure that UK soil would not be used under any circumstances to incite any violence in Pakistan as a consequence of ongoing several criminals investigations for the crimes committed in London. British government should pre-empt any expected criminal activity which might happen in Pakistan due to any legal actions in London. British authorities must warn beforehand the MQM leadership in London against inciting any violence any where. Similarly Pakistan law enforcing agencies should also warn publicly beforehand MQM leadership in Pakistan. MQM would certainly behave if LEA play their role as per law and requirements of the maintenance of public order.
If Mr. Altaf gets away this time, I will be convinced he is invincible with a lot cards to play with.
Interior Ministry should not take this matter lightly as the situation will get worse in Karachi if anything would happen to Altaf hussain in London.
Welcome All to the curtain call
Somebody pinch me
i hope it does not mean another Nawaz- military opration to victimize karachities. 1990s military opratikn still haunts some of my friends
Game Over Altaf Bhai.
Game over Altaf.