Pakistan’s newly elected President Mamnoon Hussain said that several political parties were backing groups of criminals, land-grabbers and extortionists and that this fact had been highlighted via various court decisions.
In his first interview after being elected as Pakistan’s 12th president, the Karachi-based senior politician told BBC Urdu that whenever he thought of resolving the law and order situation of Pakistan his attention was first shifted to Karachi, adding that he was well aware of the realistic situation in the city.
Furthermore, he said that Karachi would have to be given special attention as it was Pakistan’s driving force and vital to the country in every respect.
Mamnoon added that full-fledged action to eradicate crime had not been taken in the past as many criminals, land-grabbers and extortionists had the backing of political parties, and that this fact had been mentioned by innumerable court verdicts.
He added that the situation would not improve until this practice ended and until criminal elements were brought to justice.
Moreover, Mamnoon said that intelligence agencies needed to come together under one platform to control this menace.
Furthermore, he said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had initiated peace talks with India and he hoped to play a vital role in this process.
He expressed his wish to visit his birthplace, Agra, and especially the Taj Mahal.
Mamnoon was born in India’s Agra in 1940 before he migrated with his family to Pakistan during 1947’s partition of the sub-continent