Open invitation: ‘Peace in Karachi possible if parties stand united’

PPP’s opposition leader, Khursheed Shah claims that police can do its job better than the army.

SUKKUR: Peace in Karachi is possible only if all political parties join hands and take sincere efforts to curb violence, said the National Assembly opposition leader, Khursheed Shah.

At a news conference in Sukkur on Sunday night, Shah argued that nobody spoke of inducting the army to maintain law and order before but now, when the situation is comparatively better, they are demanding for the army. The army is not supposed to patrol the streets, he said, adding the police can control the situation in a better way. Without naming the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, he said that those who were against calling the army earlier have now started calling it following the arrest of some of its workers.

“We will ask the government why it failed to put an end to load-shedding once its honeymoon period is over,” said Shah. “The government should be a welfare state instead of commercial one.”

Shah also claimed that Imran Khan and Maulana Fazalur Rehman are old friends, while making clear that PPP will not become part of any conspiracy against destabilising the government. “When MQM’s Farooq Sattar is invited to attend a meeting on Karachi issue then Sharjeel Memon should also be allowed to attend,” he said.

He added that the chief justice and army chief will not be able to get extension because two third majority vote is needed for the purpose and PML-N does not enjoy majority in the Senate.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2013.