President Asif Zardari unveiled a two-pronged strategy on Tuesday, to maintain lasting peace in Lyari, a political stronghold of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party which has gained notoriety as one of the city’s most volatile neighbourhoods.
The president was chairing a high-level meeting of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and elected representatives and office bearers of the PPP from Lyari at Bilawal House.
President’s Spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said the president said peace will be restored in Lyari through the use of force as well as political means.
While the criminal elements will be dealt with an iron fist, the development-related problems of the masses will also be addressed, the spokesman said.
Calling upon the PPP workers not to take the law into their own hands, the president was quoted to have said the situation in Lyari will be resolved without favouring anyone. The president directed the law enforcers to take to task the miscreants, irrespective of their political affiliation.
A day earlier on Monday, President Zardari chaired a meeting of the coalition parties in Sindh at the Bilawal House and observed that lawlessness and targeted killings in the city could come to an end if the three political parties, PPP, MQM and ANP, joined hands. He also gave directions for the formation of a body comprising of representatives from the three political parties to have constant liaison with the Sindh Home Minister and Chief Minister.
The president also asked the Chief Minister Sindh that the Rangers and FC be directed to assist the police in the maintenance of law and order in Lyari.
The meeting reviewed progress on various developmental projects in Lyari, including the Lyari Development Package, the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Lyari, Lyari Medical College, development of Kakri Ground and the construction of Lea Market Flyover.
Senator Faisal Raza Abidi, Nabeel Gabol, Kousar Aamir, Khalil Hoth, Siyal and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah attended the meeting. Meanwhile, the presidential spokesman said President Zardari also signed the Intellectual Property Rights (IP) Ordinance 2012 on Tuesday on the advice of Prime Minister Yusaf Raza Gilani. The ordinance, the spokesman said, was signed as it had expired last month. The Intellectual Property Rights Bill is still pending in the parliament for its consent, he said. The world observes April 26th every year as the International Intellectual Property Day to highlight how the IP system was contributing to the development of business and technological innovation across the globe. The Intellectual property rights involve rights to protect trademarks, patents, copyrights, industrial designs, plant breeder rights, traditional knowledge and folklore.
