PM Nawaz says consensus required over Karachi situation

KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday asked representatives of political parties in Sindh to provide guidance and valuable input to improve the law and order situation in the port city.

At the start of the meeting, the prime minister said the federal government was ready to assist all provincial governments in tackling any situation, including law and order, as it respected the public mandate enjoyed by them.

The prime minister said Pakistan was confronted with a host of issues like terrorism and load shedding. He stressed that political parties should stand firm to face these challenges.

He underlined the need for use of maximum power to overcome these challenges. “An investor cannot invest when there is an issue of law and order situation and under such conditions how can we tread the path of progress and prosperity and expect growth.”

Prime Minister Sharif emphasised that peace and economic growth were interlinked.

About the situation in Karachi, the Prime Minister observed that someone was demanding for bringing in the military to control the situation, others were pressing forth for targeted operation while somebody was asking for deployment of Rangers.

Addressing the representatives of political parties, he reminded them that some among them had powerful public mandate and it was the policy of the federal government to respect their due mandate. “I’m not a Prime Minister of Pakistan Muslim League but belong to the whole country. So far as the development of the country and issues of load shedding, bringing an end to lawlessness and law and order are concerned, I will not do politics,” he emphasised and asked the political parties to extend their cooperation in the greater national interest.

The prime minister stressed the importance of Karachi and the need to reach a consensus to resolve the law and order situation in the city.

“Different recommendations over how to control the law and order situation in Karachi are under review.”

He maintained when Karachi was peaceful, it would benefit the coming generations and the mothers would have no fear for their school going children.

Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid and leaders from Muttahida Quami Movement, Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party, Jammat-i-Islami and others were also present during the meeting.

MQM

MQM leader, Haider Abbas Rizvi said strict action should be taken against criminals regardless of their affiliations. Rizvi added that a multifaceted strategy was required to tackle the law and order situation in the city. “The killing of innocent people in Karachi is the murder of our mandate.”

MQM leader, Babar Ghauri called for a targeted operation in the city and the need to protect innocent citizens. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Sattar said that the people of Karachi were disappointed over the decision to withdraw Farooq Sattar’s invitation from the cabinet meeting.

JI

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader, Muhammad Hussain Mehanti said that his party for the last five years had been excluded from talks regarding the law and order situation in Karachi. “Neither the police or Rangers are stopping the people from dying in the city.”

ANP

ANP leader, Shahi Syed said no police officer in the city wanted to perform their duties.

ST

Sunni Tehreek’s (ST) Sarwat Ijaz Qadri called for the sacking of SHOs appointed on political basis.

PPP

The PPP announced its support for the prime ministers initiatives with Taj Haider calling for deweaponization and providing protection to witnesses.

PPP leader, Abdul Qadir Patel called for the inclusion of MQM-Haqiqi in the dialogue process. He also said that Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah should be given a free hand.