Opinion Fighting over Karachi

The MQM was quick to respond,a report in The News stated: “The MQM Coordination Committee said it was because of Mirza’s patronage of killers,terrorists,extortionists and kidnappers that he kept silent when the Rangers carried out an operation in parts of Karachi,except Lyari.” Lyari is the PPP’s traditional pocket borough. Malik,however,appeared calm,as Daily Times quoted him as saying that Mirza was “just like his younger brother” and that he did not mind his statements,which were issued “in a state of anger”. The News reported that soon after Mirza’s press conference,he resigned as minister,vice-president of the Sindh PPP,and as a member of the provincial assembly; and that “in an equally surprising development,his resignation was accepted ‘exceptionally promptly’ by the Sindh CM.” President Asif Zardari,on the other hand,also suspended his basic membership of the PPP.

The PPP disowned Mirza’s remarks in a meeting convened by Zardari. Daily Times reported on August 30: “A meeting of PPP leaders from Sindh was held in the Presidency during which the party… termed Mirza’s accusations as an unacceptable violation of party discipline,and contrary to the well-thought out policy of reconciliation as envisaged by Benazir Bhutto.”

The News also reported that National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza constituted a 17-member special parliamentary committee to review matters of security in Karachi and Quetta. The committee has been tasked to present its report in 60 days to the speaker. Interestingly,Fehmida Mirza is Zulfiqar Mirza’s wife.

Suo motu

Pakistan’s chief justice has expressed dissatisfaction over the investigation reports submitted by the government in the suo motu case on the Karachi violence. The News reported on August 30 that Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry “observed that the law and order situation in the metropolis could not be controlled until the city was made an ‘arms free zone’.” He also directed the attorney general to produce reports from intelligence agencies over the unrest,in the absence of which the court can’t reach any conclusion. The Supreme Court also took suo motu notice of the violation of fundamental rights of citizens,including the right to life and to freedom of movement.

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