Expressing reservations over the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) rejoining the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition government, the joint parliamentary meeting of the Awami National Party (ANP) on Monday said the operation in Karachi should continue until the elimination of torture cells from the city.
The joint parliamentary meeting of the members of the Senate and the National Assembly was held with Asfandyar Wali Khan in the chair at the Parliament House, in which Shahi Syed, ANP Sindh president, briefed the parliamentarians about the situation in Karachi. Later, ANP spokesman Senator Zahid Khan briefed reporters about details of the meeting along with Syed. Khan said MQM leader Altaf Hussain failed to give satisfactory answers to the allegations of Zulfiqar Mirza in his press conference.
“The allegations like writing a letter to former British prime minister Tony Blair against the ISI and the MQM’s partnership with the US in conspiracy against Pakistan, among many others, were of serious nature and Altaf did not give appropriate answers to any of the allegations,” he said. Asked if there was any foreign hand behind the deteriorating situation in Karachi, Khan said it was the responsibility of the government to expose elements behind the violence. “If we are not taking action against criminals honestly and sincerely, how can a foreign hand be accused?” the senator said. ANP Sindh President Shahi Syed said the operation in Karachi was launched on the demand of the ANP and it would support the continuation of the action unless all torture cells were eliminated from the city.
