KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Monday boycotted the Sindh Assembly session in protest against the reported owning of the People’s Aman Committee (PAC) in Karachi by Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza.
Zulfiqar Mirza, who is also the PPP Sindh chapter vice president, said he was ready to step down as the home minister for the cause of democracy and the PPP. “I am a devoted worker of the party, if I am removed for furthering the cause of democracy and the party, I would relinquish the Home Ministry with pride,” he said, while responding to a volley of questions by reporters outside the Sindh Assembly building about his speech and the MQM’s reaction.
Earlier, when Mirza entered the house at around 10:55am, several PPP legislators, especially women, gave him a standing ovation and welcomed him by thumping desks. They chanted slogans ‘long live Bhutto’, and ‘long live Sher-e-Karachi’.
Mirza, responding to a question about the reported lack of interest of the government to pacify the MQM, said this notion was not correct. He said his party’s leaders were in contact with the MQM leaders.
He said after his clarification about the speech, the MQM’s concerns should have been addressed. Mirza regretted the media often distorted his statements, and telecast and published only those contents of his speech, which ignited fire and increased differences among the coalition partners. He said he had never talked about giving amnesty to criminals. “But the cases lodged against ‘innocent persons’ on basis of political victimisation or on anger of any influential person should be reviewed and these persons should be given safe passage,” he added.
He said the cases lodged against the oppressed people of Karachi should be reviewed, adding fake cases had also been registered against Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari and also against him. Mirza said he talked about giving amnesty to such innocent people and stood by his statement. The home minister said: “Those who think ‘fake’ cases were lodged against them and they are not provided justice, they could approach the government, which would review and order a probe into such cases”.
Mirza said soon after his speech at a ceremony in connection with the seventh death anniversary of former MPA Abdullah Murad Baloch in Malir on Sunday, the Sindh governor and Interior Minister Rehman Malik talked to him on phone and he clarified his position before them that he did not talk about giving amnesty to the criminals. Mirza said review of fake cases would also help the MQM.
“Three or four days ago, I talked to Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and informed him that confrontation between the Katchi community and Baloch is increasing in Lyari. I brought a rapprochement among them and persuaded them to start politics from a big platform for resolution of their social problems,” Mirza added. He said he took the governor into confidence on reviewing the cases against these persons, adding the PPP would never tolerate any criminal.
About the alleged involvement of People’s Aman Committee in extortion, the home minister said Baba Ladla issued chits for extortions and other chits contained ‘particular numbers’ as per the investigation carried out by the police. He said three to four cases had been lodged against these elements with help of the Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC). He declared the PAC had nothing to do with the extortion.
“Some Seraiki-speaking people, some people belonging to upcountry and some locals are involved in the extortion cases,” Zulfiqar Mirza said, adding these elements taking help from a phone directory talked to industrialists and demanded extortion.
He said it was not a good thing that MQM’s educated leaders levelled allegations on him of being a don and a supporter of extortionists and kidnappers. He said the MQM leaders also alleged that he (Mirza) talked in drunken condition, but the people, the government and even the MQM knew as to who spoke in drunken condition.
The home minister claimed that the crime rate had reduced and he challenged the media to debate with him. He said the crime rate had reduced up to 25 to 30 percent this year as compared to the last year. “During the last three years, the crime rate has reduced up to 50 percent as compared to the past,” he added. Mirza said since he held an important ministry, he tended to attend the important session of the assembly because he was also supposed to ensure security for VVIPs or foreign dignitaries when they visited Karachi.
NNI adds: The MQM Rabita Committee on Monday decided to boycott the session of the Sindh Assembly and upcoming sessions of the National Assembly and Senate over Zulfiqar Mirza’s statement. A joint meeting of MQM Rabita Committee was held at Nine Zero. MQM members in national and provincial assemblies attended the meeting.
Raza Haroon, a senior MQM leader, said the meeting decided that the MQM would continue to boycott of assemblies. He said the MQM repeatedly drew the attention of the PPP over the situation in the city. He said the crime situation here in the city was alarming. He said that the MQM had conveyed its decision to the prime minister and president.
