HYDERABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sassui Palijo has said that instead of offering explanations, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) should dissociate itself from terrorists who have confessed to their crimes.

Speaking to journalists in Bhitshah after visiting the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai on Wednesday, she said that the FIR lodged by a Rangers official against MQM chief Altaf Hussain could not be termed ‘unnecessary’.

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She said that the MQM should give its version on [activities of] terrorists like Saulat Mirza and the arrested suspect who was said to have confessed to have killed 120 people in targeted attacks and also those arrested suspects who were said to be involved the Baldia factory fire incident.

The MQM would have to come clean in the investigations, she added.

Ms Palijo claimed that the Sindh chief minister, governor and other relevant authorities were in the loop before the Nine Zero raid was carried out.

“Terrorism had been claiming lives in Karachi every day and that’s why an operation was launched against criminals and terrorists by Rangers and police personnel in consultation with various parties in Sindh,” she said.

Dismissing reports of differences between the PPP chairman and the co-chairman on party or political issues, Ms Palijo said ‘personal grievances’ between them could not be ruled out.

She expressed the view that such an operation in Karachi should have been launched much earlier. The delay caused the law and order situation in the provincial capital to worsen, she added.

The senator said that peace in Karachi had been restored to some extent and the number of terrorist attacks was significantly on the decline.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2015

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