Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said that reconciliation process would have to be taken to grassroots levels to ensure stability and peace in Karachi, and vowed that extremists would not be allowed to set their roots in the city.
Addressing a press conference at Sindh Chief Minister's House after chairing a high level meeting on law and order here, the Prime Minister said that Karachi is, hub of economic activities and any kind of unrest in the city ultimately affects the entire country.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Minister Dr Babar Awan, Federal Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah, MQM delegation led by Dr Farooq Sattar and ANP team headed by Shahi Syed attended the meeting.
Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza gave a detailed presentation over the law and order situation after recent violence in the city. The Prime Minister announced Rs 500,000 as compensation for each family of those killed in recent violence and Rs 100,000 for every injured person from the federal government. The PM ordered the Sindh Home Minister to check supply of illegal arms in Karachi.
"The provincial government has given me a detailed presentation about the recent incidents of killing in the city and we have also discussed the issue with the leadership of MQM and ANP," the Prime Minister said. "I will discuss all the political decisions taken in today's meeting with MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and ANP President Asgandyar Wali," he said and added: "I will also discuss these issues with the President of Pakistan and the co-chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari".
He said the country is facing serious challenges and all the political leadership will have to come forward to help resolve all the challenging issues. "We have decided to take the reconciliation process to grassroots levels in the country to avoid any mishap in future," he added. The Prime Minister pointed out that a committee of all three parties including PPP, MQM and ANP will monitor the process on a regular basis.
He said Karachi is mini-Pakistan and all the political parties will have to play their role for the stability and peace of the mega city. The Prime Minister said that Karachi is facing multi-faceted problems and the government has planned to adopt a comprehensive strategy to address the situation.
To a query, Yousuf Raza Gilani said that the federal government will fully support the provincial government for strengthening and capacity-building of the police force. He said that law enforcement agencies should have taken pre-emptive measure to avoid such incidents in which as many as 34 persons were killed.
To another question, the Prime Minster said the world has realised that a stable Pakistan is in the interest of the global community. He said the support announced by the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) in Tokyo would be spent to improve security situation in the country.
He said the US had supported a dictator in Pakistan for nine years. Now the democracy has been restored and things will improve gradually, he added. The Prime Minister said that his party (PPP) has empowered him to talk with Sharif brothers regarding a coalition government in Punjab. There are coalition governments in three provinces - Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP.
He appreciated the Sindh government efforts to improve law and order situation in the city and all the coalition partners for their co-operation. Meanwhile, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza briefed the media about the decisions taken in the meeting with the Prime Minister.
The minister said 62 cases have been registered against the people allegedly involved in the recent violence in the city while 29 accused have been arrested and 21 weapons have been seized on the spot. He said that it was decided that the reconciliation process would be taken to the grass root levels. An interaction among the political workers is necessary to avoid any mishap in the future, he added.
"We have also decided that no political party will support people arrested in any violence," he said and added that no political worker will interfere in the investigation process of law enforcement agencies. The government will ensure neutral and proper investigations against any accused and the political committee will monitor it, he added.
It was also decided to establish permanent check posts of police and rangers at 11 most sensitive places in the city. The law enforcement agencies will be authorised to launch a search operation within a 2000 square meter area in case of any violence.