LAHORE, Sept 9: Former Jamaat-i-Islami ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmed has expressed his grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation, particularly massive target killings in Karachi.

“Although incidents of target killings are rising in Karachi gradually, both Sindh and federal governments seem doing nothing to stop them,” Mr Hussain said while speaking at a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Sunday.

Flanked by the JI’s Lahore and Karachi West heads, Mr Hussain said all religious and political parties would have to play their active role in making a peaceful atmosphere at the country’s economic hub.

Rejecting the reintroduction of the local government system by the PPP and MQM in Sindh, the former Jamaat chief said there was no need of such efforts.

“The country is in dire need of general elections and not the local body polls at the moment,” he said, advising President Asif Zardari to focus only on holding elections on time.

About the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister S.M Krishna, he said the Pakistani government seemed to have diverted from its principled stand on Kashmir and was trying to extend relations with India without resolving the core issue.

Later talking to Dawn, the former Jamaat chief said the situation in Karachi was getting out of control by the day.

“Our JI Ameer (Karachi West) has informed me that coalition partners of the Sindh government (PPP, MQM and ANP) are allegedly involved in the incidence of targeted killings in Karachi,” he said.

Mr Hussain said he would make a three-day visit to Karachi from Sept 14 and would hold talks with various parties on the target killing issue. — Staff Reporter