- PM, army chief discuss Karachi situation, Zarb-e-Azb
Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNAs from Faisalabad at the Prime Minister’s House on Thursday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made it clear that all political parties were taken on board before launching an operation in Karachi and there was no justification for anyone in the country for keeping illegal weapons.
Deeming a peaceful and stable Karachi in everyone’s interest, the premier said the situation in Karachi has considerably improved and incidents of kidnapping for ransom, extortion and targeted killing have reduced.
PM Sharif declared that there was no space for terrorism in Pakistan and the criminals involved in heinous crimes would be brought to justice.
“The country is facing colossal challenges, which the government is tackling through effective policies. However, backlog of past several years cannot be fixed by a magic wand. We must make ourselves stronger. I wish to resolve country’s major challenges before the next general elections,” he told the delegation.
PM MEETS ARMY CHIEF:
In a separate meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, the prime minister and the army chief discussed the progress in the Karachi operation and Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
The meeting came hours after convicted Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activist, Saulat Mirza’s execution was halted following a ‘confessional’ video early Thursday morning. Sources said that the army chief and premier reviewed Mirza’s statement, adding that the Karachi operation and a case filed against MQM chief Altaf Hussain by Rangers were also on the agenda of the meeting.
Just hours before his execution, MQM worker Saulat Mirza alleged in a supposed video confession that he killed former KESC director Shahid Hamid on the directives of party chief Altaf Hussain.