Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly and central PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday joined forces with those opposing an army action in Karachi against the criminals who have unleashed bloodshed in the country's economic hub.
"Those calling to hand over Karachi to army are not the well wisher of the armed forces", said Leader of the Opposition in a statement here, adding the move would be disastrous for the army. He called for leaving the matter of army deployment in Karachi to the Parliament, adding that any decision if needed to deploy army in Karachi should be taken by parliament after thorough debate.
The ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has been opposing army deployment in Karachi despite repeated calls by its coalition partner -Awami National Party (ANP) and traders community of the metropolis, including Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Nisar was of the view that the closed and dark streets of Karachi would turn out to be trap with no exit, adding army deployment in Karachi could put an end to violence in Karachi temporarily but would have dire future consequences.
He observed that the continued violence in Karachi was because of the failure of the police and Rangers, but he added that it was the sheer failure of government, which is reluctant to give full mandate to the law enforcing agencies to act with full strength against criminal elements in the city.
He also advised the government to free police and Rangers from the command of Interior Minister Rahman Malik so that the institutions could take action against criminals without any fear.
He also lashed out the rulers for their wisdom to deal with the Karachi situation, terming the activities in presidency in this regard as 'bizarre' approach of President Ali Asif Zardari who flew to foreign destinations when Karachi is burning and Sindh is facing devastating floods.
Nisar called for constitution of an all-parties parliamentary committee to monitor all the operation against the mafias and gangs in Karachi. He further said PML-N was also planning to requisite National Assembly session on Karachi issue in coming days. He blamed the government and its allies for staging a bloody drama in Karachi and noted that growing violence in Karachi was political as well as administrative because each party in government is backing their respective militant wings in the city.
He also alleged the ruling coalition for 'double standards' that has made the governance a joke causing great miseries to the people of Karachi, adding the 'hypocrisy' of the coalition partners has led to creation of a dangerous situation in the metropolis.