Precondition for talks: Memon advises federal govt to secure Taliban truce first
Minister stresses operation in Karachi must go on despite Chaudhry Aslam’s death.
Minister stresses operation in Karachi must go on despite Chaudhry Aslam’s death. PHOTO: PPI FILE
HYDERABAD:
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon has advised the federal government to ask the Taliban for a ceasefire before they begin their negotiations with the government.
Talking to media at the residence of Senator Maula Bux Chandio on Saturday, Memon said that the government could not afford to sit idle as the militants were on a rampage against the police and armed forces. The provincial minister reaffirmed that the ongoing security operation in Karachi would continue despite the killing of CID SP Chaudhry Aslam, who was playing a central role in the process. The minister said that the federal government’s cooperation continued and the law enforcement agencies were going ahead with their action against terrorists, extortion seekers and other criminals.
Talking about the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) recent complaints, he said that the debate about differentiating the people of Sindh as urban and rural or on the basis of their ethnicity should end now.
“The people have given their reaction to all the formulas such as Sindh one and two. This issue should be closed now,” he stressed.
Memon said that the Pakistan Peoples Party did not consider the MQM its enemy. “We don’t consider MQM or any other party as our enemy. In politics, there is just difference of opinion and approach towards various issues.”
According to Memon, the MQM chief Altaf Hussain has been blaming the PPP for creating a sense of discrimination among the Urdu-speaking community through the provincial government’s policies. The government was considering to conduct a test for the 12,500 employees in the local government department whose appointments were made without merit, said Memon, who also holds the portfolio of the local government ministry. “We will take their test. Those who pass will remain in the jobs and the remaining will be sacked.” Earlier, Memon offered condolence to Chandio over his mother’s demise.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2014.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon has advised the federal government to ask the Taliban for a ceasefire before they begin their negotiations with the government.
Talking to media at the residence of Senator Maula Bux Chandio on Saturday, Memon said that the government could not afford to sit idle as the militants were on a rampage against the police and armed forces. The provincial minister reaffirmed that the ongoing security operation in Karachi would continue despite the killing of CID SP Chaudhry Aslam, who was playing a central role in the process. The minister said that the federal government’s cooperation continued and the law enforcement agencies were going ahead with their action against terrorists, extortion seekers and other criminals.
Talking about the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) recent complaints, he said that the debate about differentiating the people of Sindh as urban and rural or on the basis of their ethnicity should end now.
“The people have given their reaction to all the formulas such as Sindh one and two. This issue should be closed now,” he stressed.
Memon said that the Pakistan Peoples Party did not consider the MQM its enemy. “We don’t consider MQM or any other party as our enemy. In politics, there is just difference of opinion and approach towards various issues.”
According to Memon, the MQM chief Altaf Hussain has been blaming the PPP for creating a sense of discrimination among the Urdu-speaking community through the provincial government’s policies. The government was considering to conduct a test for the 12,500 employees in the local government department whose appointments were made without merit, said Memon, who also holds the portfolio of the local government ministry. “We will take their test. Those who pass will remain in the jobs and the remaining will be sacked.” Earlier, Memon offered condolence to Chandio over his mother’s demise.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2014.