KARACHI, Oct 19: The chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, said that the wave of street crime hitting Karachi was part of a calculated plan against the city and the province.

He stated this while talking to the members of the Coordination Committee at the MQM International Secretariat of London. Among those present were party convenor Imran Farooq, Tariq Javed, Saleem Shahzad, M. Anwar, Tariq Mir, Mustafa Azizabadi and others.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hussain called for immediate remedial measures including forming of peoples committees to combat this menace. These crimes are being committed by anti-Karachi and anti-Sindh elements, helped by criminals and underworld gangs, he added.

The Muttahida chief said that people should form special committees to combat the menace on self-help basis and in thus manner they would also help the government overcome these problems.

Mr Hussain said the pace with which street crime had picked up in Sindh, and in Karachi was a matter of deep concern for every patriotic Pakistani and peaceful citizen.

Crime, he said, was a universal phenomenon but the way it had picked up in Pakistan and Karachi showed that specialised gangs were involved in these activities. He said that investigation unit of the party had reported that those elements that had been against Karachi and had weakened over the years, were trying to regroup themselves, and had sought the assistance of organised groups.

Mr Hussain said that their gang leaders had lured some of the police and administration officials to their side and the result was that even if some of these leaders were arrested, they managed to free themselves through bribes etc.

He asked the party workers to hold corner meetings in their respective areas and form vigilance committees to help the government overcome the problem.