RAWALPINDI: Indian Premier Mrs Indira Gandhi’s unprovoked war cry in the Indian Parliament yesterday [March 18], threatening Pakistan that India would “meet it in a much stronger way than in 1965” has caused a good deal of resentment in informed quarters here.

Official sources here are awaiting a fuller report of the Indian Premier’s statement and would not offer any comment until they have studied it.

However, coming in the wake of the current wave of anti-Muslim riots in India, Mrs Gandhi’s bellicose statement is considered here as fraught with danger to arouse passions and lead to a law and order situation in this country also.

The Indian Premier has made the statement, according to Press reports from New Delhi, in reply to questions regarding Pakistan’s claims to some 520 acres of territory administered by India along the East Pakistan-West Bengal border”. — Correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported by our correspondent in Karachi,] some 15 families living in a dilapidated two-storey building at Chakiwara were yesterday [March 19] removed under the orders of the District Magistrate.

The Abdul Sattar Usman Mulani Building was earlier declared “dangerous for human habitation” by the Karachi Development Authority.

Parts of the building were demolished under the supervision of an Additional City Magistrate.

The inmates are alleged to have refused to vacate whereupon the Police intervened and removed the furniture and other belongings from the building.

The demolition squad of the Karachi Development Authority demolished portions of the building and Police was posted to guard against possible intrusion.

The inmates were squatting on the roadside till late last night. They complained they had not been offered any alternate place.

The Magistrate concerned, when contacted, said that arrangements were being made to shift them to Baldia Colony or Orangi Township today. Each family, according to the Magistrate, will be allotted a plot of 80 yards.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2018