KARACHI - Sindh Information and Local Bodies Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that commissioners and deputy commissioners have been directed to gather information regarding the seminaries in their jurisdictions and ensure NOC for the construction of new seminaries.
He said the Sindh government and the provincial home department would contact the religious scholars and clerics and seek their help in taking action against any illegal seminary. “We are not against seminaries but those who are spreading terrorism instead of imparting education will not be spared and strict action will be taken against them,” he said. He said change was evident and those who were supporting the terrorists and their mindset would face severe action.
“Terrorism has become a menace and the seeds of it, that were sowed in past, would be eliminated completely,” he said, adding political and military leadership are on one page and would eliminate the terrorists completely from the society.     
He condemned the attacks at Rangers in Site area and a school in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, saying the provincial government would use all its resources to improve law and order situation in the province.
He said the DG Rangers, Sindh IGP and other officials agreed over action against extremist mindset. “It is for that reason that 1,000 policemen would be trained by the SSG commandos for this purpose. Those parties who were demanding for holding talks with these militant outfits in past had also learnt a lesson and are now calling for action against them,” he said.
Memon said the Rangers and the police had taken action against the militants and several of them had been arrested and killed in encounters with the law enforcement agencies.
Responding to queries regarding a new political front against PPP in Sindh, he said they do not bother about these coalitions as they were formed in past also but failed to deter the PPP support in the province. “It is not the time to divide people in the name of politics instead all should get united and turn their focus towards targeted action against these militants,” he added.
Meanwhile, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, has called for in-camera briefing from Sindh government over security matters.
Speaking to reporters at Sindh Assembly, the MQM lawmaker said that law-and-order situation in Karachi has become grave. “Today a private school was attacked by miscreants with hand grenade and they also dropped threatening pamphlets. This situation demands that lawmakers be briefed over all security matters at an in-camera session,” he said. “We have no enmity with PPP but a political difference,” he observed.
MALIK PROMISES GOOD NEWS OVER PPP-MQM TIES  
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Rehman Malik has hinted that there will be good news regarding the topsy-turvy ties between his party and MQM.
Rehman Malik, speaking to media outside Sindh Assembly building, said that he acts according to party’s policy. “We want political relations with MQM and good news is expected within few days”, Malik said. The PPP senator, commenting on the Senate polls, said that his party doesn’t need any help nor will they count the seats.
Malik added that Afghanistan needs to take action against terrorists in their country otherwise the situation there will spiral out of control.
He said all the religious seminaries were not spreading extremism. He added that strict action should be taken against those Madaris which are spreading terrorism and extremism.