Fighting criminals: K-P’s politicos throw weight behind Karachi operation

Leaders of JI, QWP and ANP demand peace in country’s biggest city.

PESHAWAR:

Leaders of all major parties in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have spoken out in favour of the Rangers’ ongoing operation against criminals and armed groups in the port city of Karachi. Although the operation is ruffling the feathers of one party, others are seeing it as an opportunity to gain political footing in the city.

JI’s stance

Claiming it has complaints about general election polling in all of Karachi’s constituencies, the Jamaat-e-Islami has demanded the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the matter.

While addressing a gathering of party office-bearers in Peshawar on Sunday, JI chief Sirajul Haq called Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s mandate from the city “fake”. Re-elections should be held in Karachi and its populace should be given proper representation, said Haq.

“Politics and extortion cannot go on side by side. If the killers of innocent people are being protected in Karachi, we will consider the Islamabad bureaucracy complicit with the MQM,” said the JI chief.



Haq also lashed out at Pakistan Peoples Party for its decision to support MQM. “Those who share power with killers and extortionists also share full responsibility for their crimes.”

According to Siraj, aside from the operation against armed groups, the government should also announce development packages for the city amounting to Rs500 billion.

Speaking about the party’s plans to reach out to the disenchanted youth in Balochistan, Haq said they would form a political jirga to talk to these young men and bring their concerns forward.

He added the party plans to launch a public contact campaign in April to add 10 million voters to its base.

JI K-P chief Professor Mohammad Ibrahim Khan also spoke at the occasion. He urged the government to treat Afghan refugees with respect and dignity as they are being harassed in various crackdowns in the country.

Provincial general secretary Shabbir Ahmed Khan, Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan and other leaders attended the gathering.

‘We want peace’

Commenting on the ongoing situation in Karachi, Awami National Party Central General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain said his party was against terrorism and wanted peace across the country.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Hussain said whoever is involved in terrorism in the port city should be taken to task.

Commenting on former MQM worker Saulat Mirza’s statement about party leaders who allegedly ordered target killings, Hussain said Mirza would have to record his statements under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code to give them a legal status. The ANP leader, however, added Mirza’s claims were of a serious nature and required a thorough and transparent investigation.

Sherpao weighs in

Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has called for across-the-board action against all criminals irrespective of their political affiliation.

“We back the actions taken by Rangers and law-enforcement agencies to maintain law and order and restore peace in Karachi,” said Sherpao while addressing a gathering at the party’s central secretariat Watan Kor. Extortionists, kidnappers and target killers are calling the shots in Karachi, the economic hub of the country, Sherpao added.

(With additional reporting from Baseer Qalandar in Peshawar)

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2015.