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No criminal to be spared: Zardari
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has taken notice of the worsening law and order situation in Karachi and has directed the Sindh government to set hot pursuit terms to pursue criminals from Karachi escaping to Balochistan. He also invited the MQM to rejoin the government.
Chairing a high level meeting in Islamabad at Aiwan-e-Sadr over the law and order situation in Karachi, Zardari said that no criminal would be spared regardless of their political affiliations, if any.
The meeting was attended by Governor Sindh Dr. Ishratul Ibad Khan, Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Syed Khursheed Shah, Secretary General to the President M. Salman Faruqui, Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Hussain Wasan, Minister for Local Government Sindh Agha Siraj Durrani, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, Sindh Minister for Law Muhammad Ayaz Soomro who briefed the President over the latest situation in Sindh particularly violence and target killing.
Sindh Agriculture Minister Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, MNA Abdul Qadir Patel and spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar were also present in the meeting.
The meeting decided that Sindh government will approach the government of Balochistan for working out arrangements and allow pursuit of gangsters, and criminals fleeing from Karachi by the Sindh police. Efforts will also be made to step up surveillance of routes leading in and out of Karachi to keep an eye on the criminal elements and illegal movement of weapons.
The meeting also decided to beef up intelligence networks in Karachi to provide real time information to the police to apprehend culprits planning criminal activities.
A committee comprising Governor, Chief Minister and Home Minister Sindh was also formed to oversee the law and order situation in Karachi.
Zardari also directed that all victims of violence be compensated immediately.
Zardari invites MQM to rejoin the government
During the meeting the President also called MQM chief Altaf Hussain on the phone in 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, and the MQM to rejoin the government and said that the gesture would send a powerful message to deter the criminal mafia and gangsters.