No Taliban presence in Karachi, claims Sherpao

E-Paper | October 10, 2026

No Taliban presence in Karachi, claims Sherpao

Dawn.com Published November 8, 2012

President Pakistan People's Party (Sherpao) Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao. — Photo by APP/File

PESHAWAR: President of Quami Wattan Party and former federal minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Thursday said that the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) wanted an operation to take place in Karachi on the pretext of the notion that the Taliban were present in the city, DawnNews reported.

Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, the former interior minister claimed that there was no Taliban presence in Karachi, adding that, the issue in the city was one of law and order.

Sherpao further said that certain individuals and groups were using the name of the Taliban to take extortion money.

He added that the ANP and the MQM were using the Taliban’s name to play politics.

Sherpao moreover demanded of the government to carry out a transparent census in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), adding that, the government should take steps for the resettlement of the 800,000 people who had been displaced in the wake of military operations in the tribal areas.

On the re-election of US President Barack Obama, the former minister said that it would not bring any significant change with regards to the issues of peace and security in the region.

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zeeshan

Nov 08, 2012 10:38am

Karachi is not your constituency Sherpao, you better take care of yours.

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observer

Nov 08, 2012 11:50am

This statement has a political agenda and is not an honest statement.

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Chota

Nov 08, 2012 11:40am

Because tailban is a very responsible group :D

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Human

Nov 08, 2012 11:40am

We are left on our own People lets just do away with this present Govt first , Make Kiyani step down as he is Old & call in martial law until we find an educated no criminal record president .

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Human

Nov 08, 2012 11:31am

HE IS CRAZYYY as if he says that there is NO Taliban then who is responsible for the Blast today ? YOU well said . May be he is responsible for it & that's why he is HIGH at the moment

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HonestyHonorBased

Nov 08, 2012 01:09pm

So you know more than a person who has been a leader, a minister, and fought two wars as a tank squadron commander...with medals under fire...ground and air attack.

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TrueTest

Nov 08, 2012 01:13pm

You attack their homes and kill their children and they strike back. You are the terrorst not them. They are just fighting back. More to come...softer targets next time.

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Khan Afzal

Nov 08, 2012 08:09pm

Accepting responsibility by Who? and from where? anyone can call and say i did it. Does it mean that he is behind this act? How comes that the caller is not identified and brought to justice? Taliban name has become the trade name. This is utter failure of the intelligence and security agencies.

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suhrwardy

Nov 08, 2012 04:27pm

there are no Taliban in Khi. its all criminals' propaganda.

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Saima Khan

Nov 08, 2012 03:55pm

Sorry to say Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao needs Glasses. Unfortunately he is supporting Taliban because he is a Pathan and Pathans are the founder father of Talban and majority of Talibans are Pathan. Racism is the biggest issue in Pakistan history. In past Sherpao said Osama is not in Pakistan. I am from Karachi and sees taliban in Karachi every day. There are places in Karachi where western dresses like jeans or paints are ban. They kicked you out from the mosque if you do not wear "TOPI", " HAT", is it the Islam?

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observer

Nov 08, 2012 09:20pm

it seems he does not aware of Karachi Situation or may be he is protecting Taliban

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life is precious

Nov 08, 2012 09:53pm

???????? Mr. Sherpao do you read local newspapers ? wake up .... taliban have a really organized network , better trained people than your police ,and not just that they have arrangements where they can help their people get out of the jails and walk out of the courts. this how their attacks are contiuous and so successful. and yes taliban are saying they can operate from anywhere they want , after this morning attack on karachi rangers HQ. source is the leading newspapers . taliban are not afraid of any authority in Pakistan. osama bin laden was hiding in abbottabad and nobody in Pakistan knew that . imagine that.

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APC

Nov 08, 2012 10:51pm

Pathetic !!

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Nov 08, 2012 02:39pm

So, why Taliban themselves taking responsibility for violent act in Karachi. There are hundreds and hundreds of cars and trucks come from Northern Pakistan to Karachi each day and they bring all the drugs and ammunitions also....do you think they will ask you to bring Taliban to Karachi......They are out in Karachi as they are afraid of DRONES.......

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Ahmed Saleem

Nov 08, 2012 02:29pm

Catch the criminals whoever they may be, without any discrimination. What the govt is required to do is to go for the real criminals. If so called 'talebans' are responsible for all these killings and lootings and lawlessness, catch them and show their faces on TV screens. We have nothing to do with the names or brand of the unwanted elements. We want them caught, tried and punished. Govt should find out 'Israeli' arms which Mr Rahman Malik once claimed to have entered Karachi. That gentleman should have the moral courage to disclose the names of the people who brought these arms in.

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rizkhan

Nov 08, 2012 12:11pm

great. this is true, and also the view of karachi locals.

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default of Sindh Government

Nov 08, 2012 10:26am

It means government of Sindh is totally failed to enforce law and order. If ANP and MQM are aliance partners then why not PPP makes it happened. I guess there is politics each of alliance partners blaming other two for the mess in Karachi. Citizen safety should be above dirty power politics. Citizenry should open its eyes to kick them out from Karachi politics in next election.

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Shah

Nov 08, 2012 10:15am

Mr. Sherpao mind telling us who did the blast today at the Rangers Headquarters in Nazimabad Karachi and why Tehreek e Taliban claimed the responsibility of the attack?

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Sam

Nov 08, 2012 09:34am

KARACHI IS A SAFE HEAVEN FOR TERRORISTS AND GREATEST CRIMINALS.NOBODY IS DOING CLEANUP OPERATION OR HELPING KARACHI?

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adam memon

Nov 08, 2012 03:04pm

yes you are very right.we can not progress without law and order.

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