Political parties reject MQM’s call for army

Major political parties in Sindh have rejected the demand of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to deploy army in Karachi to maintain law and order.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Syed Hafeezuddin stressed the need to have a neutral police force to deal with the law and order situation in Karachi. “We demand the government should depoliticise the police force and stop political patronage of criminals,” he said.

Imtiaz Shaikh of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional said that his party would not extend any support if the forces are moved in Karachi for law and order. “Police officials should be appointed on merit and given full authority, otherwise no change will take place,” he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Mohammad Hussain Mehnati said that calling the soldiers was not a solution to every problem. The provincial government should end its reconciliation policy and take action against the criminals.

“The demand from MQM seems to be immature. On the one hand, they are part of the provincial government and their governor is enjoying all powers and, on the other, the leader of the party is demanding the handover of Karachi to armed forces,” he said.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Sindh president Ghous Ali Shah said that political parties and the government should learn lessons from their past mistakes and keep civilian matters under the control of police. “Democracy is now flourishing in our country, therefore, I will ask everyone to give a chance to the democratically elected government to make any decisions,” he said.

Earlier, MQM chief Altaf Hussain had demanded army deployment to protect the life and property of the Kutchi community in Lyari. He clarified that the Constitution allows them to make such a demand.