Islamabad; august 19, 2011: President Asif Ali Zardari today chaired a high level meeting on the Law & order situation in Karachi at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

 

The meeting was attended by Dr. Ishratul Ibad Khan, Governor Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Khursheed Shah, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Mr. M. Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President, Manzoor Hussain Wasan, Sindh Home Minister, Agha Siraj Durrani, Minister for Local Government Sindh, Mr. Sharjeel Memon, Information Minister, Sindh, Mr. Muhammad Ayaz Soomro Minister for law, , Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, agriculture Minister, Sindh, Mr. Abdul Qadir Patel, MNA and Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar.

 

Briefing the media, Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar said that Governor and Chief Minister briefed the meeting on the latest situation with particular reference to the spurt in the incidence of violence and targeted killings. The meeting decided that the Sindh government will approach the government of Balochistan for working out arrangements to allow pursuit by the Sindh police of gangsters, and criminals fleeing from Karachi besides stepping up surveillance of the routes leading to Karachi to keep an eye on the criminal elements and illegal movement of weapons.

 

The Spokesperson said that the meeting also decided to beef up intelligence network in Karachi to provide real time information to the Police to apprehend culprits planning criminal activities. A committee comprising of Governor, Chief Minister and Home Minister was also formed to oversee the law order situation in Karachi. The Committee will remain in constant touch with one another and keep the Presidency informed of the latest situation in Karachi, the Spokesperson said.

 

The Spokesperson said that President directed that all victims of violence be compensated immediately. Fateha was also offered for those who had lost their lives in recent violence. No criminal would be spared regardless of political affiliation, if any, the meeting reiterated. 

 

During the meeting the President also called Altaf Hussain on the phone inn London and emphasized the need to work together to fight lawlessness. The President said that elements behind the recent spurt in violence were those who wanted to drive a wedge between the PPP and MQM. Reciprocating the sentiment Altaf Hussain said that ending violence in Karachi was critical for peace and stability and that the MQM supported any move that was aimed at restoring peace to the city. The President once again invited Altaf Hussain that MQM join the government and said that the gesture will send a powerful signal to deter the crimes mafia and gangsters.