De-weaponisation being expedited in Karachi: Durrani

18 May, 2007

Former prime minister and head of PML-Q, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that there was no truth in rumour of deal amongst government and any opposition party. He was speaking at Quran Khawani of the wife of Speaker, National Assembly, Chaudhry Ameer Hussain at his Johar Town residence on Thursday.
He said there would be free and fair elections in the country and everyone would be given an equal opportunity. He said Karachi was an important city of the country and government would ensure that peace and harmony was prevailed there.
Federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani speaking on the occasion averred that everybody was equal in the eyes of law and those found involved in any incident of illegality in Karachi would be dealt severally as per law.
Stressing upon the need to create harmony in Karachi, he said that polarisation there needed to vanish. He said Karachi was fast returning to normalcy.
The minister averred that government was doing all out efforts to maintain law &order situation in Karachi, however, he asked all the political parties and other groups to contribute to the efforts of creating harmony in the City.
He said May 12 event was condemnable and everybody had realised that this unfortunate incident should not have been occurred. Dwelling further on peace efforts in Karachi, he said de-weaponisation was being expedited to bring durable peace in the city. He said Karachi did not belong to any particular group or party rather it was the city of all those who live there. He stressed that it was the responsibility of all the inhabitants of Karachi to strive for peace and harmony there.
Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao talking to journalists on the occasion said the government was looking into all aspects of recent incidents in Karachi. He advised the political parties to seek permission from the requisite authorities before carrying out any political recourse, like taking out rallies and processions so that enough security could be ensured.
He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his recent visit to the City had taken full stock of the situation and directed the authorities to take all necessary measures to avert recurrence of any such event in future.
The minister said that maintenance of law &order was a provincial subject, however, the federal government would provide all out assistance in this regard.
He said the government would continue its efforts to eliminate menace of terrorism from the country. Answering to a query on Peshawar bomb blast, the minister said investigation in this regard was already in process. A large number of people including Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, federal and provincial ministers and legislators were present on the occasion.

Read Comments