KARACHI, Dec 29: In the wake of Pakistan People’s Party chairperson and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, Sindh plunged into gloom as over 900 vehicles were destroyed, 131 banks set on fire, 37 police stations attacked, 31 petrol pumps torched while 40 persons lost their lives and 57 were injured throughout the province after violence broke out on Thursday evening.
These figures were given officially at a press conference held here on Saturday at the Chief Minister’s House after a special meeting of the Sindh cabinet.
Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Abdul Qadir Halepota, who presided over the cabinet session, told mediamen that the cabinet, besides offering Fateha for Ms Bhutto, had also adopted a resolution offering condolences to Asif Zardari and the children, Nusrat Bhutto and Sanam Bhutto.
He said the cabinet was briefed about the situation prevailing in the province and the measures being taken to rein in the rogue elements and normalise the situation.
Pointing out that after the necessary measures, including deployment of the army to assist the police force and Rangers, he said the situation had started improving and hoped that the administration would be able to soon bring the state of affairs under full control.
Home Minister Brig (retd) Akhtar Zamin, who was present along with Finance Minister Dewan Yousuf Farooqi, in reply to a question said that during the last three days in Karachi alone, 19 people were killed, including two police officers, while 37 were injured, including six cops. He also said that 119 people were arrested.
Regarding the plundering of private and public property, he said in the metropolis seven petrol pumps were set on fire, 672 vehicles were destroyed, 13 banks were torched and 27 police stations were attacked.
He disagreed with the contention that Ms Bhutto was not provided adequate security and pointed out that during the public meetings that she had addressed in Sindh at Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, Jacobabad and Larkana, she was provided full security cover and this could be verified by the PPP leadership.
In reply to a question, he said that in Sindh, a total of 368 people were arrested while 44 persons were killed, 31 petrol pumps were torched and 37 police stations were attacked, besides police mobiles.
His attention was also drawn to the Railways’ claims that six trains had been burnt, 16 bridges were damaged, 25 railway stations were torched and the railway track was damaged at six places, which resulted in suspension of railway traffic; he was also asked what measures were being taken to overcome the shortage of wheat and oil to the people.
He said that President Pervez Musharraf had instructed the chief minister to take necessary measures to ensure the running of trains. “In this connection the divisional superintendent of railways will meet the chief secretary in the evening to submit his requirements to repair the damaged railway track and security for restoring train services,” the home minister said.
Railway passengers’ woes
He said that the chief minister had directed the administration to arrange buses for stranded passengers at various railway stations in the province who were either going to Punjab or coming to Karachi but could not reach their destinations due to the torching of trains and suspension of railway traffic.
Answering another question, the home minister said that in all, the army was called out in 16 districts of the province, including the Malir, Site, Korangi and Bin Qasim areas of Karachi. “Besides, today the request was also made to deploy the army in Khairpur to assist the police in controlling the situation,” he said.
Dewan Yousuf Farooqi said the government had made arrangements to ensure the availability of essential commodities including milk, petrol, flour, fresh vegetables and some petrol pumps had already started operating from Saturday afternoon while the Sabzi Mandi would open from Sunday.
He said the Super Highway was opened but buses were not operating on Saturday because of the non-availability of fuel. He said those who feared the threat of damage to their property could be provided necessary protection so that essential services could be restored.
In reply to a question the chief minister said that the cabinet had discussed the possibility of holding free and fair elections according to schedule. However, if the federal government and the Election Commission would seek its opinion about it, they would be duly informed about the cabinet’s decision.
Saying that the pall of gloom hung over not just Sindh but throughout the entire nation, he termed the event a great national tragedy. “Her services to the nation were immense and she had enjoyed (a prominent) position worldwide,” Mr Halepota said, eulogising Ms Bhutto.
However, the chief minister pointed out that a line needed to be drawn between genuine mourners and hooligans.
“Those indulging in vandalism are not mourners as no one would like to harm the property of others as such. Those who have come out on the streets to plunder and loot are miscreants,” he said.
He appealed to the people to cooperate with the government in maintaining law and order.
