Zamir Sheikh/Agencies
KARACHI - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said the Karachi operation was against criminals and not against any particular party, as he reiterated his resolve to make the port city peaceful, noting visible decrease in crime rate since the start of the cleanup operation.
The prime minister, who was on a one-day official visit to the city, chaired an important meeting on the law and order situation in the commercial hub of the country, besides addressing an awards distribution ceremony of the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE).
However, the visit was marked by some unusual yet significant occurrences. Nawaz ordered the crucial meeting on security to be held at the Pakistan Air Force Faisal Base, instead of the Chief Minister House or the Governor House – the two usual venues for such meetings.
Moreover, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad was absent from the all-important meeting, though he along with Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah received the premier at the airport. Also, Chief Minister Qaim joined the key security meeting only after the PM had received a briefing from the Karachi Corps Commander and the Rangers DG on the status of the ongoing operation against terrorists and criminals.
On the other hand, PM Nawaz Sharif reportedly did not entertain a request for meeting from a delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. “The MQM Rabita Committee expressed the desire for a meeting with the prime minister… (but) no encouraging response was received,” MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari told reporters. He also spoke of criticism against his party on mainstream and social media.
Chairing the meeting on law and order at the PAF Faisal Base, the prime minister reportedly instructed the law enforcement agencies to make sure the action is taken against all the criminal elements in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner.
He expressed the resolve that the operation in Karachi would be taken to its logical conclusion – the elimination of the last terrorist. He said his government would extend all possible support to the law enforcement agencies to successfully undertake this task. He expressed satisfaction over the decrease in crime rate in Karachi and said peace and stability would soon be restored in the city.
Addressing an awards distribution ceremony of the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) the same day, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif dispelled the impression that the ongoing targeted operation was directed at any political party and said it was only against “criminals”.
This statement comes in the wake of the Rangers raid earlier this month at MQM’s headquarters Nine-Zero and allegations by the Karachi-based political party that it was being singled out in the operation that was launched with the promise of keeping it across the board.
The operation was launched after consultation and consensus with all stakeholders, the PM said, adding that the Sindh government was on the same page with the federal government in this operation. He said the law and order situation in Karachi had drastically improved and crimes like extortions, kidnapping for ransom and robberies were decreasing.
Nawaz Sharif also praised the Sindh government of extending its full support to the centre. “The day will come soon when all crime will be eliminated from Karachi. Karachi’s prosperity is Pakistan’s prosperity and we will make every effort for peace,” he told at the ceremony that was also attended by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, State Bank Governor Ashraf Mahmood Wathra and the KSE chairman.
PM Nawaz said peace in Karachi was a must for economic prosperity of the country and assured foreign and local investors that necessary measures were being taken to revive the city to its old glory. He also shed light on the government’s accomplishments in its fight against terrorism by terming the ongoing military operation against terrorists as “successful”.
He dwelt at length about the challenges the PML-N government inherited when it came to power as the law and order situation was poor, extremism and terrorism were on the nerves of the people and the terrorists had targeted places of worship, markets, children and schools.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif regretted that no previous government took head-on the challenge against extremism and terrorism. He said operation Zarb-e-Azb was going on successfully and the network and hideouts of the terrorists have been eliminated. He said the government was today pursuing a 20-point anti-extremism agenda that was being implemented across the country.
The PM said there was no room for complacency, the government was taking its job very seriously and working 24/7 to serve the country. He vowed that his government would let no stone unturned in meeting all the challenges facing the country. He said the PML-N government was strictly adhering to its manifesto and fulfilling all promises made to the masses.
The premier said the overall economic situation in the country has revived with painstaking work. He mentioned the hard work being put in for resolving the issue of energy shortage in the country and said a broad-based programme was being pursued including power generation from coal, solar and wind, besides long-term projects of hydel power generation. He lauded Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s key role in reviving the economy.
PM Nawaz also touched upon the country’s ties with its neighbours and mentioned the efforts to further improve relations. He said Pakistan’s economy suffered damages in billions of dollars due to its involvement in the war against terrorism and the government will have to work hard to make up for all the losses. He said measures were afoot to promote investment in the country, besides steps to improve infrastructure including motorway linking Karachi with the rest of the country.
He said south-to-north gas pipelines would be constructed that would be connected onwards to bring in gas from Iran. He said work was also on to provide cheap electricity to the end-users so that the cost of production declines and industrial and agriculture products are available at cheap rates for increased exports. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif later congratulated and distributed awards among the companies for their outstanding performance at the KSE.