ISLAMABAD: The ongoing operation to restore law and order in Karachi will continue unhindered, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif unequivocally told Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders who called on him on Friday.

Sources privy to the meeting told Dawn that even as the MQM leadership sought clarifications about the Rangers raid on their party headquarters, the PM avoided getting into the nitty-gritty of the matter and, instead, assured the delegation that there would be no political victimisation.

Throughout the hour-long meeting, which took place at the PM’s House after Friday prayers, the MQM side insisted that the federal government publically express concerns over the treatment the party was receiving at the hands of law-enforcement agencies.

However, sources said that the PM’s measured response, which was also noted in the official press release issued after the meeting, was, “The people of Karachi have already suffered a lot and it is the moral obligation of all political parties to make sincere efforts to restore peace and stability in the metropolitan city.”

Answering a question, the sources said the PM subtly asked the MQM leaders to disband the militant wing that the party was accused of patronising in Karachi. He repeatedly impressed upon the MQM leadership that it was not only criminals allegedly associated with their party who were being targeted in the operation, rather, the action had reined in criminal elements of all kinds.

Since the raid on Nine Zero earlier this month, which led to the arrests of a number of wanted target killers and convicted criminals as well as the seizure of a large cache of sophisticated weapons, MQM leaders had been seeking an audience with the PM.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, MQM’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar said he had presented the party’s case to the PM and was hopeful of a positive response.

“Following the Rangers’ raid on Nine Zero, MQM and its workers have been put through the worst media trial for no rhyme or reason. We only want somebody to listen to our grievances in these trying times.” Dr Sattar said that the PM had assured them that an inquiry would be conducted into the release of video message by death row prisoner Saulat Mirza. MNAs Abdul Rashid Godail and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui were also present in the meeting.

During an interaction with the media, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique — who was also present in the meeting — said the government was clear that armed groups would be targeted in the ongoing Karachi operation, regardless of their party affiliation.

According to an official statement, the PM said that the PML-N didn’t believe in a policy of confrontation. “We have struggled for the restoration of democracy and for upholding the rule of law and have learnt a lot from the past. We have faced extremely difficult times but did not compromise on our principles.”

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid and Political Secretary to PM Dr Asif Kirmani also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2015

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