Representatives from the United States and some European countries have become active in bringing an end to targeted surgical operations against miscreants in Karachi, Pakistan Today has learnt. After some on-record and some off-record meetings with a major political party from Karachi, these representatives are pressuring high-ups in the federal and provincial governments to end the operation and solve the situation through political dialogue, sources said.
In this connection, representative of the European Union, Lars-Gunar Wigmarl met Sindh Home minister Manzoor Wasan on September 21 and discussed with him the ongoing operation in the city, sources claimed. They told Pakistan Today that after discussing various options with the home minister, Wigmarl insisted that the Karachi issue be resolved through political dialogue, and requested to convey his suggestions to the party leadership. He said many foreign envoys had also communicated their “concerns” regarding Karachi to senior leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
The sources claimed that the EU envoy also approached the Awami National Party (ANP) leadership for a meeting on the issue on Thursday but after some reservation showed by the ANP leadership, the meeting is now scheduled on September 24. Wigmarl assured the ANP that their reservations would be discussed with their rival Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the sources said, adding that MQM chief Altaf Hussain’ s recent apology for his comments regarding the ANP leadership were also the result of these backchannel contacts. According to the sources, the West had earlier put pressure on the Pakistan People’s Party after the 2008 election to make an alliance with the MQM which it did even though it was decided in 2006 in London that no political alliance would enter into any agreement with the MQM. The sources also said the US had advised Pakistan regarding the Karachi situation in its recent conditional aid announcement.
Will Europe or USA release criminals involved in mudering their citizens on the appeal of other nation?. The fact that they are doing so, points out that these crimes were committed with their backing. Political Parties need to talk to each other, but criminals involved in target killings, extortion and kidnap should never be allowed to get away and escape punishment. We should remember that these criminals have caused more deaths in Karachi, than Alqaida did on 9-11. When America rightly went to punish Osama and Alqaida for their crimes, how can they ask that we do not nab those who killed over 6000 innocent Pakistanis in hate crimes.
Comments are closed.