Opposition parties launched a tirade against the government’s handling of the Karachi unrest in the National Assembly (NA) session on Monday, with Opposition Leader Nisar Ali Khan saying that killers and extortionists were on a rampage in the economic hub of the country, which was unacceptable.
“We have been raising our voice against the deteriorating law and order, price hike and unemployment but the ongoing killing spree and extortions are unacceptable as Karachi’s peace is imperative to the stability of the country,” Nisar said on a point of order, adding that the government was failing in its commitment to do what was needed, be it the Karachi unrest or the floods in interior Sindh. Expressing grave concerns about the ineptitude of the government, Nisar said the Supreme Court was taking up what should have been done by parliament itself. Expressing reservations of his party over the ongoing joint operation of Rangers and police in Karachi, Nisar said that any operation under the supervision of Interior Minister Rehman Malik would meet the same result as other such operations, implying failure. He said the opposition would present a documented record of Malik’s various assurances, including those about capturing the killers of journalist Wali Khan Babar.
“Despite our reservations, we did not embarrass the government by criticising the operation in Karachi as we think that an army operation in Karachi was not a wise step. Though the members of PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) and its allied parties had called for a military operation in Karachi, we objected to it as it is unwise to engage the army in the streets and bazaars of Karachi,” he said, adding that his party had reservations over the role of many political party workers in Karachi. He also called for a thorough debate on the allegations traded by Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and MQM chief Altaf Hussain, saying that they should have been discussed in the session. JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman said all political parties should join ranks and find a permanent solution to the issue as military operation was no solution to the problem. Later, responding to the points raised by various leaders, Interior Minister Rehman Malik offered an in-camera briefing to the House about the law and order situation in Karachi, stating that the criminals were affiliated with the major political parties of Sindh and investigations were being conducted to ascertain the presence of such criminals in the city.
