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| 04 June 2004 | Friday | 15 Rabi-us-Saani 1425 |
Sindh needs political changes, says Faisal
ISLAMABAD, June 3: Interior Minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat on Thursday hinted at some political changes in Sindh in view of deteriorating law and order situation.
Talking to reporters at the Parliament House, the interior minister said only administrative changes would not be effective to maintain pace in the city of Karachi where a fresh spate of terrorism was prevailing.
Responding to a question about political changes in Sindh, he said: "Yes, political changes in the province cannot be ruled out." The minister said the government would restore peace and normalcy in Karachi at any cost.
However, he said, the maintenance of law and order situation in Sindh was the responsibility of the provincial government. "The government has a very clear policy in connection with Karachi situation.
We have to restore peace in the city at every cost," he said. Mr Hayat said under the Constitution it was the subject of the provincial government to maintain law and order and federal government could only interfere in provincial matters in case of immense grave situation. Presently, the situation in Karachi was not intimidating but certainly it was not normal, he added.
He agreed that Karachi was experiencing the same situation which was at the time of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) government in 1993. "But at that time the PPP had its own government in Sindh as well, therefore, the then government had managed to tackle the situation.
Whereas, at present the Centre and the Sindh both have coalition governments causing difficulties in decision-making," he said. "Secondly, at that time there was no city government. We are walking on a tight rope," the minister said.
Responding to a question about a formula of a national government in Sindh proposed by PML chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the interior minister said: "How can we ignore Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Sindh."
WANA OPERATION: Talking about Wana operation, he refuted reports that the law enforcement agencies had imposed economic blockade of South Waziristan. "The government wants to eliminate miscreants and terrorists from Wana and we will continue to strive against the law breakers," he maintained.
To a question, he said the NWFP government was not interfering in the tribal areas affairs. He also denied that the NWFP government was creating any hurdles for the federal government to tackle the situation in tribal areas.
He said 80 per cent people in Wana were supporting the government but Ahmedzai and Yargul tribes were creating problems to control the situation. The minister claimed that terrorist incidents in Quetta and Karachi were directly or indirectly linked with terrorists living in Wana.
Talking about the merger of the PPP (Patriots) and the PPP (Sherpao), he said the PPP convention would be convened at all the four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas within three months.
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