The News
Zulfiqar Mirza, who is also the PPP Sindh chapter vice president, said he was ready to step down as the home minister for the cause of democracy and the PPP. “I am a devoted worker of the party, if I am removed for furthering the cause of democracy and the party, I would relinquish the Home Ministry with pride,” he said, while responding to a volley of questions by reporters outside the Sindh Assembly building about his speech and the MQM’s reaction.
Earlier, when Mirza entered the house at around 10:55am, several PPP legislators, especially women, gave him a standing ovation and welcomed him by thumping desks. They chanted slogans ‘long live Bhutto’, and ‘long live Sher-e-Karachi’.
Mirza, responding to a question about the reported lack of interest of the government to pacify the MQM, said this notion was not correct. He said his party’s leaders were in contact with the MQM leaders.
He said after his clarification about the speech, the MQM’s concerns should have been addressed. Mirza regretted the media often distorted his statements, and telecast and published only those contents of his speech, which ignited fire and increased differences among the coalition partners. He said he had never talked about giving amnesty to criminals. “But the cases lodged against ‘innocent persons’ on basis of political victimisation or on anger of any influential person should be reviewed and these persons should be given safe passage,” he added.
He said the cases lodged against the oppressed people of Karachi should be reviewed, adding fake cases had also been registered against Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari and also against him. Mirza said he talked about giving amnesty to such innocent people and stood by his statement. The home minister said: “Those who think ‘fake’ cases were lodged against them and they are not provided justice, they could approach the government, which would review and order a probe into such cases”.
Mirza said soon after his speech at a ceremony in connection with the seventh death anniversary of former MPA Abdullah Murad Baloch in Malir on Sunday, the Sindh governor and Interior Minister Rehman Malik talked to him on phone and he clarified his position before them that he did not talk about giving amnesty to the criminals. Mirza said review of fake cases would also help the MQM.
“Three or four days ago, I talked to Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and informed him that confrontation between the Katchi community and Baloch is increasing in Lyari. I brought a rapprochement among them and persuaded them to start politics from a big platform for resolution of their social problems,” Mirza added. He said he took the governor into confidence on reviewing the cases against these persons, adding the PPP would never tolerate any criminal.
About the alleged involvement of People’s Aman Committee in extortion, the home minister said Baba Ladla issued chits for extortions and other chits contained ‘particular numbers’ as per the investigation carried out by the police. He said three to four cases had been lodged against these elements with help of the Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC). He declared the PAC had nothing to do with the extortion.
“Some Seraiki-speaking people, some people belonging to upcountry and some locals are involved in the extortion cases,” Zulfiqar Mirza said, adding these elements taking help from a phone directory talked to industrialists and demanded extortion.
He said it was not a good thing that MQM’s educated leaders levelled allegations on him of being a don and a supporter of extortionists and kidnappers. He said the MQM leaders also alleged that he (Mirza) talked in drunken condition, but the people, the government and even the MQM knew as to who spoke in drunken condition.
The home minister claimed that the crime rate had reduced and he challenged the media to debate with him. He said the crime rate had reduced up to 25 to 30 percent this year as compared to the last year. “During the last three years, the crime rate has reduced up to 50 percent as compared to the past,” he added. Mirza said since he held an important ministry, he tended to attend the important session of the assembly because he was also supposed to ensure security for VVIPs or foreign dignitaries when they visited Karachi.
NNI adds: The MQM Rabita Committee on Monday decided to boycott the session of the Sindh Assembly and upcoming sessions of the National Assembly and Senate over Zulfiqar Mirza’s statement. A joint meeting of MQM Rabita Committee was held at Nine Zero. MQM members in national and provincial assemblies attended the meeting.
Raza Haroon, a senior MQM leader, said the meeting decided that the MQM would continue to boycott of assemblies. He said the MQM repeatedly drew the attention of the PPP over the situation in the city. He said the crime situation here in the city was alarming. He said that the MQM had conveyed its decision to the prime minister and president.
The News
