Karachi operation watching only govt's interests: Farooq Sattar

MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar has said that Sindh government is launching operation in the city for its vested interests.

While talking to the media at Lahore Airport, he said that everybody knows about the dens of terrorists.

Law enforcement agencies must exterminate all the secret hideouts of terrorists who have nothing to do with the peace of the country; rather their aims are to horrify citizens in the name of so-called slogans and manifestos of justice.

He contended that all stake holders and political parties should make endeavours to make the military operation in Karachi successful, adding that this job can’t be made successful without cooperation and coordination of the MQM which is real representative of people in the metropolis.

He said that the MQM offered cooperation in this regard but the Sindh government is taking the issue with irresolution.

It seems that the MQM is being targeted as it had demanded an operation against terrorists without discrimination.

Sattar urged upon Sindh government to take measures for dispelling such an impression of politicized targeted operation in the city.

He said his party was never consulted about the targeted actions, adding that had the govt sought cooperation from all political parties, the targeted action would have been a success from the very beginning.

He alleged that the ongoing Karachi operation was not directed against criminals, as every single child of Karachi knew where the crime dens were across the city.

(FP Report)

Sectarian killings won’t stop sans tackling root cause: HRCP

The continuing spilling of blood in sectarian killings in Quetta and Gilgit Baltistan manifests a blatant failure to address religious intolerance in society, which constitutes one of the biggest threats for the country, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said on Wednesday.

The Commission said in a statement: “HRCP is alarmed by the continuing sectarian bloodshed in Pakistan, particularly in Quetta and Gilgit Baltistan. The killings demonstrate a disturbing pattern and appear to be part of a well-planned sequence. It has been stated that miscreants from Afghanistan have been involved. That may be one problem but it certainly is not the only one. The mindless bloodshed that we witness day in and day out is rooted in religious intolerance cultivated by the state. Politics in the name of religion has substantially worsened what was already an appalling situation. It is alarming that no one responsible for these killings has been nabbed in years. The people are paying the price of indifference with their lives. Rather than wasting time on addressing mere symptoms,the root cause of the problem must be identified and addressed. Instead of living in denial, we must now identify the policies that strengthen extremism and promote faith-based hatred in society. These constitute the single biggest threat to Pakistan.

In these perilous times, all those who believe in people’s rights, human dignity and Pakistan’s future must not remain silent. Otherwise the consequences for the country will be unimaginably disastrous. It is time for the government, all democratic-minded political parties and conscious citizens to join hands to think of a way out of this brutal vortex in order to rescue the state that has been held to ransom by extremism and obscurantism.”

Altaf Hussain has appealed to the President and Prime Minister to stop the killings of innocent people in Karachi

MQM Chief Altaf Hussain has appealed to the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to stop the killings of innocent people in Karachi. In a statement he has asked them to restore peace and stop killings in 48 hours and if not, the people of Karachi will be free to exercise their right to protect themselves. He informed them that the terrorists and criminals are roaming around scot-free, they have been allowed to kill at will, loot, plunder and attack the residences of common people, factories, shops etc. Armed terrorists on motorcycle are seen attacking and burning the properties. Mr Hussain has said that he gives a 48 hour notice to the government otherwise the people of Karachi will arrange for their protection. 

He reminded that despite all his sincere efforts and even his appeal for peace, the limits have arrived and valuable innocent lives are being lost. Referring to the migration by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Mecca to Medina, he said that attacks on his companions continued - and after that the Battle of Badar, Uhad and Khandaq took place. If today the infidels have decided to attack Medina again and again the following the path of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) will be as per the Sunnah. Time will decide if the righteousness will succeed or not.