KARACHI, June 20: Speakers at a seminar on "Political situation in Pakistan and its repercussions in Karachi" stressed that law and order situation in Sindh, and especially in Karachi
, could improve only through a strong political system, supremacy of law, and social justice.
The seminar held at Karachi office of the Higher Education Commission was organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Saturday. Former advisor to Sindh chief minister on information Salahuddin Haider, MNA Muhammad Laeeq Khan, Dr Asad Saeed, Tasneem Siddiqui, Dr Haroon, Azhar Mehmood, Touseef Ahmed Khan, Saeed Advocate, Ghazi Salahuddin, Uzma Gillani and others were the speaker.
Salahuddin Haider observed that the uneven situation in Karachi had remained almost unchanged since the presidential elections of Ayub Khan's rule, that should be reviewed in the context of past, he added.
Karachi had always played a leading role for promotion of democracy, and democracy was always supported by the city, he remarked. Referring to the recent law and order violations in Karachi, he said, it started on May 7, 2004 from the Hyderi Mosque bomb blast. It could be an effort to weaken progressive elements in the city, as well as, the present government.
"It was an evil conspiracy to kick-off sectarian violence in the city, but sectarian harmony practised by the masses has thwarted this conspiracy," he maintained, calling it a positive sign that varied sects supported each other in such circumstances.
He suggested the top leadership of the country to take effective measures for improving the law and order situation in the city. Member of National Assembly belonging to Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Muhammad Laeeq Khan said the city's peace was destroyed with the start of armed politics here.
He regretted that despite assassination of prominent politicians and journalists, no one had been arrested, adding had the killers of Hakim Saeed, Salahuddin, Zohair Akram Nadeem been arrested, the situation could have well been different. He demanded cancellation of all arms licenses to civilians.
Speaking on the occasion, Tasneem Farooqi, a social worker observed that despite the fact that a major part of Sindh's budget was being utilised on law enforcement agencies, the law and order situation still remain unchanged.
While, notable psychologist Dr Haroon stated that a severe sense of insecurity prevailed in the city, with no one feeling safe in the present deteriorating law and order situation. He said that had there been a strong political system in the country, the situation could have been positively different. -PPI
