KARACHI - Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Corps Commander Karachi Lt. General Naveed Mukhtar met here Friday to discuss certain issues such as targeted operation, law and order situation, National Action Plan and extension in the Rangers special powers.

According to a handout issued from the CM House, the meeting lasted over one and half hour in a good atmosphere and latter it was joined by Senior Minister for Finance Murad Ali Shah, Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal and Chief Minister's Adviser on Law Murtaza Wahab.

The chief minister said that his government was committed to eradicate terrorism related activities such as target killing, extortion and kidnapping for ransom from the province.

‘I appreciate law enforcement agencies, particularly the Rangers and police for restoring peace in the city," he said and also thanked the Corps Commander Karachi for taking his personal interest in the implementation of National Action Plan.

The chief minister and Corps Commander also discussed the issue of extension in the Rangers special power. The chief minister assured the corps commander that he was in consultation with his party leadership and the matter would be solved shortly. Meanwhile, sources in provincial government informed that the PPP government was in no mode to extend the parameter of the operation from Karachi to other parts of the province and likewise previous extension given to the Rangers on July 19, the provincial assembly would once again give assent to the extension in Rangers powers.

The sources informed that the PPP lawmakers were asked to remain in Karachi so that the party could easily pass the resolution from the assembly seeking extension in the Rangers powers for one year and limiting their role to Karachi only.

The sources further informed that the decision was conveyed to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and he would discuss the issue with PPPP President Asif Ali Zardari during his visit to Dubai.  Meanwhile, CM Qaim also went to Bilawal House after meeting with the Corps Commander and conveyed his discussion with corps commander to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari later left for Dubai to hold a meeting co-chaired by Asif Zardari to discuss the issue of Rangers special powers extension today. The meeting would also be attended by chief minister Sindh, who would leave for Dubai today. The chief minister was also directed by the party chairman to consult the top party leadership in the province over the issue.

Separately, Asif Ali Zardari also summoned Farooq H Naek to take legal opinion on the issue.

Zardari on Friday reached Dubai from London to chair a meeting of the party’s top leadership. Bilawal, Qaim Ali Shah, Murad Ali Shah and Murtaza Wahab are likely to reach Dubai soon to discuss the situation in Sindh, sources said. The meeting will also discuss the situation after the PPP defeat in Azad Kashmir elections and a new protest movement against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government. Extending policing powers to Rangers has become a bone of contention between the provincial and federal governments. The Rangers personnel have stopped snap-checking of vehicles at the entry and exit routes of Karachi as their special policing powers deadline expired on the midnight of July 19.

COMMITTED TO MAINTAIN

PEACE: CHANDIO

Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh, Moula Bux Chandio said that PPP-led Sindh government is fully committed to restore, maintain peace and ensure rule of law in the province as per the Constitution. In a statement issued here on Friday, Chandio said, “Special attention is being paid to ensure durable peace to business community, lawyers fraternity and citizens so that all business and social activities continue to thrive for progress of people and the country.”

He said that Sindh police is performing its job in well manner and crime rate has significantly declined after which people, particularly business community, has taken a great sigh of relief.

The adviser said, “No any interference in the Karachi operation is being made as all process in this regard is as per law. The safe recovery of Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Justice Sajjad Ali Shah’s son Owais Shah is great progress in view of action against criminals.”

He said that all crimes in Karachi and other parts of Sindh will be soon brought to an end and people will pass life with great ease and peace. Sindh government has made solid policies against the terrorists and criminal across the province.

“For robust economic and social progress, peace and rule of the law is mandatory, and Sindh government is utilising all its allocated resources and capabilities for peace and progress, which have widely been hailed by business community, traders and social class,” Chandio said.

He said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto is leading the party in best manner and he will soon be a great leader of Pakistan’s people, particularly youth. Bilawal has also been making efforts for growth of peace, education, economy and health, while Sindh government is striving hard to achieve these goals, the adviser said. He said that education is the mainstay of economic and social development because of the fact that it plays a leading role in human resource development and economic development.