KARACHI, Oct 21: While all partners in the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition government in Sindh on Thursday agreed to the decision of taking stern action against terrorists involved in targeted killings across the board to ensure peace in the metropolis, a meeting of PPP and MQM representatives mulled over the option of empowering rangers with more authority for launching a crackdown.

The meeting, which was called on a directive of President Asif Ali Zardari to take all coalition partners on board before launching any operation in the city, was under way at the Governor’s House till the filing of this report.

Presided over by Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, the two sides were represented by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza of the PPP and Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistani Dr Farooq Sattar, Federal Minister for Shipping Babar Ghauri and IT Minister Raza Haroon of the MQM.

Before participating in the talks, the interior minister called on Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and conveyed to him the message of President Zardari.

During the meeting, the city’s law and order situation was reviewed in detail.

They were of the view that Karachi being not only the largest city but also the biggest industrial and mercantile city in the country was the jugular vein of its economy. Likewise, Sindh province was land of mystics, saints and love and miscreants and anti-state forces wanted to harm it.

Expressing their determination that the government must not allow terrorists to succeed in their nefarious designs, they agreed that a fully-fledged action should be launched against criminals. They reiterated their determination that law-enforcement agencies, both police and rangers, would continue to take action against them without any discrimination.

Earlier on landing at Karachi airport, the interior minister told a group of journalists that he had come with instructions from President Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that law and order should be restored in Karachi at all costs.

In reply to a question, he said that an important meeting was scheduled for the night in which a decision would be taken if the paramilitary force of Rangers be further empowered. Small-scale operations had to be carried out, he remarked.

Answering another question, he said that police and rangers would jointly carry out operation and the present situation did not warrant calling in army.

Before attending the scheduled meeting at the Governor’s House, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza met President of the Awami National Party’s Sindh chapter Shahi Syed at the latter’s residence.

He later told the media that in the past, those involved in targeted killings were released on bail, but after certain changes being brought in the prosecution laws those booked for targeted killings could not be remanded on bail.

In reply to a question, he said that the media should act responsibly as no operation could be carried out anywhere in the province without his permission.

Regarding his meeting with the ANP leader, he said that he had convinced “one bride and now going to get the other agreed”.

ANP leader Shahi Syed said that he had apprised the home minister of their reservations and complaints.

He said: “The operation should be launched indiscriminately against all. Anyone whether Mohajir, Punjabi or Pakhtun who is being killed is human being and this loss of human life must be stopped.”

The home minister was also briefed over the law and order situation by Home Secretary Arif Ahmed Khan.

Following the briefing, he told journalists that law and order in Karachi was the government’s top most priority. He said police had identified those areas where criminals and terrorists were hiding and operation would be carried out in certain areas against criminals and outlaws involved in targeted killings. He said: “A short list had already been prepared.”

However, he added, a final decision would be taken at the meeting scheduled for the night.