KARACHI, July 22: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has assured the Sindh government that the federal government will provide it whatever resources it requires to restore peace and improve law and order situation in Karachi.
The minister, who was on a whirlwind visit to the city on Monday, spent a busy day to assess the law and order situation and muster support for the PML-N candidate in the presidential election scheduled for Aug 6.
During his eight-hour stay, he met Director General of Rangers Maj Gen Rizwan Akhtar at the Rangers’ headquarters, followed by a meeting with Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah at the CM House and Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad at the Governor’s House, bedsides a meeting with PML-N leaders from the province.
Before returning to Islamabad in the evening, Chaudhry Nisar also paid a visit to the Raja House to meet PML-F chief Pir Pagara and briefly talked to reporters.
In reply to their questions, he said he had never talked about imposing governor’s rule in Sindh or giving a one-month deadline (to the Sindh government) to improve law and order situation in Karachi.
Since the PPP had a clear mandate in Sindh, he said, the federal government would cooperate with it. He said the chief minister had a long political career and commanded respect among politicians.
“Sindh is a sensitive province and conditions in Karachi, which is a mini-Pakistan, have an impact on the entire country,” the interior minister observed.
The minister said all political parties would work together to make security forces effective and find a solution to political and administrative issues.
He said he was going back with a better understanding (of Karachi) and trust in the provincial government.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would visit Karachi soon, Chaudhry Nisar said.
CHIEF MINISTER: During a meeting with the chief minister, he attended a briefing by the provincial chief secretary, the police chief and the DG Rangers on law and order situation in Sindh, with a focus on Karachi.
The chief minister thanked the minister for taking interest in law and order situation in the province, particularly Karachi.
“Although Rangers and police are striving to eliminate crime in Karachi and have arrested several suspects involved in heinous crimes and terrorism, the Sindh government needs cooperation of the federal government to improve law and order situation in the city,” he said.
No doubt some incidents of bomb blasts and targeted killing had taken place in Karachi, but police and Rangers had made efforts to prevent such incidents in future, he said and stressed the need for cooperation at different levels to cope with the challenge.
He said Lyari had always been a fortress of the PPP but law and order situation had recently taken an ugly turn in the area. Referring to the migration of families of Kachchi community from Lyari, he said a five-member ministerial committee was in touch with them and 80 per cent of the families were ready to return home.
GOVERNOR: At a meeting with Governor Ibad, the minister discussed with him law and order situation in the province, particularly Karachi. They agreed that all political entities had to play a role to improve the situation.
The minister directed law enforcement agencies to take action against criminals without any discrimination and assured them of cooperation of the federal and provincial governments in this regard.
The governor said a foolproof security system was being evolved to improve law and order which was necessary for economic progress.
Chaudhry Nisar inquired about well-being of MQM chief Altaf Hussain and asked the governor to convey his best wishes to him.
PML-N: At a meeting with the minister, the PML-N leaders presented suggestions for restoring law and order in the city and the province.