Nawaz orders judicial inquiry into MQM worker killing

Published January 30, 2015
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrives in Karachi. — DawnNews screengrab
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrives in Karachi. — DawnNews screengrab

KARACHI: Chairing a high-level meeting on the security situation of Karachi, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday issued directives for the formation of a judicial commission within a week's time to probe into the killing of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) worker Sohail Ahmed.

Ahmed, MQM unit in-charge for society sector 64, had been kidnapped from outside a mosque on December 15 from Bahadurabad. His body was identified at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital on Wednesday, following which the MQM had called for a strike in the city.

"It needs to be looked into who's responsible for the killing of missing persons in Karachi," Nawaz said during the meeting.

"Justice must be served ...without justice, no society can survive and whoever is responsible for these killings must to be brought to justice," he added.

Nawaz said that his government wanted to see exemplary peace in Karachi. "We want Pakistan Peoples Party and MQM to work together," he said.

The premier assured the MQM that the commission would investigate into Sohaib's killing in a fair manner.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah attended the meeting which was held at Governor House Sindh.

Read: Missing MQM worker found dead, parts of Karachi shut down

PM meets MQM delegation

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met a delegation comprising four MQM workers as well as families of three deceased workers and families of missing MQM workers at the Governor House today.

The four-member delegation included MQM leaders Farooq Sattar, Babar Ghauri, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Qamar Mansoor.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the party representatives said that the PM Nawaz had assured that MQM will get speedy justice with regards to the killings of its party workers.

Rizvi said that the PM had reprimanded police with regards to Karachi’s security situation and had ordered immediate arrests of culprits responsible for MQM worker killings.

MQM Rabita committee in-charge Qamar Manzoor has blamed police for the current situation in the city and has demanded that the judicial commission should look into abuses by officials. MQM has repeatedly maintained that its workers are taken by men introducing themselves as law enforcement agencies' personnel.

The premier arrived in Karachi today to discuss the ongoing targeted operation against criminals by police and Rangers in the city. He was accompanied by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

Read: Over 2,250 criminals arrested in Karachi operation, Rangers tells Senate committee

The Karachi operation was initiated in September 2013 under a directive issued by the federal government against criminals already identified by federal, military and civilian agencies in view of the declining law and order situation in the country's largest metropolis. The raids are being led by Rangers' forces with the support of police.

PM visits KSE


Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Stock Exchange Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said: “MQM's concerns were discussed in detail today. We also discussed recovery of Sohail Ahmed’s body and Faraz Alam who died in police custody.”

He further said that IG Sindh has been instructed to submit a report over the deaths of MQM activists within 30 days and added that ‘plain-clothed policemen would not be allowed to arrest anyone’.

Speaking on the occasion, premier Sharif also congratulated KSE Chairman Munir Kamal and other office bearers for the record progress made in the Index.

He said: “The KSE 100 Index level was at 19,916 points at the time of the 2013 elections but today, with the grace of Allah, after a passage of one and a half years, the KSE level has reached its highest ever of 34,606 points.”

Sharif said the country’s economy was “progressing day by day”.

“The issues faced by the country are grave and there is no easy solution. Time is required to resolve these issues as steps taken in haste are not effective.”

He said his government was addressing the issues but no time frame could be given in this regard.

“What I can say for sure is that the various issues and load-shedding of electricity and gas supply would be addressed within the tenure of the current government,” he added. “Chances are that at the end of our government's tenure surplus electricity would be added to the national grid.”

Sharif said that the issue of extremism was already being tackled but an APC would soon be called to address the issue of economy.

“The PPP and MQM are with us today. They are all stakeholders in the province. We want them to work for the betterment of the province and Pakistan,” he said.

He further said that “reservations of all sides should be addressed, even enemies of Pakistan can create mistrust between the MQM, PPP or between MQM and other parties.”

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