LG polls in Sindh before general elections: Zardari

President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday chaired a crucial meeting of senior PPP Sindh leadership at Bilawal House Karachi, announcing that local government elections would be held in Sindh before the general elections and set up a committee headed by Qaim Ali Shah in this regard. Zardari said an ordinance would be issued for holding the polls if the need arose. He said reservations of the MQM on local government system would be removed and disciplinary action would be taken against party leaders giving statements against allied parties. The president took a serious notice of statements by some party leaders against the MQM and told the party members that the same should be avoided in the future. The president said all conspiracies of the opponents had been foiled in the past and would be floiled in the future as well. Zardari said restoring peace and order in violence-marred Karachi should be the government’s top priority and no compromise would be made on securing the life and property of the people. Condemning incidents of violence in Karachi, the president said criminals involved in disturbing the peace and stability in Karachi should be tackled with an iron fist regardless of their political affiliations. The meeting also discussed the current political situation, matters relating to coalition, local bodies election in Sindh, developmental issues, flood situation besides law and order of the country’s financial capital. Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah briefed the meeting on steps being taken to maintain law and order in Karachi, including equipping law enforcement agencies with modern tools to fight criminals in an effective manner. The chief minister also apprised the president about Saturday’s meeting of the PPP Core committee Sindh with the MQM leadership. The president said the PPP ministers, MPs and office-bearers should reach out to the people, especially those in far flung areas of Sindh, for addressing their problems as part of the party’s preparations for the forthcoming election. Addressing the meeting, President Zardari said following the party policy of reconciliation, the PPP would contest the next election throught adjustment with allies and give a stunning defeat to opponents. He also asked the chief minister and provincial government to resolve the complaints of flood and rain affected people on a priority basis.