ISLAMABAD, April 20: The coalition government has chalked out a comprehensive security plan for lasting peace in Karachi in cooperation with the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM).

“The MQM is a political reality and we cannot ignore it for maintaining peace in the country’s commercial hub,” Prime Minister’s Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik told Dawn on Sunday.

He said the MQM had endorsed a security plan during a meeting with PPP leaders in Bilawal House in Karachi.

Mr Malik said he had also talked with MQM chief Altaf Hussain in London and the Mutahidda chief had expressed satisfaction over the renewed pledge by the MQM and the PPP to cooperate with each other for maintaining peace in Karachi.

Giving details of the security plan, Mr Malik said that under the plan MQM’s sector in-charges and PPP’s tehsil presidents would politically assist police and Rangers in maintaining law and order situation in their areas.

He said that peace committees were being formed in Karachi which would comprise, besides PPP and MQM, leaders and representatives of all political PPP and MQM but leaders and representatives of all political parties and the business community.

“The government believes that the community participation is necessary to overcome problems being faced by society,” the adviser said.

He claimed that street crimes, like cars and mobile phone snatching in Karachi, had been controlled because of a new crime-controlling strategy suggested by him to the provincial government.

Similarly, he said, incidents of suicide bombings and law and order had gone down significantly and the law and order situation had improved in tribal areas since the formation of the coalition government.

He said the interior ministry had formed an e-crime information cell to receive public complaints about unlawful acts.

“We are ensuring that police will take action within 24 hours on complaints received by the cell,” he said.

The adviser said that a hotline had been established by the National Police Bureau (NPB) for a constant link with all inspectors-general of police.

The hotline would help convey messages and decision of the government to all police chiefs immediately, he said.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by interior ministry said that the adviser had taken serious notice of the exchange of fire in Landhi between members of MQM and the Haqiqi group and directed the provincial government to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter, arrest the culprits and report to the ministry.

Mr Malik said that no-one would be allowed to take law into his hand and law-breakers would be dealt with sternly.

He ordered director-general of Rangers, Sindh, to enhance security in Landhi and take necessary measures to restore peace and order in the city.